The Female Career Days, an initiative of the RTG 1167, have been held annually since 2011. The event aims to promote and support women in science. We cordially invite you to join this important event, share ideas and network with researchers and interested individuals.
This invitation is issued by Magdeburg-based research institutions and the Otto-von-Guericke University.
2026 marks the 15-year anniversary of the Female Career Days
Under the theme “Power, Responsibility, and Change in Science,” all participants aim to provide an open platform for discussing topics such as abuse of power, equality, and diversity.
03.11.2026 Kick-Off Lecture “Career Days 2026”
15 Years of Female Career Days: Opening keynote on Power, Responsibility, and Change in Science.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Female Career Days, we kick off this year’s program with a special keynote. Lisa Niendorf will speak on “Between Dependence and Resistance: Abuse of Power in Academia.”
Power abuse, dependencies, and hierarchical structures are critical and sensitive issues in academia and higher education. Through this event, we aim to make these challenges more visible, foster open dialogue, and explore how meaningful change can be achieved.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026
- 4:00 p.m. Opening of the kick-off event
- 4:15 p.m. Keynote lecture by Lisa Niendorf
- 5:00 p.m. Q&A session
- 5:15 p.m. Panel Discussion with representatives from the universities, the City of Magdeburg, and the State of Saxony-Anhalt
- 6:00 p.m. Social gathering
Registration is open until October 29th, 2026.
The program begins with a welcome address from Dr. phil. Mareike Fingerhut-Säck, Equal Opportunity Officer and Director of the Office for Equality, Diversity, and Family Affairs at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, followed by the keynote presentation by Lisa Niendorf, professor, bestselling author, and known on social media as “Frau Forschung.”
The subsequent panel will deepen the discussion and present concrete perspectives and approaches.
Katalin Varga will moderate the event. She coordinates the mentoring and coaching program for female students and early-career researchers in STEM across Saxony-Anhalt.
The discussion will address questions such as:
- How can abuse of power and boundary violations be detected early?
- What support do those affected need?
- What actions can universities and research institutions take to prevent abuse and foster a culture of respect and equality?
Panel Experts:
Dr. rer. nat. Martina Beyrau: Scientific Integrity Service, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Daniela C. Dieterich: Dean and Chair of the Executive Board, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University
Dr. theol. Julia Rath, Equal Opportunities Service, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences
Sarah Schulze, State Commissioner for Women’s and Gender Equality Policy, Saxony Anhalt
Dr. phil. Dorothea Trebesius, Office for Education and Science, City of Magdeburg
Verena Walterbach, Career Development, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg
We look forward to an open, diverse and, constructive conversation about how to make academia and higher education safer, more respectful, and truly equitable.
About our guests
Martina Beyrau studied molecular medicine in Erlangen and subsequently earned her Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried. During her doctoral studies, she became fascinated by the immune system, which is why she moved to London after completing her Ph.D. to spend six years as a postdoc in a research group focused on the migration of immune cells. After returning to Germany, Dr. Beyrau worked for 10 years as a research manager for the immunology research focus area at the Medical Faculty of the OVGU. Since September 2024, she has headed the OVGU’s Scientific Integrity Office. The Scientific Integrity Office serves as the OVGU’s central point of contact for all questions regarding academic integrity. It offers a wide range of courses on good scientific practice and is the first point of contact in cases of suspected scientific misconduct.
Daniela C. Dieterich is Dean and Chair of the Executive Board of the Medical Faculty of the Otto von Guerike University Magdeburg. She is an expert addressing the role of synaptic protein homeostasis regulation through the coordinated control of translation and degradation. She has developed and applied cutting-edge technologies involving ‘click-chemistry’ that provide the consortium with tools to address dynamic changes in these processes with unprecedented temporal and cellular resolution, ultimately allowing the cell-selective identification of neuronal and glial access points.
Mareike Fingerhut-Säck is a historian and gender studies scholar. She is the Central Equal Opportunities Officer at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and Head of the Office for Gender Equality, Diversity and Family. She also serves as spokesperson for the Conference of Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities in Saxony-Anhalt (lakog). Her work focuses on gender equality, diversity and structural equal opportunities in academia and higher education.
Sarah Schulze has served as the State Commissioner for Women’s and Gender Equality Policy of Saxony-Anhalt since December 2022 and heads the State Office for Women’s and Gender Equality Policy. Her work focuses on women’s and gender equality policy, protection from gender-based violence, and LGBTIQ+ policy. She represents Saxony-Anhalt in Germany’s Conference of Ministers for Gender Equality and Women’s Affairs (GFMK) and contributes to several federal-state working groups.
A fully qualified lawyer, she previously headed the Legal Department and the Office of the Supervisory Board at Salus Altmark Holding gGmbH. Before joining the state administration, she also served for many years on the board of the Women’s Council of Saxony-Anhalt, most recently as Deputy Chair.
Since 2026, Sarah Schulze has also served as a member and Deputy Chair of the Federal Foundation for Gender Equality’s Expert Advisory Board on gender-equal and care-oriented concepts of masculinity.
Dorothea Trebesius studied cultural studies in Leipzig, Lyon, and Paris. She earned her doctorate in Leipzig and worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Cultural Studies. After holding positions at the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes), Germany’s largest organization for promoting outstanding students, and in the administration of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, she now heads the Education and Science team in the city administration. Her focus is on promoting science, science communication, and strengthening the city of Magdeburg as a hub for science. For example, she established the Magdeburg Welcome Service, is the main organizer of the Long Night of Science and the Tomorrow Labs Science Festival, and is committed to STEM education.
Katalin Varga is Project Coordinator of MeCoSa MINT Career at the Coordination Office for Gender Research & Equal Opportunities Saxony-Anhalt (KGC). In this role, she manages projects, coordinates teams, and organizes events to strengthen career development, intercultural exchange, and talent retention in Saxony-Anhalt. She previously worked as a welfare worker at the advisory office Magdalena of AWO Saxony-Anhalt, providing social and career counseling, intercultural communication, and multilingual support. Earlier in her career, she served as Coordinator for Refugee and Integration Affairs at Hochschule Harz, where she developed integration concepts, supported prospective students with refugee backgrounds, and promoted inclusive academic opportunities.
Drawing on this extensive experience in counseling, networking, and event facilitation, Katalin will moderate the Career Days 2025, guiding discussions on diversity, equal opportunities, and the future of science.
Verena Walterbach is a scientific career development adviser at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) and supports researchers at various stages of their careers in shaping their professional paths. In addition to providing individual guidance, she also works on structural and organisational development, draws up guidelines and concepts, and helps to shape the framework for successful scientific careers.
As a biographical analyst and biographical practitioner, she engages both academically and practically with life stories, career transitions and the experiences that shape people’s professional journeys. At the LIN, she coordinates the Mental Health Awareness Group and the FEM POWER project, and is committed to promoting a conscious approach to power and responsibility in academia. Together with a colleague, she is currently developing an onboarding programme designed to raise researchers’ awareness of power dynamics and potential abuses of power at an early stage.
Upcoming events
After the opening event, the Female Career Days continue with a series of engaging workshops and individual sessions.
– Individual Career Planning,
– AI in the application process,
– understanding power structures and recognizing abuse of power OR self-protection and resilience,
-(nonviolent) communication, and mediation strategies.
Take this chance to boost your career and learn directly from experts.