CIBSS Career & Support

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

CIBSS aims to create an open and inclusive academic community and environment where all scientists, employees and students have equal opportunities and are welcomed and respected regardless of their gender, ability or disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic background, ethnicity or nationality. CIBSS promotes gender equality and representation of scientists with diverse backgrounds by strengthening the recruitment, retention and career development of excellent scientists particularly from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM, including women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and to further the internationalisation of the CIBSS research community. CIBSS recognises, that balancing family and career can be a major challenge for scientists, and therefore implements strategies to help researchers reconcile these commitments.

 

Family-friendly working conditions in CIBSS

 

CIBSS offers

  • laboratory assistance for women who are pregnant or nursing
  • assistance organising childcare, a dedicated on-site family room, on-site childminding during special CIBSS events
  • seminars at noon
  • complementary financing in programmes to bridge family-related career gaps (e.g. family or child illness)

CIBSS builds on

  • flexible working hours at the University of Freiburg
  • structures that allow for and support remote working
  • university childcare facilities, holiday, off-hours and emergency childcare
  • resources and strategies to support researchers with other care work responsibilities
  • successful Dual Career Programme

CIBSS promotes professional career development

To provide its researchers with continuous support and resourceful tools for career development and planning or to assist with difficult decisions and career steps, CIBSS and the university of Freiburg offer individual and confidential coaching sessions with professional coaches.

>> More information about coaching opportunities in CIBSS and at the University of Freiburg here.

>> More information about specialised support programmes for women in science here.

 

Networking, awareness and information: CIBSS events focusing on gender and diversity

CIBSS recognises that bias, discrimination and differences in privileges impact individual career trajectories and that there are upward opportunities to expand within the academic and educational system – e.g. the drop-out or loss of individuals from underrepresented groups our groups facing specific challenges at various stages of their career and educational journey due to systemic issues, bias, lack of support and other barriers (leaky pipeline).

In order to promote networking, awareness, understanding and information, CIBSS regularly organises or participates in events and initiatives focusing on gender and diversity issues, such as:

 

Ally-initiative

Committing to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all researchers, with a particular focus on individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+, first-generation scientists and other underrepresented groups, CIBSS has established an ally-initiative – designed to support, mentor, and empower all those who face systemic barriers in academia.

Do you seek a supportive network in academia?

Do you face challenges in your academic career and need someone to help navigate them?

 

Contact our allies in CIBSS:

For all facets of diversity, especially LGBTQIA+:

Peter Walentek

For all facets of diversity, especially balancing family and career, supporting women in science and for (mental)health related inquiries:

Anne Classen

For first-generation academics:

Olaf Groß

 

Equal Opportunity and Diversity landscape around CIBSS

As a part of the University of Freiburg, CIBSS relies on a range of centrally defined and organised support measures to which everyone in CIBSS is entitled and has access.

Find all measures supporting career development to which CIBSS members have access listed here.

Find out more on the diversity framework within the University of Freiburg and the University Medical Centre: