2026 Applications Open

Celebrating Women in
Science Across
Southeast Asia

Recognising exceptional female scientists from all 11 ASEAN Member States.
2026 Theme: AI for Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Healthcare in ASEAN.

Discover the Prize How to Apply
$35K
Total prize money
11
ASEAN Member States
10+
Years of impact
4
Awardees per year
UL Research InstitutesUL Standards & EngagementUS-ASEAN Business Council, Inc.ASEAN
Women scientists collaborating
Award Summary · 2026
Senior Scientist Winner$12,500
Mid-career Scientist Winner$12,500
Honorable Mentions ×2$5,000 ea.
About the Prize

A Prestigious Award for Exceptional Scientists

The Science Prize is a partnership between UL Research Institutes (ULRI), UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This award recognises the exceptional contributions of mid-career and senior female scientists from all 11 ASEAN Member States, celebrating their achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Each year, 2 winners (one per category) and 2 honorable mentions are recognised for their outstanding contributions to science and society.
  • Open to scientists from all 11 ASEAN Member States — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
  • Two categories: Mid-career (aged 45 or below) and Senior Scientist (aged 46 or older) — recognising talent at every stage of a career.
  • Winners receive cash prizes and formal recognition from all partnering organisations, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.
2026 Theme

AI for Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Healthcare in ASEAN

Healthcare systems across ASEAN face growing pressures from ageing populations, disease burden, and unequal access to quality care. This year's theme explores how artificial intelligence can transform healthcare delivery, medical research, and health equity across the region.

AI-Powered Diagnostics
Leveraging machine learning to improve the accuracy and speed of medical diagnoses, from imaging analysis to early disease detection.
Personalised Medicine
Using AI to tailor treatments to individual patients based on genetic profiles, lifestyle data, and medical history for better outcomes.
Health Equity & Access
AI solutions that bridge healthcare gaps across rural and underserved communities, improving access to quality care throughout ASEAN.
Drug Discovery & Research
Accelerating pharmaceutical research and clinical trials using AI models to identify promising compounds and predict treatment efficacy.
Digital Health Systems
Building AI-enabled health information systems and predictive tools to support policy decisions and pandemic preparedness across ASEAN.
Winners & Awardees

Current & Past Winners

Recognising 2 winners (one per category) and 2 honorable mentions each year from across all 11 ASEAN Member States.

Senior Scientist — 2025
Winner
Brunei Darussalam
Dr Wida Susanty Haji Suhaili
Malaysia · Honorable Mention
Dr Rozalina Zakaria
Mid-Career Scientist — 2025
Winner
Thailand
Dr Pantana Tor-ngern
Philippines · Honorable Mention
Dr Mayzonee Ligaray
Senior Scientist — 2024
Winner
Singapore
Dr. Yeng Ming Lam
Malaysia · Honorable Mention
Dr. Lariyah Mohd Sidek
Mid-career Scientist — 2024
Winner
Brunei Darussalam
Dr. Daphne Teck Ching Lai
Malaysia · Honorable Mention
Dr. Go Yun Ii
Senior Scientist — 2023
Winner
Thailand
Dr. Pimpa Limthongkul
Singapore · Honorable Mention
Dr. Madhavi Srinivasan
Mid-career Scientist — 2023
Winner
Philippines
Dr. Charlle Sy
Malaysia · Honorable Mention
Dr. Nofri Yenita Dahlan
Senior Scientist — 2022
Winner
Malaysia
Dr. Sok Ching Cheong
Mid-career Scientist — 2022
Winner
Thailand
Dr. Supiya Charoensiriwath
Past Winners (2014–2021)
2021
Indonesia
Dr. Neni Sintawardani
2021
Singapore
Dr. Li Hongying
2020
Malaysia
Dr. Yoke Fun Chan
2019
Singapore
Dr. Yan Zhou
2018
Philippines
Dr. Gay Jane Perez
2017
Vietnam
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep
2016
Thailand
Dr. Worajit Setthapun
2014
Thailand
Dr. Nuttaporn Pimpha
How to Apply

Apply for the 2026 Prize

The Prize is open to female scientists from all 11 ASEAN Member States. Here's a quick overview of what's involved — visit the full rules page for complete details, downloadable application forms, important dates, and press releases.

Step 1 — Check Eligibility
Are you eligible?
Female PhD holder, citizen of an ASEAN member state. Aged 45 or below for Mid-career, 46 or older for Senior Scientist.
Step 2 — Prepare 4 Documents
Gather your materials
Application form, CV (max 4 pages), a letter of recommendation, and a letter of support from a female mentee.
Step 3 — Submit by Deadline
Send your application
Email all documents to scienceprize4women@gmail.com before the application deadline.
4-Stage Selection Process
Stage 1
Eligibility Screening
Applications checked for completeness
Stage 2
National Finalist
Each AMS selects one finalist per category
Stage 3
Regional Finalist
Top 2 per category selected by panel
Stage 4
Pitch & Award
5-min pitch at AUSCST Dialogue
Need the full details?
The full rules page covers all eligibility criteria, required documents with email templates, the complete review process & scoring rubric, important dates, downloadable application forms, and press releases.
View Full Rules & Guidelines

Ready to Apply?

2026 Applications are now open. Don't miss your chance to be recognised as one of Southeast Asia's leading women in science.

Apply Now
Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you

For questions about the prize, applications, or partnerships, reach out to the organizing team directly.

Email us
scienceprize4women@gmail.com
LinkedIn
UL Research Institutes-ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women
Twitter / X
@scienceprize
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia · ASEAN 2026