Women in STEM

You might have heard of the “Draw-a-Scientist Test” (DAST). When children were first asked to draw a scientist in the 1960s, fewer than 1% drew a woman.

Today, that figure has risen to nearly 34%, according to a study featured in Science magazine that analyzed 20,860 student drawings across five decades.

Why does this matter? The test exposes implicit bias and highlights how powerfully media and culture shape young minds.

Visible, diverse representation of women in STEM—especially across varied career paths and leadership roles—has a profound impact on the next generation. That is why hosting talks by women in STEM leadership is so vital. By sharing their journeys and achievements, they show young people what is possible, inspiring them to think: “I could be like her. I can be a scientist.”

When our institute announced the Women shaping STEM talk series, my lab members and I couldn’t wait! As newcomers here, we have fallen in love with the open, vibrant, and genuinely inspiring environment. Imagine getting to hear from the scientists whose work you admire, sharing their personal career journeys over a casual coffee break—who wouldn’t want to know more? And the kickoff did not disappoint. The first session with Juliane Glaser was fantastic, opening up so many thoughtful discussions and practical pieces of advice…

Kick off session by Juliane Glaser

💡 Tip: Apply even when you think you have no chance! It’s very trivial, but you have more chance of getting selected if you apply than if you don’t. - Juliane Glaser

About the speaker Juliane completed her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology in Paris, France, during which she gained hands-on laboratory experience through an internship at EMBL Heidelberg. She then pursued her Master’s and Ph.D. at the Institut Curie in Paris, working in the lab of Deborah Bourc’his to study the epigenetic regulation and physiological impact of genomic imprinting. Later, she joined Stefan Mundlos’s group at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin as a postdoctoral fellow, investigating 3D genome organization and the non-coding genome during development. In 2025, she launched her independent research group at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics (MPI-IE) in Freiburg, where her lab investigates the role of transposable elements in mammalian embryonic development and disease.

Juliane opened the session by walking us through the milestones of her scientific journey, unpacking the pivotal decisions she made along the way and the factors that guided them.

• Balancing Ambition with personal decisions

At every crossroads, finding balance between scientific ambition and personal well-being was essential. “Think about what fits your personality,” she emphasized, reminding the audience that a sustainable scientific career has to align with who you are, not just what looks good on paper.

• Navigating Academic Systems Across Borders

Having trained across France, Germany, and the US, Juliane shared how different academic cultures shape early career choices. For instance, in France—where structured graduate programs are less common than in Germany—students frequently use their Master’s thesis lab as a direct launchpad to continue into a Ph.D.

• The Power of Mentorship and Visible Role Models

Juliane highlighted how strongly her trajectory was influenced by her cohort, trusted mentors, and role models whose leadership styles she admired and wanted to adopt. Her time as a Ph.D. researcher proved especially transformative: seeing women thrive at every level of academic leadership—from her direct supervisor to the department head and institute director—offered powerful proof of what was possible.

• Strategizing the Next Step: The Postdoc Transition

When it came time to choose a postdoc lab, Juliane took a deliberate approach: branch into a new field while leveraging core expertise from her doctorate. She ventured into 3D genome organization while staying rooted in developmental biology, driven by a desire to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying embryonic phenotypes. Still, she candidly acknowledged that timing matters: “This journey also takes a bit of luck—being in the right place at the right time.”

• Starting Her Own Lab: “I Wanted to Do It In My Own Way”

Ultimately, the decision to become a group leader grew out of two driving forces: a deep passion for the scientific process and a backlog of unanswered questions she wanted to explore on her own terms. As Juliane put it simply: “I wanted to do it in my own way and build my own research team.” When it came to preparing applications, her practical advice was straightforward: start writing your ideas down early and vet them with colleagues you trust. When preparing to apply for PI positions, don’t formulate your vision in isolation (or keep it solely in your head!). Juliane emphasized the importance of writing down your ideas as they come and actively discussing your proposals with colleagues and mentors you trust. Candid, constructive feedback from your circle is invaluable for pressure-testing research proposals and refining your unique scientific identity before submitting applications.

Supported by great mentors, collaborative peers, and a clear sense of purpose, she now brings that vision to her independent research group.

Key figures about women in STEM

• In 2023, only one-third (approx. 33%) of university graduates in STEM fields in the EU were women.
• By Sub-discipline (2023 EU average):
  • Biology: 68% women
  • Environmental Science: 48% women
  • Physical Sciences: 46% women
  • Mathematics & Statistics: 44% women
  • Architecture & Construction: 43.5% women
  • Engineering: Slightly over 21% women
  • ICT (Information & Communications Technology): Slightly over 21% women
• High-Technology Sectors: Women account for only 22% of scientists and engineers in high-tech sectors, compared to 41% of scientists and engineers across the total economy (2024 Eurostat data).
• Patents: Women account for only 9% of patent applicants.
• Women account for only 22% of scientists and engineers in high-tech sectors, compared to 41% of scientists and engineers across the total economy.
• Mid-career attrition: Studies consistently show that women leave STEM careers at roughly twice the rate of their male counterparts. Nearly 40%–50% of women who begin in engineering and tech eventually leave the field, with the steepest drops occurring around 10–12 years in.
• Leadership roles: Across the EU-27, women hold 26.2% of Grade A (full professor or equivalent) positions, dropping to 17.9% in Engineering and Technology and 21.8% in Natural Sciences. Only 23.6% of higher education institutions are led by female rectors or heads.

Resources

• Report by the European Parliament
• Draw a Scientist
• Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Carolyn Buck Luce, Lisa J. Servon, et al., “The Athena Factor: Reversing the Brain Drain in Science, Engineering, and Technology,” Harvard Business Review Research Report (2008).Link
• European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, She Figures 2021: Gender in Research and Innovation – Statistics and Indicators. She Figures 2021.