Equal opportunities, gender equality, work-life balance and the support of early-career researchers are key objectives at TU Darmstadt. That is why the participating organisational units (Family Service Centre, Equal Opportunities Office,Ingenium) are working to create a gender- equal and non-discriminatory university that enables and welcomes the compatibility of science (as well as studies and career) with family life for all genders equally.

At the same time, we still see gender inequality in the distribution of unpaid care work, with the so-called gender care gap currently standing at 44.3% in Germany (source: Federal Statistical Office).

In recognition of the structural disadvantage of women and as an intersection of the three relevant topics, the award is therefore explicitly aimed at female scientists. At the same time, TU Darmstadt supports the commitment of all genders to balancing diverse family care responsibilities and careers, such as by expanding the target group for parents' days or programmes for family carers

Mothers who have successfully completed their doctorate at TU Darmstadt with (a) child/children and at the same time have taken on childcare responsibilities under special circumstances during their doctoral studies are eligible to apply. The thesis defence must have taken place at the time of application. The application documents will be reviewed and the awardee selected by a selection committee appointed for this prize.

The application documents will be reviewed and the awardee selected by a selection committee appointed for this prize. The committee members are the Vice-President with departmental responsibility for early career researchers, the head of the Family Service , the head of the Equal Opportunities Office, the head of the Ingenium graduate institution and a club member from the Soroptimist International Club Darmstadt. The committee's decision is final and cannot be appealed. The reasons for the final decision will not be published.

Please submit the following with your application:

• The application form with personal details, including information about parental and childcare responsibilities
• Curriculum vitae
• A detailed letter of application from the candidate outlining the challenges, determination and motivation involved in balancing family life and academic work/qualifications (max. 1 page)
• Doctoral degree certificate/certificate of provisional doctoral degree or doctoral thesis

• Very good theses
• Compatibility of family and science/scientific qualifications and how to deal with it
• Comprehensive examination of the candidate and their career
• Doctoral period