Angela Steinauer, professor of chemistry, reflects on how the “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme for women in science helped shape her career. Applications for 2025 are open. A networking event takes place on 10 February in Bern.
“Foster. Lead. Promote.”, previously known as “Fix the Leaky Pipeline”, is a shared initiative across the ETH domain institutions. Since 2007, the programme has provided female junior researchers with courses in the areas of career advancement, coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities. Angela Steinauer participated in the programme between 2019 and 2021 as a postdoc at ETH Zurich. She then joined EPFL in 2022 as a tenure track assistant professor in chemistry, heading the Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Nanomedicine in the School of Basic Sciences.
“When there’s a critical mass of women, it doesn't feel like you’re at a disadvantage. But once you’re in the minority — and especially after having children — it becomes obvious that women face additional challenges,” Steinauer says.
She speaks from experience. When she was an undergraduate student at the University of Zurich, more than half her classmates were women. At the time, she chose chemistry with the idea of becoming a high school teacher, because it seemed like an exciting subject to teach. By the time she arrived at EPFL, just a decade after graduating, she had become a mother, navigating the demanding path to tenure without nearby family support.
Her PhD years at Yale, between 2012 and 2018, were equally eye-opening: “In the US, there’s a stronger tradition of self-organised minority groups, which makes people more aware of diverse perspectives. When I came back to Switzerland, I realised how patriarchal our society still is, and I felt an even stronger need to connect with like-minded people. That's also why the “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme was so valuable.”
Coaching and networking
Through this programme, Steinauer attended coaching sessions by a senior faculty developer and former researcher in academia – someone she continued to consult even afterward. “She was such an enormous help, with so much experience in the academic world, she provided invaluable guidance.”
The coaching group turned out to be a key resource too: “We brought our challenges or open questions to the group and then discussed them together. It was enlightening to hear different perspectives. We also realised that we could organise and support each other.”
“The relationships you build with peers are essential.”Angela Steinauer
Skill development
The courses in leadership and emotional intelligence were also very useful, Steinauer says. One course she followed focused on recognising personal needs while also being mindful of other’s needs. “That is crucial when mentoring students. What do I need? What do they need? Where can we meet in the middle, and what do we expect from each other? Leading a group isn’t easy. The courses gave me a strong foundation.”
Regarding questions of leadership, the “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme was instrumental in helping the future young professor prepare for new responsibilities: “It was incredibly helpful to think about how to start your own group, set expectations, establish a lab framework, draft a lab policy document, and define how we want to treat each other — among many other things,” Steinauer remembers.
This preparation proved essential for the next steps. “As you advance in academia, you start getting more pushback — especially if you’re a woman, because we’re often socialized to be accommodating and nurturing. When we assert ourselves, we’re often perceived as aggressive, while men doing the same thing are seen as strong leaders. It can be hard to find the right balance and feel comfortable in this new role. Talking about these issues with other participants in the programme gave me invaluable perspectives and support.”
“Leading a group isn’t easy. The “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme courses gave me a strong foundation.”Angela Steinauer
Combating imposter syndrome
In this respect, the “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme also supported her in combating imposter syndrome. “That was one of the main topics we discussed, and I believe most people experience it to some degree, not only women. What really helped me was talking openly about these feelings and realising even senior colleagues have them. I’ve also found it useful to keep track of my accomplishments as tangible proof of my progress, and to practice self-compassion. It’s not something that just goes away — it takes a lot of time and self-reflection.”
So, what is her advice to younger female researchers? “I've learned that doors open. Look closely, when you see an opportunity, seize it! Apply for that fellowship, submit your grant proposal, or consider doing a PhD abroad! That’s how we grow. And make sure you’re getting enough sleep — put your phone down and rest when you need to.”
Profile Angela Steinauer
external page Prof. Angela Steinauer, EPFLNetworking event on 10 February 2025 in Bern
For more information on the external page “Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme aimed at female PhD students and postdocs, including testimonials from female professors in academia and women in industry, join the networking event.
When: 10 February 2025, University of Bern
“Foster. Lead. Promote.” programme
Who can apply?
Female doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and other young female scientists working at an institution in the ETH domain. The programme serves the development of academic careers and is not tied to research projects.
Programme details, registration and important dates
The programme includes courses in the areas of leadership, career development and soft skills, as well as coaching and mentoring. Further information and registration details can be found at external page Foster. Lead. Promote.
Note
This article was originally published on 3 February 2025 on the external page EPFL blog, written by Emmanuelle Marendaz Colle. The above version has been edited for ETH Internal news.
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