Physics at the Terascale Helmholtz Gemeinschaft
Physics at the Terascale Career Equal Opportunity Strategy  · 

Equal Opportunity Strategy

All members of the Alliance are committed to provide equal opportunities for particle physicists at all stages. As in other fields of science we realise that, although the fraction of female PhD students is increasing, the fraction of female post-docs and professors is still marginal.
Without compromising in the scientific quality we will be working towards increasing the participation of female physicists in research. Based upon the well established procedures at the centres of the Helmholtz Gemeinschaft and the universities the hiring of personnel will be done with special attention to the goal of increasing the number of woman in science. To ensure this appropriate gender representation in selection boards will be assured in accordance with the equal opportunity commissioner of either a HGF centre or university. Furthermore we intend to give female physicists a high visibility and take particular care in supporting them in their careers
However, even if female scientists are selected and supported, we observe that a major obstacle lies in the role they adopt in families. We are therefore particularly committed to taking account the responsibilities and constraints of a young family, such that family and research become compatible, both for male and female scientists.
Apart from the fact that tenure track positions, which are one of the basic elements of this research proposal, will help to relieve young scientists from uncertainties about their future at a time when they normally establish a family, we foresee special funds to help young scientists to accommodate research and family in parallel.


  • a. In many cases the attraction of highly qualified young researchers is hampered by the fact that no adequate positions are available for their partners. The Alliance will create a fund to help in giving a position also for the spouse, even if working in another field. We intend to provide funding for up to half of a post-doc position, expecting the other half to come from the host university.

Another major obstacle for staying within science is the time intensive care for young children. To allow mothers and fathers of young children to continue their research as smoothly as possible, the Alliance will provide funds for

  • b. Teleworking, i.e. a high bandwidth internet connection and corresponding hardware and infrastructure;
  • c. Places in regular child care facilities;
  • d. Memberships in family service organisation (like P.M.E.) who can support child care on short notice even if regular care is impossible as in case of illness of a child, to provide the scientist with the opportunity to attend conferences and in general to continue her or his work;
  • e. Additional paid leaves of up to five working days to allow parents to take care of their children in case of emergency, following examples in private enterprises.

 

 
top