Career development

Cluster life sciences

The leaky pipeline is most pronounced in the life and biological sciences. At the study level these subjects are clearly dominated by women, with around seven out of ten master's degrees going to women. More than two-thirds of all doctoral degrees in the academic year 2023 went to women. The gender ratio is reversed when it comes to professorships: only one-third of university professors are held by women in 2025. In contrast, the proportion of women in tenure track positions has risen significantly – this could be explained in part by the fluctuation of tenure track positions toward § 99/6 professors.

 

 

Data in table chart, 2025

Career development | Cluster life sciences | 2025 | percentage
Cluster Lebens- und Biowissenschaften (Anzahl gesamt) Jahr Frauen Männer
MA-Absolvent*innen (861) 2025 72% 28%
Praedocs (436) 2025 60% 40%
Dok-/PhD-Absolvent*innen (126) 2025 68% 32%
Postdocs (266) 2025 53% 47%
Senior Scientists (89) 2025 43% 57%
Tenure Track (41) 2025 64% 36%
Professor*innen (113) 2025 33% 67%

Data in table chart, 2024

Career development | Cluster life sciences | 2024 | percentage
Cluster Lebens- und Biowissenschaften (Anzahl gesamt) Jahr Frauen Männer
MA-Absolvent*innen (737) 2024 72% 28%
Praedocs (400) 2024 60% 40%
Dok-/PhD-Absolvent*innen (110) 2024 50% 50%
Postdocs (252) 2024 55% 45%
Tenure Track (44) 2024 48% 52%
Professor*innen (110) 2024 32% 68%

Data in table chart, 2023

Career development | Cluster life sciences | 2023 | percentage
Cluster Lebens- und Biowissenschaften (Anzahl gesamt) Jahr Frauen Männer
MA-/Dipl.-Absolvent*innen (856) 2023 71 % 29 %
Praedocs (382) 2023 60 % 40 %
Dok-/PhD-Absolvent*innen (102) 2023 56 % 44 %
Postdocs (234) 2023 52 % 48 %
Tenure Track (39) 2023 46 % 54 %
Professor*innen (110) 2023 32 % 68 %

Data in table chart, 2022

Career development | Cluster life sciences | 2022 | percentage
Cluster Lebens- und Biowissenschaften (Anzahl gesamt) Jahr Frauen Männer
MA-/Dipl.-Absolvent*innen (856) 2022 71 % 29 %
Praedocs (382) 2022 59 % 41 %
Dok-/PhD-Absolvent*innen (102) 2022 56 % 44 %
Postdocs (234) 2022 53 % 47 %
Tenure Track (44) 2022 45 % 55 %
Professor*innen (100) 2022 28 % 72 %