Female Empowerment in Life Sciences (FELS) Network

Female Empowerment in Life Sciences (FELS) is an interdisciplinary network of female scientists with a background in medicine and/or life sciences. It was founded in September 2021 with support from the Commission for Equality at the University of Bern’s Medical Faculty and the directorate of Teaching and Research of the Inselspital Bern.

The goal of the network is to support gender-neutral academic career development, gender equality for women and female leadership.

Chair
Prof. Jessica Peter, Ph.D.
Tel: 031 - 932 8903
University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
University of Bern, Switzerland
jessica.peter@unibe.ch
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0817-8431

Co-chair
Dr. rer. nat. Anne Gregor
Tel: 031 - 63 20357
Department of Human Genetics
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
Anne.gregor@unibe.ch
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9166-6593

Svea Lehmann
Equal Opportunities Coordinator Medical Dean's Office
Svea.lehmann@unibe.ch 

Naomi Lange, MD
Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9519-4949  
 

Sarah Bernhard, MD
Division of Angiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital,
University of Bern, Switzerland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-5928  
 

Jarmila A. Zdanowicz, MD
Department of Gynecology
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
Jarmila Anna Zdanowicz (0000-0002-5361-7309) - My ORCID
 

PD. Dr. Mona Mohsen
Department of Biomedical Research (DBMR)
University of Bern, Switzerland
Mona.mohsen@unibe.ch
https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-3510-9148

• Creating a supportive and empowering environment for female scientists
• Active promotion of networking and collaboration between female scientists
• Providing a comprehensive database for members that offers information on stipends, grants, courses, and career-promoting opportunities.
• Peer coaching

FELS is open to female scientists with a background in medicine or life sciences at the University of Bern. The FELS Board currently consists of 9 members and oversees strategic and administrative tasks. Monthly board meetings serve as a forum for discussions and coordination, ensuring effective governance and the seamless execution of the network's initiatives.

contact: jessica.peter@unibe.ch or anne.gregor@unibe.ch or fels.meddek@unibe.ch

Discover more about FELS by joining us at our monthly networking gatherings. These meetings aim to boost networking and exchange within the group while welcoming potential new FELS members. Location: Pizzeria Ambiente, Bühlstrasse 5, Bern

Time: Every first Thursday of the month, starting at 19:00

FELS organizes 3-4 workshops annually, typically held from 17:30 to 20:00 at the Inselspital. These workshops, conducted in either English or German, focus on topics related to career development or gender equality and offer valuable insights. Additionally, FELS hosts a yearly two-day retreat.

Upcoming:

Title: “Habilitation at the Medical Faculty Bern: Tipps, tricks and Q&A” with Prof. Sissel Guttormsen
When: 18.04.2024 at 17:30
Where: at the Inselareal (exact location will follow with registration).
For registration: Please send an email to (fels.meddek@unibe.ch) until 15.03.2024.
Info: This workshop, presented by Prof. Sissel Guttormsen, a member of the habilitation commission, will address the requirements and procedures for habilitation at the medical faculty in Bern.
For registration see flyer: Link to PDF

Previous:

Title: «Breakfast with Prof. Roxana Meheran»
When: 8.12.2023 from 7.30-10.00
For registration see flyer: Link to PDF

Title: “Geschlechtersensible Sprache” with Dr. Monika Hoffmann (in German)
When: 26.09.2023 17.30-19.30
Registration: fels.meddek@unibe.ch
Flyer: Link to PDF

Title: Research Funding for Female Scientists & Clinicians with Susanne Matuschek
When: 2nd May 2023, 17.30 - 19:30 Uhr
Registration: fels.meddek@unibe.ch
Flyer: Link to PDF

Title: «Die Macht der Wirkung und die Kunst sich durchzusetzen» with Ann Klemann
When: 28. April 2022, 17.00 - 19:30 Uhr
Registration: fels.meddek@unibe.ch
Flyer: Link to PDF

Title: «Frauenemanzipationsbewegungen in der Schweiz- Geschichte und Gegenwart» with Fabienne Amlinger
When: 27. January 2022, 17.15 - 19:15 Uhr
Registration: fels.meddek@unibe.ch
Flyer: Link to PDF

1. Expanding our networking and cultivating collaborations with female scientists in various departments at the University of Bern and beyond is a key goal for FELS. We’re excited to announce an enduring collaboration between FELS and the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, marking a new step forward in our long-term networking efforts.

A short Bio about ARTORG:

As an engineering center within the medical faculty, the ARTORG Center is unique in Europe. When it was founded in 2008 as one of the competence centers of the University of Bern, organizational connections were created with various departments at the Inselspital, which still significantly drive ARTORG's innovations today. The ARTORG sees future challenges in healthcare and brings medical technology research with inventiveness, agility and determination from its basics to clinical application. The ARTORG Center sees its diversity with team members from different professional and cultural backgrounds as a strength and actively promotes academic careers for women in medical technology.

https://www.artorg.unibe.ch

2. Since 1996, the Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR) has held a (Day of BioMedical Research). FELS had the pleasure to be part of this important event recently held on 6^th July 2023. FELS actively participated in the event and introduced academic women to the network as well as to its concept and goals. FELS members had great conversation with women from different backgrounds and academic age.

• Commission for Equality of the Medical Faculty of the University Bern
• University Bern
• Department of Emergency Medicine (Teaching and Research), Inselspital Bern
• Immunology Bern (Martin Bachmann Lab)

Clinical research careers in Switzerland:

https://cr-careers.ch/