L'Oréal USA Announces 2025 For Women in Science Awardees, Underscoring Commitment to Advancing Careers in STEM

L'Oréal USA revealed the 2025 For Women in Science (FWIS) awardees, providing five women postdoctoral scientists grants to advance their research. The program, a cornerstone of L'Oréal USA's efforts over twenty-one years, reflects the unwavering commitment to supporting women in shaping their future and making a difference in society through scientific research.

The 2025 FWIS cohort represents a dynamic range of research focus areas, including physiology, sensory biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, and developmental biology.

Rebecka J. Sepela, Harvard University, specializes in collaborative, curiosity-guided research into the intricate ways molecules from the natural world interact with animal chemical receptors.

Kaitlyn A. Webster, Harvard Medical School. studies the rapidly evolving fish Mexican tetra to research fundamental topics in reproductive biology: male and female development from the same biological starting point, the impact of extreme environmental changes on fertility, and species-specific attraction of sperm and eggs. 

Georgia Squyres, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), investigates the complex world of bacterial communities, specifically biofilms.

Kaveeta Kaw, Emory University, School of Medicine, utilizes 3D bioprinting technology to model and gain a deeper understanding of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a severe lung disease

Sydney Aten, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, focuses on understanding the body's internal clock, or circadian rhythms.

"For more than two decades, L'Oréal USA's For Women in Science program has invested in exceptional researchers whose work advances scientific knowledge and creates meaningful solutions for our world," said Marissa McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer for L'Oréal North America. "Our commitment goes beyond funding research—we're investing in career development, mentorship, and community that unlock the full potential of women in science. This year's awardees aren't just advancing their fields—they're opening doors for the next generation and redefining leadership. That's value that compounds over time, creating opportunity that extends far beyond any single grant or award." 

The FWIS program, the U.S. component of the global L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International program, embodies the belief in the essential role of women in science and aims to create community and connection for women postdoctoral researchers as they pursue ambitious research projects and attain leadership positions in their fields. Since 2003, the L'Oréal USA FWIS program has supported more than 105 remarkable women scientists, awarding over $5.3 million in grants. This year, L'Oréal USA has increased its investment to $75,000 per awardee, providing meaningful support for the cohort of women scientists.

L'Oréal USA will honor the 2025 For Women in Science recipients at an awards ceremony in the New York City area on November 13, 2025. Leading up to the awards ceremony, the group engages in three days of programming with organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Pioneer Works, and the National Geographic Storytellers Collective. Experiences include a visit to L'Oreal's newly opened North America Research and Innovation Center in Clark, NJ, mentorship and scientific and idea exchanges with internationally recognized women in science, valuable professional development on scientific storytelling, and candid conversations on navigating STEM career development and advancement in scientific fields.

"Over the past two decades, the L'Oréal USA For Women in Science program has not only recognized excellence but has actively built a thriving community of scientists committed to both discovery and mentorship," said Travis York, Director of the AAAS Center for STEMM Education & Workforce (CSEW). "This year's awardees embody the transformative power of inclusion in science — where research and representation go hand in hand."