The “Undo MINT Gender Publication Gap” initiative is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate State Gender Equality Program and administered on behalf of the Central Equal Opportunity Officer at RPTU. These are earmarked funds for gender equality, intended, among other things, to support female researchers at various career stages and qualification levels. The initiative is explicitly aimed at female researchers in STEM fields[1], where women are traditionally underrepresented.
The gender publication gap refers to a discrepancy —now well-documented in academic research —in the number of scholarly publications by men and women. According to studies, the fact that women publish less frequently and with less prominence has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Female researchers with caregiving responsibilities are particularly affected by this.[3] Publication output is considered a key factor in academic achievement—which influences visibility in the context of tenure reviews, award ceremonies, and the allocation of research grants. The number of publications and the frequency with which they are cited are often used as indicators of researchers’ visibility and influence.
To counteract the STEM Gender Publication Gap, female researchers at RPTU with children and/or caregiving responsibilities can apply for funding from the State Gender Equality Program. The funding includes a one-time research grant of 1,000 euros for materials and supplies, as well as the employment of a student or research assistant for 5 hours per week.
The funding period is limited to a maximum of 6 months.
The submission deadline is April 30, 2026.
Preference should be given to using the assistants to support the preparation of dissertations, habilitation theses, scholarly publications, or research proposals (e.g., laboratory work, research tasks, formatting, and transcription).
Eligible applicants are:
- all female professors*, junior professors*, and female research assistants* at RPTU
- all female doctoral candidates* enrolled at RPTU
Funding from this initiative can be requested by submitting the application form via email to the Office for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Family (GVF) at RPTU (email: annegret.scheibe[at]rptu.de). Since this initiative is tied to the duration of the State Gender Equality Program, funding will be available until December 2026 at the latest.
Upon completion of the employment period and the completion or preparation of a publication or research proposal, we ask that you submit a brief final report (max. 1 page) on the use of the research assistant and the status of your project. Completion of the project and/or a positive decision regarding publication are expressly not conditions for funding.
[1] MINT (Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Technology); English: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
[2] https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/forschung/gender-publication-gap-2020-groesser-geworden-4086
[3] https://www.innovative-frauen-im-fokus.de/infopool/daten-und-fakten/gender-citation-gap/gender-publication-gap/