From Doctorate to Leadership: Supporting Women in Physics
/ Announcements
Today, on the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we recognize both the achievements of women in physics and the structural challenges that continue to shape career pathways in our field.
In physics, the gender gap remains pronounced across many research systems. In Germany, women are still largely underrepresented at nearly all educational and career levels. The share of women studying physics at undergraduate and graduate levels has remained at approximately 20%, and although the proportion of women at full professor level has increased over time, it has done so gradually, by about 0.5 percentage points per year to approximately 11% today.
Similar patterns are visible internationally. In the United Kingdom, women hold roughly 12% of physics professorships, and in the United States, women make up about 21% of physics faculty overall. These figures reflect a persistent “leaky pipeline,” in which representation declines at successive career stages despite growing numbers of women earning degrees in STEM disciplines.
At PDI, we recognize both the challenge and the responsibility that follows from these trends. Broadening participation in science requires engagement at multiple stages of the academic journey.
We introduce girls to physics and laboratory research early through initiatives such as Girls’ Day, which welcomes 12–16-year-olds into our labs each April, and through our participation in Türen Auf mit der Maus, where primary school-aged children and their parents explore our research facilities together.
Within academic pathways, we provide structured support to all PhD students as they navigate their doctoral research. At the postdoctoral and early leadership stages — where the gender gap becomes particularly visible — we actively support outstanding women scientists in applying for competitive professorial programmes, including the Leibniz Programme for Women Professors.
For colleagues with caring responsibilities outside of work, maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life is essential. PDI has been certified as a family-friendly workplace by berufundfamilie for many years, underlining our commitment to a family- and life-phase-conscious personnel policy and to working conditions that enable researchers to thrive at different stages of life.
We are cognizant of the structural gap in physics and are strengthening networks among female physicists to ensure that career opportunities are widely visible and that excellent candidates are encouraged to apply within open, competitive processes.
If we want to see more women in research leadership, the work has to begin early and continue through the critical postdoctoral years. PDI is committed to contributing to that long-term effort.
Researchers who would like to learn more about career development opportunities and support structures at PDI are warmly invited to get in touch with us.
Sources
- Title: Women in physics in Germany: Current developments and actions taken toward equal opportunities
Authors: A. B. Bossmann, A. Sandner
Source: AIP Conf. Proc. 3040, 050016 (2023)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0176070 - Title: Wasted talent: the status quo of women in physics in the US and UK
Authors: T. Berry, S. Mordijck
Source: Commun Phys 7, 77 (2024)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-024-01579-9 - Title: The State of the Academic Workforce in Physics and Astronomy, 2000-2024
Authors: A. M. Porter, J. Oman, J. Tyler
Source: Data from the AIP Academic Workforce Survey
DOI: 10.1063/sr.d25c029227