Barbara Zorec, the 29-year-old pharmacy researcher, specialises in painless dermal and transdermal administration of active ingredients.

Anamarija Žagar, 32, is a biologist doing her doctorate on competition between two species of lizards and, by extension, physiological adaptation of cold blooded organisms.

Mirjana Rodošek, a 28-year-old chemist, is conducting research into anti-corrosion medal coatings.

The grants are funded by the Slovenian National UNESCO Commission and the Slovenian branch of French cosmetics conglomerate L-Oreal.

Women in Science, so far extending grants to 25 researchers, highlights the important role of women in scientific endeavour and awards research excellence.

The grants were handed out at a ceremony at the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is sponsoring the project.