On 14 November 2023, the names of six talented Polish female scientists who received scholarships in the 23rd edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO Programme for Women and Science were announced. Among those awarded in the doctoral category, the scholarship went to our student, Elżbieta Wątor.

Since 1998, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have worked together to promote women in science. The Foundation aims to create programmes that put female scientists in the spotlight and financially support their achievements while encouraging them to continue their work. Partners of the programme include the Polish Committee for UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the UN Global Compact Network Poland. The scholarships are awarded by an independent Jury composed of eminent representatives of Polish science.

During the 25 years of the global L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme, more than 4100 talented women worldwide have received scholarships – through 52 local programmes, present in more than 100 countries worldwide. Annually, more than 250 scholarships are awarded worldwide in regional programmes. More than 50 scientific institutions from around the world and 500 collaborating scientists are involved.

Year after year, the organisers observe an increase in the quality of the applications submitted, and thus the L’Oréal-UNESCO Programme for Women and Science award becomes an increasingly prestigious distinction and testifies to the growing quality of research work by Polish female scientists. 

In this year’s award, in the PhD category, the scholarship was awarded to Ela Wątor. The committee appreciated her contribution in the research on the Molecular Basis of Deoxyhypusination . Ela is not only responsible for the laboratory research, but is also the first author of publications on hypusination: Half Way to Hypusine  and Cryo-EM structure of human eIF5A-DHS complex and also the recipient of a Preludium grant on this research Preludium. Although Ela has already accustomed us to her successes – HEC-Meeting, we are still extremely proud and congratulate you enormously Ela!

Ela received the award at a ceremony in Warsaw, where she was accompanied by team members Przemek Grudnik, PhD, and Piotr Wilk, PhD.