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Funding Programmes & Awards

In the general scientific community, and in infection research in particular, there are numerous programmes and awards that specifically promote women. We present some of them here. The list is by no means exhaustive and is constantly being expanded. If you know of another support programme or would like your own programme to be listed here, please contact us. Good luck!

‘For Women in Science’ Award

• Promotes female early-career scientists working in Germany each year with an award worth 25.000 €
• Deadline (this year): March

Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation

• Supports talented young women with children in the fields of experimental natural sciences and medicine
• Foundation provides up to 400 €/months for assistance with household tasks and childcare
• Deadline: 31 Dec of each calendar year

Zia – Visible Women in Science

• Providing mentoring by experienced researchers
• Offering workshops and networking opportunities to support professional and personal development
• Bewerbungsschluss 2025: Ende August

Women in Global Health – Germany

• Gender parity in global health leadership in Germany
• Gender parity in advisory and decision-making bodies in the health sector in Germany
• Mentoring programme

European Platform of Women Scientists

• Coordinated political interventions on gender equality in research
• Structural link between the research community and policy makers at EU level

Leibniz Mentoring

• Career development program for early- and mid-career female researchers
• Provides one-to-one mentoring, training, and networking opportunities
• Supports women on their path to leadership roles or professorships
• Annual call for applications

Mothers in Science

• Support mothers in STEM
• Promote workplace equity and inclusion of caregivers
• Mentoring programme
• Travel grants (250 €)

Deutscher Akademikerinnen Bund e.V., DAB

• Oldest association of German academic women
• Offers a variety of advisory and networking opportunities
• Mentoring programme

Contact Point ‘Women into EU Research’

• Advises on all gender-related aspects within Horizon Europe
• Part of the German National Contact Point (NCP) network
• Presentations and workshops on EU research funding (Horizon Europe) and opportunities to participate
• Basic information on funding opportunities and proposal writing within the EU framework programme

DZIF: Maternity Leave Programme

• Supports female scientists (but also male scientists) in returning to scientific work after maternity or parental leave
• Application for max. 110.000 € (for staff) for an independent research project or to expand an ongoing DZIF project
• No Deadline: Application possible at any time

Life Sciences Bridge Award

• The Aventis Foundation awards €100,000 annually (€10,000 for private use and €90,000 for research and teaching) to selected young scientists.
• Prerequisite: Research group leadership (at least three years after obtaining a doctorate), junior professorship or tenure-track professorship, without full-time or permanent professorship.
• Application deadline 2025: April 30

Hessen: ProProfessur and ProAcademia

• Sponsorship for female scientists
• Application in June, begins every two years

Alfried Krupp-Förderpreis

• Die Alfried Krupp-Stiftung verleiht jährlich 1,1 Millionen € an ausgewählte junge Universitäts-Professor:innen, der Ingenieurs- und Naturwissenschaften sowie der Medizin.
• Voraussetzung: Forschung in Deutschland, erste Professur, nicht älter als 38 Jahre
• Bewerbungsschluss für 2026: 06. März 2026

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