Hi °C | Lo °C TWO Dublin students are in line for prestigious science awards for their work on stem cells and electronic devices.
The female scientists are nominees for the L'Oreal Unesco UK and Ireland For Women in Science Fellowships.
Rachel Evans from Trinity College and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts from Dublin City University stand to collect €15,000 each and a massive career boost if they are successful in beating off competition from some of Britain's top scientists.
Lourdes has been shortlisted for her work on developing screening techniques for stem cells differentiation and death.
Rachel has been shortlisted for her work in electronics, specifically for creating small-scale organic electronic devices.
The fellowships are designed to promote the importance of ensuring greater participation of women in science by offering awards to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers.
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It aims to provide practical help for the winners to undertake research.
And winners are entitled to spend their fellowship on buying scientific equipment, paying for childcare, or whatever they may need to continue their research.
The Irish entrants face stiff competition from other women who work at Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh and the Institute of Zoology in London.
Both women plan to use their grants to cover living costs and field research.
A spokesperson said: "Both have been nominated for their prominent contributions to the world of science."
At 30 years, Rachel is the youngest nominee in the competition.
Four out the final eight nominees will be picked for the fellowship awards which will be announced at the Royal Institution in London on June 30.
The winners will be selected by a panel of eminent scientists, chaired by scientist Susan Greenfield.
kdoyle@herald.ie
