Biophysicist Zuzana Garaiová from CU Receives the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award
In the ninth edition of the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science programme, the award went to Zuzana Garaiová, who works in the Biophysics Section of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics at the CU Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics. She won in the category Engineering Sciences and Technology.
Zuzana Garaiová focuses on the biophysical study of nanoparticles, such as nanoemulsions, which have potential applications in targeted cancer therapy. These are extremely small oil droplets dispersed in water, capable of delivering drugs directly into tumour cells and increasing treatment effectiveness. In developing the oil component of the nanoemulsions, she plans to explore the use of natural substances with anticancer properties, including squalene and pomegranate seed oil. She also aims to source these materials sustainably, for example from lipid-producing yeasts that can grow on inexpensive or waste substrates.
The L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science programme supports women scientists working in Slovakia and highlights the importance of their research. Its ninth edition recognised three PhD holders aged 40 or under who work at Slovak research institutions. Each laureate received a financial award of EUR 7,000, which is not restricted to research use and can also support their professional development or private needs. A total of 30 talented researchers applied for the programme.
Scientific research remains a predominantly male field. According to 2023 Eurostat data, 7.7 million women scientists and engineers were employed in the European Union, representing only 41 percent of all workers in these sectors. The situation in Slovakia is even less favourable: women make up just 34.3 percent of scientific and engineering staff, placing Slovakia among the EU countries with the lowest share of women in science. Yet it is precisely the female perspective that brings new insights and innovative approaches to research.