Funding for early-career female researchers
Women in academia and the scientific community still face a disproportionate number of obstacles. Even though more and more women are pursuing undergraduate and doctoral degrees, significantly fewer women than men remain in academia, and they are less likely to hold leadership positions there. To promote gender equality in the scientific community, the University of Lucerne supports early-career female researchers through targeted measures.
- Would you like to reflect on your academic career planning? Clarify what steps to take next? Or does your current goal no longer seem achievable or worthwhile?
- Do you need professional feedback on your application materials or grant proposals? Do you need guidance on securing further funding for your research?
- Does the uncertainty of the academic system weigh on you? Are you experiencing a difficult situation at work? Do you have doubts about your own time and self-management, or about balancing academia, caregiving and raising children?
Postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students with post-doc ambitions can address these and other questions through professional one-on-one coaching or individual counseling.
The Office of Equal Opportunity can cover the costs of up to 5 hours at a maximum of CHF 250 per hour. The Office’s budget is limited, so applications may be rejected.
An application for individual coaching or counseling must always be discussed in advance during an initial consultation with the Office. The Office can advise on selecting suitable experts.
Find additional information about the service and the application process in the Coaching and Consultancy leaflet.
Contact: Fleur Weibel, fleur.weibel@unilu.ch
Women in Academia is a working group at the University of Lucerne organized by, with, and for early-career female researchers. Through workshops, lunches, and discussion forums, the working group creates opportunities to share knowledge and experiences, ask questions, and examine existing structures.
Information and contact details can be found on the Women in Academia website.
From 2023 to 2026, the working group is receiving financial support from the Equality Commission.
The SNSF has set itself the goal of improving gender equality in research funding. Within this framework, the gender equality grant in SNSF funding instruments can be used to finance flexible and tailored measures for early-career female researchers to support their career development.
Early-career female researchers at the doctoral or postdoctoral level who hold an SNF-funded position are eligible for a gender equality grant.
All information regarding the gender equality grant can be found on the website of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
