Irène Curie Program

We believe that diversity broadens our research scope and enhances the quality of our education. Diverse teams lead to better strategies, more creative ideas, and faster innovation for all. Our Irène Curie Program is dedicated to advancing talented female academics, enabling them to thrive and succeed in top positions in science. The program is an equity approach that intentionally provides extra resources to a historically disadvantaged group. This initiative enables women to achieve success more quickly and overcome barriers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. We welcome all individuals who self-identify as female to apply.

Five years of the Irène Curie Fellowship

It’s been five years since our university made the bold move to prioritize women in our hiring policy. We did this with the Irène Curie Fellowship. Since then, we’ve managed to attract a hundred female scientists in various departments and positions at ¹û¶³´«Ã½. The influx of male and female faculty members is now 50/50. But we’re not there yet – that’s why we’re continuing our Irène Curie (IC) Program for another five years. In this video, two IC academics share their personal journey, and our rector, Silvia Lenaerts, and Diversity Officer Eva Demerouti explain why we still need preferential hiring for female talents. Click the picture to view the video about how ¹û¶³´«Ã½ empowers women in science. 

Also, click the link below to read this article on the evaluation of five years of the Irène Curie Fellowship. 

Features

  • Development track position of 5 years or senior position

  • Substantial start-up package

  • Develop your own research line

  • Participate in curriculum of department

  • Dedicated mentoring program

  • Dual career opportunity for spouses

As an Irène Curie academic, you will receive a development track position toward Associate Professor. If you already have a more senior profile, you are welcome to apply as associate of full professor. You will receive a tailor-made career proposal.

As an Irène Curie academic you will be offered the opportunity to establish an independent research program in collaboration with colleagues at our university, and at national and international institutions. Furthermore, we expect you to contribute to the curriculum of the department.

You will receive a substantial start-up package to kick-off your career in our university. In order to empower you, we provide support such as training programs for academic leadership and the university teaching qualification. A dedicated mentoring scheme is offered to support your ambitions, to increase your scientific career opportunities and to contribute to a stronger network of talented female scientists.

Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Family friendly initiatives are in place, such as our Partner Career Support Program to support accompanying partners and excellent on-campus children day care, and sports facilities. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Portraits Irène Curie Academics

News

Where innovation starts and people matter

In the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ community of students and staff, we strive for diversity and inclusion. A diverse workforce generates better problem-solving strategies and more creative ideas, accelerates innovation and enables teams to better learn and grow. Moreover, a broader network improves the capacity to function well in a pluralistic society and enables a connection to a wider number of stakeholders.

As ¹û¶³´«Ã½ strives for a diverse workforce, a special focus on female talent in science is necessary. In addition to the advantages of diversity, Irène Curie academics can serve as role models for the next generation of female scientists.

Irène Curie

Irène Joliot-Curie was a French scientist, the daughter of Marie Curie and the wife of Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Together with her husband, Irène Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for their discovery of artificial radioactivity. Furthermore, she was the first female undersecretary of state in France.

Irène Curie became actively involved in promoting women's education and was passionate in the feminist movement, especially for sciences. She continuously applied for the French Academy of Sciences, an elite scientific organization, knowingly that she would be denied. She did so to draw attention to the fact they did not accept women into the organization.

Irène Curie is a symbol for the next generation of female scientists ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is looking for.