Women Leading in Science
When?: September 29 2026 | 14:00 – 17:15 | followed by a get-together
Where?: Blue Box, Freyeslebenstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen
Language: English
Target groups: Female researchers at all career levels, PhD candidates, students
Moderator: Eva Richter
Our objective: Promoting female leadership in science towards cultural change in academia
The event combines perspectives of women in leadership positions, potential team leaders, team members and students. It aims to build on collective intelligence and to invite women to join forces, combining smart leadership with the subtle influence of those being led.
The event also serves as a prelude to the Women in Science conference at the Faculty of Science.
Conference participants are welcome to join and warm-up for their conference program.
Program
Moderator: Eva Richter
Lea Schmocker
What if leadership is not only something we think about—but something we experience?
In these two interactive sessions, participants are invited to explore leadership through movement, presence, emotions, and playful experimentation. Together, we will explore how the way we relate to ourselves and others influences our communication, visibility, and impact in academic environments.
At the heart of the sessions lies a simple question:
Who am I when I stop trying to be someone else?
Through experiential exercises and group activities, participants will discover new perspectives, connect with one another, and explore emotions not as obstacles, but as valuable sources of information and energy. The sessions also create space for women to meet, support one another, and experience the strength that can emerge when women learn, reflect, and grow together.
Dr. Juliane Handschuh
Key themes:
The double bind: navigating perception and bias
Being led: reflecting on your own experience of authority
Authentic leadership — finding a style that fits you
What does it mean to lead as a woman in science — and how do you develop a leadership identity that feels genuinely yours, rather than a performance crafted for someone else’s expectations?
Women in leadership navigate a double bind that shapes how they are perceived, no matter which way they turn. This 45-minute interactive session explores that tension — and what it takes to lead with authenticity, clarity, and confidence.
Lea Schmocker
What if leadership is not only something we think about—but something we experience?
In these two interactive sessions, participants are invited to explore leadership through movement, presence, emotions, and playful experimentation. Together, we will explore how the way we relate to ourselves and others influences our communication, visibility, and impact in academic environments.
At the heart of the sessions lies a simple question:
Who am I when I stop trying to be someone else?
Through experiential exercises and group activities, participants will discover new perspectives, connect with one another, and explore emotions not as obstacles, but as valuable sources of information and energy. The sessions also create space for women to meet, support one another, and experience the strength that can emerge when women learn, reflect, and grow together.
Moderator: Eva Richter
Panelist: Prof. Dr. Anja Lux, Yashasvi Verma, M.Sc., Dr. Juliane Handschuh
Mingle and exchange experiences. Snacks and drinks provided
Speakers, Hosts and Panelists
Eva Maria Richter is a PhD researcher within the Research Training Group (GRK) 2423 FRASCAL in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary network. Alongside this, she is a member of the CAPRICCIO research group, giving her firsthand insight into the daily dynamics of working within a team. Furthermore, she serves as a Women’s Representative, where she is deeply committed to supporting equitable structures in academia. Her understanding of leadership stems from a unique journey: starting as a junior musical conductor during her school and university years, she learned early on how to guide teams toward a shared vision. She later applied this unique approach to leading a non-profit organization for three years alongside her engineering studies.
As your host for the event, she brings a multifaceted perspective on the dynamics of leading, being led, and collaborating in science.
Lea Schmocker is an actress, theatre educator, and lecturer with experience in academic teaching. Through her work at FAU, she is familiar with the structures, expectations, and dynamics of academic contexts. In her teaching, she combines artistic methods, humor, and practical tools with a clear understanding of real challenges. Her approach is practical, experience-based, and allows both depth and lightness – with the aim of supporting real and sustainable development.
Juliane holds a PhD in neurobiology and has more than 10 years of research experience. She uses this experience to support scientists as a freelance trainer for soft skills with a focus on strengthening key competencies such as (scientific) communication, leadership, career development as well as time and self-management.
Yashasvi Verma is a doctoral researcher at the Institute of Applied Mechanics (LTM) and the Institute of Continuum Mechanics and Biomechanics (LKM) at FAU, where she contributes to the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC/SFB) Exploring Brain Mechanics. With an interdisciplinary background shaped by working across multiple research groups throughout her studies, she brings a broad perspective on collaboration in science. Alongside her research, she is an active member of the Women’s Representative body and participates in the ARIADNE mentorship program for women researchers. A strong advocate for women in science and engineering, she is committed to fostering inclusive academic environments through organizing and contributing to various academic and social initiatives.
Anja Lux is W2 professor for Integrated Immunology at the department of biology of the faculty of sciences at FAU. Originally trained in Molecular Medicine, she began focussing on immunology – particularly antibody activity in health and inflammatory diseases – during her PhD. She later took over a lecturing and research position as Akademische Rätin and started building her own research group before taking over the professorship in Integrated Immunology in 2022. In this capacity, teaching students on bachelor and master level, training PhD students as well as shaping and coordinating research projects and collaborations is part of her daily work leading to a broad perspective on leadership in science. Years of experience in being led and now leading herself, has shaped her awareness for clear and open communication and transparency aiming for an inclusive and stimulating work environment. In addition, she has been women´s representative at the department of biology since 2019 and has been supporting the AriadneTechNat mentoring program both during candidate selection and as a mentor both aiming to support career development for women in science and strengthen equal opportunities.
Please note: By participating, you agree that photographs and film footage in which you may be recognizable may potentially be published in various media for purposes of event coverage and general publicity.
If you have any questions, please contact Hanna Stöcker.
Kontakt
Hanna Stöcker, hanna.stoecker@fau.de