A successful story of inclusion
Today at Dreamando we want to tell you about a successful story. Women studying, researching and working in the field of biomedical sciences in the EU are valued – and they inspire younger minds.
Julia, currently a student at the University of Maastricht and a German/Polish national, has shared with us her experiences through her academic career.
Julia’s educational path
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at the University of Wrocław;
- Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Maastricht University.
Did you have female professors and leaders around you?
During her bachelor, many of Julia’s tutors were women. The head of her faculty and her bachelor’s thesis supervisor were women, too. This gave the impression that the “woman’s role in my field of studies is taken seriously and that we contribute a lot in the advancement of science”.
What about discrimination?
Julia describes for us the impressions she had during her bachelor’s about the chances for women and men in her field. She feels that “in Poland I think that the chances for women are equal to those of men” and that, specifically in the case of pregnancy, this “did not seem to have any consequences” on the career path of women. It was not rare to have professors – she underlines both men and women – on parental leave.
Who has inspired you most during your studies?
Her bachelor’s thesis supervisor played an important role “in challenging me but still giving me the support I needed”. Julia underlines that the warmth of her supervisor helped her greatly to go through the hurdle. The central of a supervisor is something we have indeed underlined more than once as key in the academic path.
Julia also underlines the great experience she had in Spain during her internship under a male researcher which also challenged her in a good way and was likewise kind and supportive. She thus arrives to the conclusion that “everyone can contribute in a unique way; for that reason, it is best to work in a heterogenous environment for science to thrive”.
It is best to work in a heterogenous environment for science to thrive.
Some advice: how to choose your university?
When looking for a role model, Julia suggests not to focus on gender but “to be open enough to identify the added value that each individual can have for your academic development. It is certainly encouraging to see women in science thrive […] but in the end there is most power in seeing a harmonic environment of men and women that respect and appreciate one another. This is the kind of environment that you should look for when choosing a university”.
This is what inclusion looks like. And we cannot wait to be able to share more successful stories about it with you!