This document discusses strategies for keeping young women and men in science careers. It notes that academia is often perceived as lacking security due to the need to continuously hunt for funding and long periods of temporary postdoc positions without prospects of a permanent role. Women especially may lack confidence and role models. It recommends mentoring programs, better work-life balance policies like childcare, and gender-neutral hiring practices to address these challenges and create a more equitable environment. Leadership training is also emphasized as contributing greatly to career success. The talk concludes by thanking students for their role in furthering microbial science.

1. How to keep young WOMEN
(& men) in science
Jan 28th 2015
@ERC-EA, Brussels
MIKE JETTEN
SOEHNGEN INSTITUTE OF ANAEROBIC MICROBIOLOGY

2. Curt Rice, Tromso, Norway, 6 steps to gender equality
Petra Rudolf, RU Groningen, NL, Roosevelt Foundation
Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, USA, The Confidence Gap
Jonathan Eisen UCD, USA http://www.stemwomen.net/jonathan-eisen/
Institute for Gender studies http://www.ru.nl/genderstudies/english/
http://www.genderinscience.org
Personal coaches:
4 increase of self esteem & leadership skills
My supervisors, mentors, co workers, students
My collaborators and funding agencies
Credits
ERC AG 2008 ERC AG 2013

3. Academic careers seem to be unappealing to both man and woman,
Although scientific sleuthing to discover new microbes is great fun
The impediments are often perceived as disproportionate
The sacrifices are deemed great.
Research career? After 1y
PhD
After 2y
PhD
After 3y
Career in Academia
M 61% 59% 21%
F 72% 37% 12%

4. Why is academia perceived as not appealing?
Continuous hunt for projects/money;
all consuming & very competitive
String of post docs w/o prospects = Lack of security
F self confidence / esteem
F Lack of good F role models

5. The leaky pipeline
PhD/post doc post doc tenure track professor
parenthood prospectssupervision

6. Lead by Example
18 positions in ERC 13F 14int 3 non-eu

8. › Educational skills to guide and transfer knowledge to students
› Project and time management to be as effective as possible
› Scientific communication skills to become an articulate speaker/writer
› Social skills 4 Interaction with people in networking & collaborating
› Personal happiness 4 balance work/private life
› To build strong self esteem
› Career management
› Leadership skills (vision, coaching, delegating, team building, supervision)
Good mentors that teach human and leadership skills!
These skills contribute up to 85% of your success!
Take initiative, be assertive and train your self!

9. The leaky pipeline
post doc tenure track professor
parenthood prospects

10. Challenges in combining family life and career
• Family/career : there is never an easy equilibrium
• 2 body problem: not each location offers opportunity for both
• if your heart allows marry/partner outside your profession
• both partners 50% shared family responsibilities
• learn to live with little sleep asap
• (European) labour law = raise kids asap in PhD
• reality most academians have a family after 32

11. Only 1 in 3000 female physicists had a husband who was not professionally
active but took care of the home and the family
25% of the male physicists have a full time spouse at home
USA: http://www.physics.wm.edu/dualcareer.html
Challenges in combining family life and career
Emancipation is still a long way to go
Be real gentlemen and never take less
than 50% family responsibility!
Ladies be assertive and do not take more than
50% share in family responsibilities

12. In addition to starting a family there is also a
CONFIDENCE GAP
Women tend to underestimate their potential for success in Science.
Women apply for TT when they meet 120% of requirements (M at 50%)
Women do gain confidence from (close by) role models!
Affirmative action and sports are motivators 4 F in competition
Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/the-confidence-gap/

13. In addition to starting a family there is also a
CONFIDENCE GAP
Women tend to underestimate their potential for success in Science.
Women apply for TT when they meet 120% of requirements (M at 50%)
Women do gain confidence from (close by) role models!
Affirmative action and sports are motivators 4 F in competition
Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/the-confidence-gap/

14. Practicalities universities can do to increase F staff:
- Mentor programs with good F role models
- Special lunch meetings / support groups / self esteem building
- Excellent child care facilities
- Reimbursement for babysitting service for unusual situations
- Family friendly working conditions
- Use alumni network to help finding jobs for partners
- Consider partners as internal candidates for university vacancies
- Gender neutral advertisements / balanced selection committees
- and many many more………….

15. Joliot Curie Program
Radboud Excellence Initiative;
Strategy 2020: 25% female Professors
Gender neutral advertisements
Gender neutral criteria
Gender balanced selection committees
Train staff 4 awareness in gender bias EGERA

16. Added value of ERC Awards
• Possibility to do research w/o restrictions
• Recognition @home university
• Many Invitations
• New collaborations
• Exclusive partnership with industry
• Job offers
• More awards and prizes (Matthew 25:29)
• Many student opportunities
ERC AG 2008
ERC AG 2013

17. (Microbial) science = Fun
Leadership skills = 85% success!
Take initiative & never give up !
The future = bright for young Women & Men
in (Microbial) Science!

18. And above all my sincerest gratitude
to the B-GEMS: Boys and Girls
Excelling in Microbial Science
Thank you !