As part of the Fellowship, eight women fellows from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) have been awarded financial grants to pursue doctoral research in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These eight women Fellows will receive financial grants to advance pioneering research as part of their PhD work in Climate Action, Sustainability, Health and Hygiene – areas that are vital to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Beyond funding, they will benefit from exclusive mentorship by senior leaders at HUL and renowned academics, empowering them to drive meaningful change and shape the future of STEM in India.
The Fellows were awarded at an event held at HUL’s R&D campus in Bangalore in the presence of distinguished Women STEM leaders, including Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt of India, Dr Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and Dr Aridni Shah, Co-founder and CEO, Immunito AI.
Priya Nair, CEO & MD, HUL, said, “India has made remarkable progress in STEM education with women representing an impressive 43% of STEM graduates - the highest globally. At HUL, we are proud to champion this progress by investing in mentorship, forging partnerships with leading institutes, and funding research that empowers women innovators. These efforts are critical not only for creating more opportunities for young women scientists but also for fostering an inclusive and innovative future.”
Dr Vibhav Sanzgiri, Executive Director for R&D HUL, said, “Our commitment to advancing women in STEM began in 2023 with the launch of the inaugural edition. This year, we are proud to welcome eight outstanding fellows from IISc, NCBS, and IITM as part of our third cohort. This expansion underscores our dedication to creating opportunities for women scientists to strengthen their expertise and make a lasting impact in their fields.”
The HUL Women in STEM Fellowship is funded through the Company’s CSR programme and is designed to support top women scholars from leading Indian institutes to pursue their PhD in areas that are aligned with the SDGs. Post a rigorous selection process led independently by the institutes, the HUL Fellows receive an award along with a financial scholarship for their PhD programme.