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
PD. 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

Co-Chair
Aleksandra Tuleja MD
Attending physician, division of Angiology
PhD Candidate, Graduate School for Heath Sciences
University Hospital Bern
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7108-418X  

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 Obstetrics and Gynecology
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
Jarmila Anna Zdanowicz (0000-0002-5361-7309) - My ORCID

Prof. 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

Anja  Kéry-Candela, MD, MMEc, SSIPM, SGNOR
Young clinical researcher
Specialist in orthopedic surgery, traumatology and paintherapy
Emergency Department, Swiss Trauma Center
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University Bern, Switzerland
+ 031 632 75 66
anjaelisabeth.kery-candela@insel.ch

Daniëlle Verschoor, PhD
Department of Clinical Research (DCR)
University of Bern, Switzerland
danielle.verschoor@unibe.ch
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6636-9818

• 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.

Contacts: 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 17:30

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:

Thema: "Patient and public involvement (PPI): ‘PPI: What it is, what it isn't, and what it can do in clinical research.’"
When: 15.11.2024 at 17.00-18.30
Where: Inselareal, JJH A523
Info: The workshop will be given by Kristin Bivens, Head of Education and Training and Lead of Patient and Public Involvement at the Department of Clinical Research (DCR)
Regitration: fels.meddek@unibe.ch till 08.11.2024
Flyer:Link to PDF

Previous:

Title: “Artificial Intelligence in (scientific) writing" with two experts from the medical library of the University of Bern, Tania Rivero and Dr. Sampoorna Rappaz.
When: 25.06.2024 at 17:30 - 19:00  followed by an Apero
Where: at the Inselareal (exact location will follow with registration).
For registration: Please send an email to (fels.meddek@unibe.ch) until 18.06.2024.
Info: This workshop will cover the appropriate and effective use of AI tools for literature search and writing.
For registration see flyer: Link to PDF

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

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.

We are thrilled to officially invite you to our annual FELS retreat, taking place on September 19-20, 2024, at the beautiful Hotel Appenberg in Emmental. This year, we have an exciting program lined up, with a special focus on public speaking and communication skills with Sibylle Somerer for one-full day.

Flyer Retreats: Programm_FELS_retreat_2024

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sibylle-sommerer-7a1537154/recent-activity/all/

Highlights for the 2^nd day include a social media workshop with Dr. Roger Konrad and discussion round on academic career planning featuring two inspiring female role models (Prof. Britta Engelhardt and prof. Eva Segelov). Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow. Attached, you'll find the invitation and the detailed program for our retreat. We can't wait to see you there!

19.09./20.09.2024 in Hotel Appenberg (Emmental).

Please register through this form until July 31, 2024: https://forms.gle/atC1wUZoHJ1p1tMLA
If you have any questions regarding the retreat, please contact us through this email (fels.meddek@unibe.ch).

Prof. Britta Engelhardt About Us: Prof. Dr. Britta Engelhardt - Theodor Kocher Institute (TKI) (unibe.ch)

Prof. Eva Segelov Über uns: Prof. Dr. Eva Segelov - Medizinische Fakultät (unibe.ch)

Prof. Urs Fischer
Details - Neurologie: Universitätsklinik für Neurologie (insel.ch)

Prof. Lorenz Räber
Details - Kardiologie: Universitätsklinik für Kardiologie (insel.ch)

We are thrilled to announce the FELS Research Day 2025 on March 21, 2025, an inspiring one-day event!

See attached flyer for more details and help us spread the word by sharing openly in your community!

This Research Day focuses on Enhancing Excellence in Research.
Highlights include:

• Keynote Lectures by Prof. Britta Engelhardt and Prof. Karolina Kublickiene
• Invited talk from Dr. Jeanne Moor
• Research highlights from the community selected from submitted abstracts
• Panel Discussions: “How can we fix the leaky pipeline? – innovative pathways to inclusive medical science and leadership.”
• Interactive Workshops on career development in research: “Design the future: what would make a leadership career more attractive?”

We’ll also be awarding prizes to selected abstracts, recognizing outstanding work and innovation in life sciences and medicine.

We invite everyone; all researchers, students, and professionals from all disciplines to join us in celebrating scientific excellence.

When? 21 March 2025
Where? Anna Seiler Haus, Inselspital
Submit an abstract about your latest (ongoing or published) work via the registration link until 31.01.2025
Register now: https://tinyurl.com/FELSResearchDay

Let’s come together to create a more inclusive and empowering academic environment!
This is an awesome opportunity to present your research, see which exciting things are going on around campus and to grow your network.
We are looking very much forward to your active participation.

Flyer: Link

• 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)
• Burgergemeinde Bern

Clinical research careers in Switzerland:

https://cr-careers.ch/