The Nature Awards Inspiring Women in Science: Scientific Achievement Grant

The Nature Awards Inspiring Women in Science: Scientific Achievement Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Springer Nature Limited
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Summary

The Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science celebrate outstanding contributions by women in STEM fields. These awards recognize early-career female researchers who demonstrate exceptional achievements, face challenges, and inspire the next generation through outreach. Winners receive prizes totaling $50,000, mentorship opportunities, and invitations to prestigious ceremonies. This initiative promotes inclusivity and aims to enhance the representation of women in science, thereby supporting a diverse and equitable scientific community.

Overview

Nature Awards Nature champions the transformational power of outstanding science and its potential to make positive change in the world. Our Nature Awards drive the goals and values that matter most to us and to you: research excellence, integrity and transparency, impact, inclusivity, engagement, sustainability, and the importance of evidence in public life. We recognize, reward, connect and celebrate researchers from all over the world who share our values and chase those goals. Inspiring Women in Science The Inspiring Women in Science awards celebrate and support the achievements of women in science, and all those who work to encourage girls and young women to engage with STEM subjects and stay in STEM careers around the world. We invite applications in two award categories — Science Outreach and Scientific Achievement. Scientific Achievement Category We are looking for applicants who have made an exceptional, demonstrable contribution to scientific discovery, and may have faced significant personal or professional challenges. The applicant should exhibit the potential for developing and leading an independent research group. We are also keen that applicants have made efforts to inspire the next generation of scientists through outreach or support the retention of women in science careers. Prizes The winners of the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science will receive: A prize of US$50,000An invitation to the award ceremony in London or New York, with accommodation and travel expenses paid by the organiser.Coverage on nature.com An invitation to present their work or initiative to the scientists at The Estée Lauder Companies Mentoring through The Estée Lauder Companies The runners up will receive: A prize of US$5,000An invitation to the award ceremony in London or New York, with accommodation and travel expenses paid by the organiser The shortlisted applicants will: Be profiled on the Nature Awards website Have access to an exclusive coaching and networking community

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. This category is directed at individual early-career women researchers.Applicants must self-identify as women. We use an inclusive definition of ‘woman’ and ‘women’. We welcome trans women, and genderqueer and non-binary people.Applicants must hold a PhD degree, a medical degree (MD), or another type of doctorate by dissertation obtained in the last 10 years. The previously mentioned 10 years will be extended by any maternity leave(s) or other relevant leaves of absence. Thus, the 10 years do not need to be continuous. Details of these absences will need to be specified during the application process.Applicants must hold a non-tenured position at the time of application. We accept applications from those working in STEM. We also welcome applications that include an interdisciplinary component.This includes those with individual funding and those who have non-permanent postdoctoral and/or non-permanent tenure-track positions (or equivalents such as proleptic lecturer positions).Applicants must be working in natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or medicine (“STEM”).Applicants must be resident in a country where it is lawful for you to apply, nor be subject to any other exclusions listed in the Terms & Conditions. There is no restriction on the number of awards that an applicant can apply for, but an applicant cannot be selected to more than one award shortlist by the Promoter in the same calendar year.

Ineligibility

Those in a tenured position (or equivalents, such as a permanent lecturer position) are not eligible to apply.Please note that the Awards are not open at any stage to:persons resident in countries or territories where local, state, provincial or national laws prohibit the promotion of, operation of or participation in such awards or receiving prizes pursuant to the Awardpersons resident in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Burma/Myanmar, Russia, or the Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk regions of Ukraine, or other sanction-sensitive countries or regions as updated from time to time;any individual named on Specially Designated Nationals lists as updated from time to time;directors or employees (or members of their immediate families) of the Promoter or any affiliate of the Promoter;any current members of the judging panel or ambassadors (or members of their immediate families);previous winners.