Women in research

Untapped potential

The members of the SNSF Gender Equality Commission (from left to right): Thomas Hinz, University of Constance; Nicky Le Feuvre, University of Lausanne; Anna Wahl, KTH Stockholm; Susan Gasser (president), Friedrich Miescher Institute /University of Basel; Michelle Cottier, University of Geneva; Simona Isler, SNSF; Gary Loke, Advance HE, London.

Gender equality in research? A clear goal of the SNSF. Since 2014, a specialised commission composed of  national and international experts has been working towards this goal. Its members were reelected for another four years in 2018. “We have achieved quite a few things,” says president Susan Gasser. “Among them, the introduction of the new SNSF funding scheme PRIMA. It supports women researchers whose aim it is to obtain a professorship.”

But there is plenty of work left to do. “Around 50 % of doctoral students are women, but only 17 % of all professorships are held by women. Switzerland does not make the most of the potential of its women researchers. This hampers innovation,” says Gasser. The SNSF will intensify its equal opportunity efforts in the future.