To be closed, call for stays in Germany for indigenous women


Mexico has significant inequality gaps that exist due to gender, reaching a ratio of 8 to 2 in the National System of Researchers of the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt). The situation increases in localities with less academic coverage and in vulnerable areas.

With the aim of promoting the formation of highly specialized human capital, linking research and innovation, as well as facilitating the transfer of knowledge, strengthening research projects of indigenous women, the call was announced Mexicanas ConCiencia: “Technical Research Stays Program for Indigenous Women from Hidalgo in Germany”.

This is the first call of its kind, in which participate Mercka German science and technology company, and the government of the state of Hidalgothrough the Planning and Prospective Unit and the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (citnova). What she is looking for is the opportunity for indigenous women scientists to advance their careers and contribute to the development of their community.

Regarding the call, Cristian Von Schulz Hausmann, general director of Merck in Mexico, explains why specifically support this sector?:

“It has seemed to us that Hidalgo is a very relevant place to be able to help these scientists who, with great courage and great effort, overcome the social mandate they have in their places, these are stories of effort that make them pursue a degree and this We find it very inspiring for many other women who are on the road and sometimes are self-limited”, she said in an interview.

“When all this is combined, it seems to us the perfect motivation to help professional development, to support local science and technology, connect with the roots and work for equal opportunities.”

He adds that when one advances in more specializations such as postgraduate degrees or doctorates, there the difference between men and women begins to be very noticeable, with 80% men and 20% women. “This makes it relevant to be able to support gender diversity, since it has been shown that they are engines for countries to develop better.”

Cristian Von Schulz Hausmann, general director of Merck in Mexico. Photo: Courtesy

Regarding the characteristics of these scientific women, the Merck representative assures that indigenous women also have a bilingual birth facility, through their native peoples plus Spanish, “with this they can learn a third language, which at first glance could be a difficulty to bond”.

They also usually bring their knowledge back to the society from which they come, which causes a very interesting virtuous circle, which in the end ends up transferring knowledge to their society and peoples of origin, “this is a great topic to promote”.

He added that they understand that in those roots that Mexico has, plus the science and technology that they are creating, they connect us in some way with our history and with what it means in gender equity, equal opportunities.

What is expected of this scholarship?

The idea is that the scientists spend two to three months in a receiving laboratory with their expenses covered. From accommodation, mobility, among other things, for which 20,000 euros are calculated for the person or persons selected through their projects.

“We are focused on life sciences, biotechnology, chemistry, in areas of pharmacological medicine, biotechnology and clinical medicine, these are the areas where we develop the most and we want to promote these projects. We will be facilitators of this experience with the support of the great institutions”, both educational and the State.

Von Schulz Hausmann concludes that public-private links in science issues are essential for projects to really move forward, “with total transparency, each one, from their greatest area of ​​expertise, can contribute knowledge to projects that each one on their own surely they couldn’t be. Normally in the countries the scientific activity is of the State, but the pharmaceutical industry also has the experience of being able to take basic research and develop it so that in the future it becomes solutions and answers in diseases as complex as multiple sclerosis, oncology, among other”.

Call details:

It closes on June 17 and is aimed at indigenous women from the state who are carrying out research work in any area of ​​knowledge at a master’s or doctorate level. They are invited to submit applications to participate in the selection process and obtain a scholarship to carry out a field research stay in a chemical laboratory.pharmacist in Germany.

The scholarship granted by Merck and CITNOVA includes: Payment of air travel (round flight), food, local transportation, lodging and medical insurance.

Applicants with any area of ​​knowledge may participate, mainly in disciplines such as: Medicine, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Chemist or related areas.

Among the requirements are: to be originally from Hidalgo, to have a certificate of studies, to be accepted by a higher education institution or research center in Germany, not to have a current job position and to present a research proposal. For more information, interested parties can consult the details at: https://bit.ly/3yWlCWg.

The link to register: https://www.merckgroup.com/mx-it is

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