An important structural goal of the PRISMA++ Cluster of Excellence is the equal opportunities of scientists at the institutional and scientific level. To this end, PRISMA++ has established the Irène Joliot-Curie Programme, which serves to promote women in all scientific career phases within the cluster and its wider research environment.
Irène Joliot-Curie (*September 12, 1897, † March 17, 1956) was a French scientist. She was the eldest daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie and later the wife of Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for the discovery of artificial radioactivity.
The program was launched in December 2013 on the initiative of Prof. Dr. Concettina Sfienti. It offers workshops, training seminars, and networking events for women within and around the cluster and the faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science at JGU. Events that raise gender awareness, such as a lecture series, regularly attract a large audience of both women and men. The IJCP primarily focuses on a physics-specific perspective, thereby complementing the existing support structures of the JGU.
This program is designed for young researchers in Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics to help navigate a successful scientific career adapting to the individual needs as well as the time constraints of young scientists. The goal of the program is to provide role-models for academic careers in science – this is of major importance for women and non-binary persons, who are still under-represented in the more advanced career stages: Within one-on-one mentoring sessions, participants will benefit from the personal view of an experienced mentor (a scientist from JGU, other Rhine-Main-Universities or – if desired – from further afield). Mentees may choose from a list of potential mentors or request specific mentors according to individual needs and preferences. Additional career advice will provide participants with essential decision-making skills and individual support if desired.
Due to the intense nature of this program (approximately six to nine months of individual support) it is designed to fit around ongoing research activities. Aside from the mandatory half-day kickoff workshop (June 13th or 27th – tbd.), all other appointments are negotiated individually. On average, this is expected to consist of three appointments with your mentor and up to three career advice sessions.
All applications must contain a full CV and a letter of motivation. For further questions please get in touch with Helga Juli, julih@uni-mainz.de. Please submit your application to mpa@uni-mainz.de until May, 14. Please indicate which date for the kickoff workshop suits you better (June 13th or 27th).
Postponed from Summer 2024.
In-depth workshop for students and lecturers on Monday, Nov 3, 2025.
Why should we care about diversity in a physics classroom? How can we create an inclusive and equitable learning and teaching atmosphere? Tomas Brage is a professor of physics at Lund University and shares with us his expertise on gender and science. He is a steering group member of the LERU Policy Group for EDI and participates in the GENERA net- work and the GenderEX Horizon 2020 project. He is the chair of the section for equality, diversity and inclusion of the Swedish Physical Society and has led or co-led projects on Gender Certification, Antidiscrimination, Core-Values, mentoring for change and Unconscious Bias observers in Lund and beyond.
Everybody is welcome! No registration required.
| Date | Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Physics colloquium) |
| Location | To be announced. |
More information:
mpa@uni-mainz.de
Body language plays an important role in how we perceive others and how we ourselves are perceived. Within only a few moments, impressions of competence, likeability and trustworthiness can be formed, often before a single word has been spoken. This workshop with Stefan Verra, one of Europe’s leading experts on body language, explores how gestures, posture, facial expressions, and other non-verbal signals influence communication and interpersonal interactions. Participants will reflect on their own body language and learn how it can affect those around them. Furthermore, the workshop will address gender-related differences in body language and how certain gestures, postures, or expressions may be perceived differently. The workshop aims to help participants avoid misunderstandings and communicate more effectively by becoming more aware of these nuances.
The workshop organized by the CRC is open to PhD students and young researchers from across the Mainz physics community. Please register for the event via Indico: https://indico.zdv.uni-mainz.de/event/204/
| Date | Tue, November 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | HIM Building, Lecture Hall |
Discussions around gender, equality and discrimination can quickly become challenging, particularly when discriminatory remarks are made unintentionally or when participants feel pressured to justify their position. This workshop focuses on common patterns of argumentation and recurring forms of verbal attack in such situations. Participants will learn linguistic techniques and argumentative strategies for responding more confidently and effectively, while reflecting on how language shapes both self-perception and the perception of others. The workshop also provides space to practice these approaches and strengthen participants in handling difficult discussions in their professional roles.
Please be aware, the number of participants is limited. All early career researchers are welcome; women and non-binary persons receive advanced placement.
Please register under mpa@uni-mainz.de until Nov 10.
| Date | Fri, November 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | MITP Seminar Room, Staudingerweg 9, 02-430 |
For all who want to improve their vocal performance in presentations or while explaining complex connections. Learn to exploit the full potential of your voice: Evelyn Gangl from Speaker’s Training Heidelberg uses her background from speech therapy and linguistics knowledge to help you sound confident and convince people even in a foreign language.
Please be aware, the number of participants is limited. All early career researchers are welcome; women and non-binary persons receive advanced placement.
If you would like to attend the event in person, please register under mpa@uni-mainz.de until Dec 14.
| Date | Mi, 22. Januar 2027, 9:00 – 13:00 Uhr |
| Location | Curie Room (03-431), Institute of Physics, Staudingerweg 7 |
Contact
This programme is designed for young researchers in Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics and aims to provide career advice that adapts to both the individual needs and the time constraints of young scientists. The goal of the program is to create role models for academic careers in science.
Within one-on-one mentoring sessions, participants will benefit from the personal perspective of an experienced mentor (a scientist from JGU, other Rhine-Main universities or – if desired – from further afield). They can choose from a list of potential mentors or request specific individuals according to their individual needs and preferences. Additional career advice will provide them with essential decision-making skills and individual support.
Due to the intense nature of this program (approximately six to nine months of individual support), it is designed to fit around ongoing research activities. Aside from the mandatory one-day kickoff workshop, all other appointments are negotiated individually. On average, this is expected to consist of three appointments with the mentor and up to three career advice sessions. Additional support (e.g., workshops, coaching, etc.) can be offered upon request. It is an inclusive program with a focus on women and people of gender diversity and is open to all, regardless of gender.
Studies show that young female researchers, particularly during the transitions from their doctorate to their first postdoctoral position or from a postdoctoral position to the next higher career stage, decide against a scientific career. The goal of the IJCP Fellowship for Transition Phases is therefore to prevent the dropout of young female researchers at the transitions between different career phases. The primary target group consists of excellent female doctoral candidates (in their final year before completing their doctorate) and female postdoctoral researchers. In justified exceptional cases, the fellowship can also be used for re-entry after interrupting a scientific career due to parental leave or caregiver leave.
The grant consists of a 100% EG13 position for a period of usually 8 months, which is used to prepare for a further academic career (e.g. application for an “own position” at the DFG, AvH postdoctoral researcher position). The work in one of the PRISMA++ work groups is flanked by accompanying career advising, in the context of which tailored support services are agreed (attending workshops, mentoring, coaching).
The fellowships are not advertised but are awarded by nomination. For more information, please contact the IJCP program management.
- Prof. Paul Walton (University of York), “Gender equality in academia: Why is it so slow?”
- Noah Fleischer (Diversity Company), Certificate Course: “Diversity-sensitive teaching”
- Keynote and discussion with Simone Burel, LUB Mannheim: “Neurodiversity”
Workshop with Noah Fleischer, coach and consultant: “Why diversity matters for leadership”
- Workshop with Noah Fleischer, coach and consultant: “Why diversity matters for scientific careers”
- Workshop with Francesca Carlin, coach: “Fostering equal opportunities in selection processes”
- Workshop with Francesca Carlin, coach: “Picture a Scientist: Do you fit the image? Defining and Redefining the Role”
- Talk by Francesca Carlin, coach: “How gender and implicit biases affect scientific careers”
Talk by Prof. Andrea Abele-Brehm, University of Erlangen: “Gender Bias in Scientific Communication”
- Workshop with Nils Seiler, coach: “Family matters – workshop for (expectant) fathers”
- Talk by Susanne Dilcher, coach and consultant: “How much difference is good for me? Breaking the German squareness”
- Talk by Dr. Lina Vollmer, Project Leader Diversity Strategy, University of Cologne: “Does only qualification count? Gender Bias in Science”
- Talk by Prof. Sigrid Metz-Göckel, TU Dortmund: “Career Factor child for the academic career”
- Talk by Marianne Heiß, European Finance Director Marketing Network BBDO: “Yes she can”
https://www.nachwuchs.uni-mainz.de/promotion/finanzierung-id-611/
https://www.dpg-physik.de/auszeichnungen/dpg-preise/hertha-sponer-preis
https://www.verwaltung.personal.uni-mainz.de/stellenausschreibungen/
