Doctoral hat made by a research team, with colourful molecule balls on springs.

Equal opportunities for doctoral candidates

Promoting gender equality in the doctoral phase
Doctoral hat made by a research team, with colourful molecule balls on springs.
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)

The University of Jena is committed to creating an environment where doctoral candidates can successfully complete their qualification, regardless of their gender. At our institution, women and men are almost equally represented among doctoral candidates and in doctoral degrees. Yet, a disproportionately high number of women in Germany leave academia in the postdoctoral phase of their careers (so-called ‘leaky pipeline’). As a result, less than a third of professorships are held by women.

Promising female early career researchers should become an integral and long-standing part of our academic community. To this why our University would like to actively encourage talented female doctoral students to deepen their research interests and consider pursuing a career in academia.

  • Rowena Morse plaque: "... was the first woman who completed her doctorate at Faculty of Arts at Jena University in 1904"
    Image: Marco Körner
    Rowena-Morse-Mentoring-ProgramExternal linkde

    Are you a female doctoral student or postdoctoral
    student at the Friedrich Schiller University of
    Jena? Then you can apply for the Rowena-Morse-Mentoring-Program.
    Application deadline: August 18, 2024.

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  • ‘Career Objective for Women: Professor’—Overview of the University’s support services for early career researchers.

    The brochure ‘Career Objective for Women: Professor’ offers an overview of available advisory services, funding opportunities, and early career researcher support at our University.

    Learn morepdf, 9 mb · de

  • ‘ProChance exchange’—Programme to promote academic exchange

    This programme is offered by the Office of the Vice-President for Research. It aims to promote academic exchange among female researchers and provides opportunities to network, increase the visibility of women in academia, and explore research interests further.

    The programme also offers financial support to cover the costs of pubications, short research stays, and the participation in conferences, workshops, and summer schools.

    Learn more

  • Rowena-Morse- Mentoring-Programme

    Rowena Morse was the first women who completed a doctorate at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 1904. The mentoring programme is an interdisciplinary and inter-university programme designed by Friedrich Schiller University to support young female academics and artists at Thuringian higher education institutions.

    The programme is aimed at young female academics who are in the final phase of their doctorate or post-doctoral orientation phase and are planning their further career. It offers support in the form of peer mentoring and group mentoring with experienced women professors as well as training in career-relevant soft skills. Calls for applications open during  the summer semester. The programme lasts for one year and starts in the winter semester.

    The programme is offered by all universities in the Thuringian Competence Network for Gender Equality. At the University of Jena, the Office of the Vice-President for Early Career Researchers and Diversity Management is the central point of contact for female early career researchers.

    Learn moreExternal linkde
  • Gender-sensitive doctorate and career counselling

    The Graduate Academy offers individual and gender-sensitive doctorate and career advice.

    For a first consultation, please contact the Welcome and Service Desk in the House for Early Career Researchers. If you have any further questions, you can arrange a personal consultation to discuss your personal questions and concerns.

    Learn more

  • ‘Women in Academia’—Portraits of women professors at the University of Jena

    Change requires good role models.

    In the portrait series ‘Women in Academia’, women professors at Friedrich Schiller University describe their academic career paths in pictures and in writing. This inspirational series aims to make young talents aware of their career options and encourage them to pursue a career in academia.

    learn more de

  • University Sports—Self-defence for women

    Knowing that we can defend ourselves in potentially dangerous situations strengthens our self-confidence.

    Under the theme ‘Defend yourself in everyday life!’, the university sports programme regularly offers self-defence courses for women.The training programme aims to help everyone get physically fit and learn some simple defence techniques that allow them to defend themselves in the event of a physical attack. Courses are designed for two people who want to train together, but you can also register on your own. More information on current and upcoming university sports courses is available hereExternal link.

    For a first insight into self-defence techniques, you can watch this videoExternal link of a self-defence course.

Service and advice for doctoral candidates

Graduate Academy

Opening hours:
Welcome and Service Desk
Monday to Thursday 10:00 - 12:00
Tuesday, Thursday 14:00 - 16:00

Individual consultations by appointment.

Advice and representation of interests in special circumstances

Equal Opportunities Officers | Equal Opportunities Office

Office hours:
Consultations with Prof. Dr Weinke by appointment via email

gleichstellung@uni-jena.de

or anonymously using our contact form.