Women in Science

The Max Planck Society wants to foster scientific careers of both female and male researchers. As female researchers are still underrepresented, we turn our attention on especially supporting them.
The MPG offers for example:

Women’s Career Day

July 09, 2025

The registration for this year’s Women’s Career Day is open with the motto “Take the Stage: Pitch and Connect”.
We are excited to bring together women scientists from across Hamburg for half a day of networking, inspiration, and science!

Registration & information: https://indico.desy.de/event/49390/

Please note: The number of places for the workshops is limited, and the allocation of the available places follows the "first come, first served" principle. Your registration is pending until the final confirmation from the organisers.
Organsing Committee: Eileen Schwanold (CUI), Melissa Graewert (EMBL), Mariana Chavez, Neda Lotfiomran (MPSD/IMPRS-UFAST), Mirko Siemssen (PIER), Henriette Ullmann (Quantum Universe/MIN Faculty)

Mentoring Program

The call for applications for the 10th round of dynaMENT Mentoring for Women* in Natural Sciences is now open.

The program is designed for women* in natural sciences, planning to pursue a career in science. It offers confidential one-to-one sessions with an experienced mentor over a period of 12 months (doctorate) / 24 months (advanced) and supports the researchers to plan their individual career in science. In addition, the program offers trainings and career events in English and helps to build a career network in science. dynaMENT advanced particularly supports the participants in the further planning and development of their careers through scientifically oriented career seminars, individual coaching and networking offers.

dynaMENT is a joint project of DESY and MIN faculty of Universität Hamburg, supported by the two clusters of excellence “CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter” and “Quantum Universe”. Female* doctoral researchers of European XFEL, Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf and Bernhard-Nocht-Institut are also encouraged to apply.

Applications can be submitted until 7th of July 2025.

More information: www.dynaMENT.de

Contact: mentoring@dynaMENT.de

*Incl. all gender minorities (e.g. transgenders, transsexuals, intersexuals) who feel addressed through dynaMENT Mentoring for Women in Natural Sciences. more

Sign Up! Careerbuilding for female postdocs in the MPG

This Career building program is aimed at promoting female post-doctoral researchers and academic staff in their career development and prepare them for leadership roles in the scientific community. The Institute Directorates can nominate female scientists at postdoctoral level for participation in program workshops. The program was developed jointly by the MPG and the EAF Berlin.

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A Career in Science

Max Planck Research Groups offer early career researchers who hold a doctoral degree an excellent opportunity to qualify for a further career at a high level. Leaders of these groups are appointed by the President of the Max Planck Society and – similar to directors at Max Planck Institutes – enjoy an independent status within the Institute.

At the Max Planck Society, there are three ways of obtaining a group leadership position: research groups, so-called “Max Planck Research Groups” and the Lise Meitner Excellence Programme for particularly outstanding female scientists. more

Elisabeth Schiemann Kolleg

Here, scientiﬁc members of the Max Planck Society foster the careers of excellent female scientists after their postdoc phase, helping them to succeed on their way to an appointment as a tenured professor or as a director of a research institution. Additionally, the Kolleg offers a platform for transdisciplinary scientiﬁc exchange. The support of the Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg is of non-material nature; the fellows are not supported financially. more

Minerva-FemmeNet

The Minerva-FemmeNet is a network for female scientists in the Max Planck Society which was set up in 2001. The idea behind this project is to use the experience of highly qualified female scientists - including former employees at Max Planck Institutes - to the benefit of young women scientists working at the institutes through a mentoring relationship. more

LeadNet of the MPG (all researchers)

LeadNet is a network bringing together male and female senior scientists, research associates, project and group leaders of the Max Planck Society. It is predominantly a bottom-up initiative of all research leaders irrespective of their formal and funding status at their affiliate Max Planck Institute. LeadNet provides a forum for common scientific and organizational issues and promotes interactions among research groups within the Max Planck Society. more

Career Steps Network der MPG (all researchers)

Several offers of the Max Planck Society for both female and male junior researchers can be found here. more

The MPSD is part of the CFEL, situated on the research campus Hamburg-Bahrenfeld. Here, you can participate for example in the …

Career Center at the University of Hamburg

Especially for PhD students affiliated to the University of Hamburg, a lot of workshops and events are available. Furthermore, you can ask for an individual consulting service there! more