Diversity and equal opportunities at Forschungszentrum Jülich

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A career is just one aspect of life. To ensure that you can contribute your expertise, creativity and commitment to the fullest, we create framework conditions that help you balance your professional goals with your personal circumstances.

Employees with children or relatives in need of care, as well as colleagues facing particular health challenges – we take your diverse needs into account. We also support voluntary work, further training and secondary professional activities.

Forschungszentrum Jülich maintains particularly close partnerships in research, teaching and research management with numerous universities and non-university research institutions in the Rhineland region. Through our joint guidelines on equal opportunities (PDF), we actively promote diversity, a variety of perspectives and fair opportunities.

Promoting women in leadership positions, supporting the balance between work and family life, and embedding equal opportunities in our organisational principles are at the heart of the TOTAL E-QUALITY award, which was granted to Forschungszentrum Jülich in 2023.

Gender equality

An employee stands leaning against a bookshelf and smiles at the camera. She is holding a graduation hat in her hands. — *Copyright:*

Women still face a range of structural barriers within the scientific system. We are actively working to remove these barriers. This is driven by our mission to contribute to solving major societal challenges. We see it as our responsibility to ensure that women can help shape societal change on equal terms.

Promoting women in science and leadership positions is therefore a key priority for us. We pursue this goal through concrete measures, which are outlined in our Equal Opportunities Plan (PDF compact or PDF detailed document).

The Helmholtz Association’s First Appointment Programme (W2/W3) is also specifically aimed at outstanding female researchers.

Further information:

Promoting diversity and inclusion

Diversity of perspectives is a key success factor for excellent research at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Different professional, cultural and personal backgrounds foster innovation, creativity and new approaches to solutions – across scientific, technical, administrative and strategic fields.

We therefore foster an open and inclusive organisational culture in which all employees can realise their full potential. Key measures are outlined in our Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (PDF).

By signing the Diversity Charter in 2021, Forschungszentrum Jülich joined a network of German organisations committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion are not only fostered at Forschungszentrum Jülich, but across the entire Helmholtz Association. Further information can be found in the Helmholtz Association’s guidelines on diversity and inclusion.

International employees and applicants

Our employees come from nearly 100 countries. Each year, around 1,000 visiting researchers from Europe, Asia, North, Central and South America, as well as Africa, come to Forschungszentrum Jülich for research stays.

We highly value this international diversity. That is why we offer targeted information and support services for international employees and guests:

Applicants and employees with disabilities

We are continuously working to remove barriers – in our buildings, in our communication and in our mindset. Let us know what you need to fully contribute your talents. Even during the application process, our Inclusion Officers and the Representative Body for Employees with Disabilities are there to support you.

Insights into the everyday work of an employee:

In the video, Carina Balduin shares her experience of working with a severe disability. She talks about specific adjustments to her workplace and how valuable it is to be part of a team that communicates openly.

Her perspective shows that inclusion above all emerges when individual needs are taken seriously and solutions are developed together to make everyday work easier.

Note: You can also watch the videos with German subtitles on the German-language version of the website.

Balancing work and caregiving

A boy sits on a carpet with his back to the camera. He is playing with toys scattered on the carpet. In front of him, a man sits on an office chair and reaches into a bag. He is only in the picture from the upper body down.

For us, family means people taking responsibility for one another. We support this through:

flexible working hours and the option to choose where you work
support in arranging household services and childcare options
an on-site daycare centre and holiday programmes on the Jülich campus
guidance on individual work-life balance solutions
a wide range of additional services

Further information can be found on the pages of the Equal Opportunities Office.

In this clip, Dr Patrick Kuckertz talks about balancing work and family life. You can find the full video in our employee stories section.

Networks

Networking is a key factor in science for personal development and professional success.

Professional networks enable targeted exchange of knowledge and expertise within specific fields. Cross-disciplinary networks create space for mutual support and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Gain interesting insights into the work of a Jülich network in this video, created during a JuWinHPC event on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

In the video, colleagues speak about their work within the network at a JuWinHPC event held on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. You can hear more about visibility, role models and networking in science in episode 6 of the podcast “Begegnungen im Zentrum”.

FemaleVoice

Diversity and equal opportunities at Forschungszentrum Jülich
FemaleVoice is the women’s network at and for Forschungszentrum Jülich. In addition to the classic goals of networks, such as exchanging information and experiences, FemaleVoice proactively addresses topics that support gender equality at the centre.

JuWinHPC: Jülich Women in High Performance Computing

The members of the JuWinHPC network are committed to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion within the HPC community. Through activities such as conferences, workshops and mentoring programmes, the initiative raises awareness of diversity and clearly expresses its values through the guiding principle “diversity creates a stronger community”.

Rainbow Network

The community is open to both LGBTQ+ employees and allies who are committed to increasing visibility, acceptance and queer inclusion at Forschungszentrum Jülich.

The network organises open meet-ups, takes part in internal events such as the New Year’s reception and the Open House (“Tag der Neugier”), engages in external career events and actively contributes to the development of inclusive framework conditions. The community continues to grow, creating new spaces for exchange, networking and engagement.

New members and anyone interested are warmly invited to get involved and help shape the network – or simply to explore and get a first impression.

Personal insights are shared in the podcast “Begegnungen im Zentrum”, where in episode 7, Christian talks about his experiences as a queer person in both his professional and personal life (in German).

You can also watch the recap of our online event “Queer in Science”, where four queer colleagues from research and research management share their personal experiences.

^{Image credits on this page: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau}

Last Modified: 31.03.2026