Diversity

My PhD journey at Bielefeld University would not be complete without mentioning YWTS. YWTS is a network for junior researchers who are female or divserse and members of BGTS, i.e., who work in economics, mathematics, or theoretical physics. 

Since my 2nd PhD year, I have served as network coordinator. I aim to connect the women across the three theory-oriented faculties, start conversations among them, encourage them, and provide them with tools and insights. I hope our network's activities contribute to members becoming confident, happy, and successful female researchers who know how to navigate the visible and invisible structural problems women in academia face. We support them with a mix of soft skill trainings, mentoring sessions by senior female researchers, tailored financial support, and opportunities to connect. 

The importance of keeping up these exchanges is, to me, captured in the most frequently uttered - almost epiphanic - feedback after YWTS events: 

I thought it was just me. Turns out it is a very common experience
of women in academia. But being the only one, I didn't notice.

Throughout this journey, I have worked together with many inspiring and dedicated equity officers and professors from Uni Bielefeld: Claudia, Lea, Ulrike, Claudia, Ana, Anna, Anna, Maren, Steffi, Elena, Marie, Cora, Papatya, Christiane. 

Furthermore, many female researchers visiting Bielefeld have taken the time to meet with our members for informal career talk sessions – and we are deeply grateful for their time, their honesty, and their passion for mentoring younger female researchers.

Last, but the opposite of least, my gratitude goes to the many Bielefeld students and postdocs who participate in YWTS events, and who shape the network with their questions, concerns, perspectives, and ideas.