Share
11. Feb. 2025
Despite the achievements of pioneers like Marie Curie, women remain significantly underrepresented in science. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2025, it’s time to reflect on global and local efforts to promote gender equality in STEM.
In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This initiative was launched to address the severe underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), especially in later career stages such as postdoctoral research. Despite growing awareness, the statistics still tell a concerning story.
In the Czech Republic, women comprise only 26% of all researchers in life sciences and 23% in technical sciences, based on 2022 data. These figures reflect a broader trend across many countries, with the Czech Republic holding the lowest proportion of women scientists among EU-member states.
To honour this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke with two inspiring female scientists: Khadija Hajji a postdoc from the ERA Chair – RNA and Immunity group at CEITEC Masaryk University and Vice-chair of Postdoc Peer Committee, and Michaela Vojníková, a PhD candidate under Zbyněk Heger at CEITEC Brno University of Technology and Mendel University, currently advancing her research at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Both women have international experience and shared insights into their personal journeys, as well as the barriers and opportunities they have encountered in science.
Let their stories be a reminder that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in achieving true gender equality in STEM fields.
Khadija Hajji, CEITEC MUNI
1. What inspired you to become a scientist and what were your first steps in the field?
I was mostly driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how the world works and how the human body functions. I was also inspired by great teachers in Tunisia who sparked my passion for discovery. My first steps in science were the hands-on experiments in high school and university working on small research projects and then internships in labs which helped me gain real-world experience.
2. Have you encountered any obstacles or stereotypes associated with being a woman during your career? How did you overcome them?
I personally haven’t encountered stereotypes associated with being a woman. However, I’ve seen some of my friends who faced unequal pay and challenges in balancing work and personal life due to societal expectations. The best way to overcome these stereotypes, in my opinion, is to speak up and to stay competitive!
3. How does the Czech environment stand up to this? Where can we take inspiration from abroad, and where do we lead by example?
The Czech Republic, like many countries, has a complex relationship with gender stereotypes. Several Czech organizations are dedicated to advocating women’s rights and gender equality. Furthermore, the Czech Republic has been promoting women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through scholarships and initiatives, and I think that’s good progress!
Inspiration can be taken from countries like Sweden, Norway or Finland, which are the most gender-equal countries in the world promoting work-life balance, shared parental leave, and strong feminist policies.
4. What scientific achievement are you most proud of and what impact could it have on society?
My first PhD article was an achievement that I am proud of! I studied the protective effect of a neuropeptide (PACAP) in a Parkinson’s disease model and found that it delayed neurodegeneration and extended lifespan—though not a complete rescue, it’s a promising result. This peptide is already used in migraine treatment so it could inspire new Parkinson’s treatments in the future.
5. What advice would you give to young girls who are considering a career in science but are unsure if it is for them?
Science can be tough but it’s also very fun! My advice is to try to explore different fields, join science clubs, for example, and most importantly, do internships in labs to discover the real scientific world. If you find yourself enjoying what you are doing and you are really excited about the outcome, then you are ready to start your own journey in science.
Michaela Vojníková, CEITEC BUT
1. What inspired you to become a scientist and what were your first steps in the field?
My personality and my parents’ raising showed me from the early part of my life that I had a passion for helping people. In the history of almost every person, there can be someone who has a serious illness and succumb to it. Several such events happened to me, and I could not understand why we still do not have effective therapies in such an advanced era. I decided that I had to take the path of a scientist and help people more with finding effective treatments. My first steps led me to join the research team of Assoc. Prof. David Salamon (CEITEC VUT) in the very first year of my university studies. The moment I realized science wasn’t just about learning facts but about solving mysteries; I wanted to see where my steps could lead next. I was eager to connect my passion for science with research focused on the disease that was bothering me the most – cancer, so I naturally continued in Assoc. Prof. Zbyněk Heger's team (MENDELU).
2. Have you encountered any obstacles or stereotypes associated with being a woman during your career? How did you overcome them?
I'm very lucky to be surrounded by people on our team who treat me as an equal, even though career-wise, I’m “only” a PhD student. My boss and I have developed a balanced work relationship from the beginning. However, I have encountered questions that men probably don't get: When do I plan to start a family? Will I be able to handle having a family during my postdoc? For all people asking these questions: Could we, as a society, accept that both women and men should take the same responsibility in the family? Hence, we can take care of our families and also have a professional career. Besides, we never know people’s health status, and it’s crossing the line to care about things like that. Unfortunately, what sometimes happens in a scientific collective is that women undervalue themselves and have an unhealthy, even toxic, competitiveness among themselves. We should stick together, support each other, and enjoy our successes. That’s why I surround myself with female friends and scientists who don’t begrudge each other, and we just drive together forward. As a mentor, I’ve even recently had to deal with sexual harassment committed on young women. But we have already addressed this situation officially.
3. How does the Czech environment stand up to this? Where can we take inspiration from abroad, and where do we lead by example?
I think a huge part of the work is also done by social media, where these issues are often raised. I like to follow NKC’s profile and campaigns. If I look abroad, the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace is heavily addressed in the US. I know this myself as well, having gone through several training courses during my internship at UCSD in the US. We should also give this a chance here in the Czech Republic. When a case like this is dealt with here, the victim of the act is often a victim in their career because people judge the victim. This is beyond my understanding. We can take inspiration from Iceland where they balance the differences and avoid unnecessary questions. Women and men are treated equally there since they have established that together they are entitled to 12 months of parental leave, so everyone is entitled to 6 months at 80% of their full pay. This motivates people to return to work, be they women or men, in the same position.
4. What scientific achievement are you most proud of and what impact could it have on society?
From my personal perspective, I am proud of myself that I was able to get a Fulbright scholarship and join Joseph Wang’s research group at UCSD for 10 months. This internship is very personally meaningful to me and will advance me as an early-career scientist in many ways. I have met a lot of great young scientists who (I would say) will be the next generation in science, and I believe that through our friendly and collaborative approach, we will come together to find answers to the various questions that burden society. Another achievement worth mentioning is that I have been able to connect our research group with the company Enantis, and we have many plans together. I believe that through this connection, we will also be able to commercialize our ideas that will be accessible to almost everyone.
5. What advice would you give to young girls who are considering a career in science but are unsure if it is for them?
Science is a place for everyone where we can realize our dreams or express our enthusiasm endlessly. We, women and girls, can be equally passionate about our work and, therefore, should have no self-doubts or insecurities. We often bring empathy and understanding to the group, and we need more and more of that in science.
Photogallery
Author
