With employees from more than 40 nations, we have a wealth of different cultural backgrounds at the FLI, making our institute diverse and colorful.
Dr. Kerstin Wagner Equal Opportunities Commissioner

Equality – Diversity - Inclusion at FLI

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) stand for equal opportunities, the appreciation of diversity, and the active inclusion of all people. The aim is to reduce discrimination and recognize different backgrounds, skills and perspectives as a strength. Inclusion means enabling everyone to participate and contribute on an equal basis. EDI promotes a respectful, fair and inclusive environment.

This understanding shapes our daily interactions and is an integral part of our equality-oriented, family-friendly, and future-oriented research culture.

We promote equal opportunities in concrete terms through:

Support programs for women in science, including Leibniz Mentoring
Supporting international researchers in settling in Jena – including finding accommodation and dealing with formalities
Exchange and networking formats to promote an open, respectful team culture
Commitment to the Diversity Charter and fulfillment of the criteria of the Total E-Quality certificate.

For us, diversity is not just a label, but a responsibility we live by – in research, in our team, and in a social context.

FLI / Gender Equality Plan (PDF)

In April 2013, the FLI signed the Charta der Vielfalt, thereby sending a clear signal in favor of a prejudice-free, appreciative working environment. We promote and live diversity in all its dimensions—regardless of gender, origin, religion, age, identity, or lifestyle—and create structures that open up fair development opportunities for all employees.

In line with the charter, we continuously review HR processes, strengthen a culture of respect, and make diversity visible and tangible. In this way, the FLI actively contributes to leveraging diversity as an opportunity—for people, for research, and for the future.

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Equal opportunities and family-friendly policies are part of our identity.

We create conditions that make it possible to balance work and family life—and have received multiple awards for our efforts.

Equal opportunities and family-friendly policies are integral parts of FLI's human resources policy. With flexible working time models, home office options, advice on parental leave, caregiving, and returning to work, as well as other supportive services, we make it easier to balance career and family. The FLI has received the Total E-Quality award several times for this commitment—most recently including the Diversity add-on. Our measures thus go well beyond legal requirements and promote a fair, cooperative, and diverse work culture.

Apart from the compatibility of family and work, the main focus is on equal opportunities in recruiting and human resources development, promoting fair play at work and the consideration of equality in the institute's principles.

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The Leibniz Association has supported and promoted equal opportunities for men and women since 1998. The project “Mentoring for women researchers at Leibniz institutions” is one of the strategic tools for promoting equal opportunities.

Excellent research needs excellent female researchers. The Leibniz Mentoring Program supports highly-qualified women post-docs on their path to leadership positions and professorships.

The FLI supports its junior scientists through training and several programs. We urge our female scientists to take part in the Leibniz Mentoring Program to benefit from additional exchanges and training provided by the Leibniz Association.

Detailed information on content and proceeding of the Mentoring Program as well as on application guidelines can be found here: www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/mentoring.

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05. November 2025

FLI receives TOTAL E-QUALITY award for the fifth time and is honored with sustainability prize

The Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena has been awarded the TOTAL E-QUALITY (TEQ) award for the fifth time and additionally received a sustainability prize. The prize ceremony took place on November 4 in Gelsenkirchen. The institute has held the TEQ award since 2013, which is given to organizations that are committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and family-friendly personnel policies. The FLI is regularly certified by an external jury every three years. The renewed award underlines the FLI's long-term commitment to an equal opportunity, family-friendly institute policy.

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06. November 2019

Gleiche Chancen für alle: Jenaer Leibniz-Institute für Personalpolitik ausgezeichnet (IPHT)

Für ihre zukunftsweisende und nachhaltig wirksame Personalpolitik sind die drei Jenaer Leibniz-Institute am 5. November 2019 in München mit dem „Total E-Quality“-Prädikat (TEQ) ausgezeichnet worden. Damit bescheinigt der bundesweit tätige Verein „Total E-Quality Deutschland“ den Forschungsinstituten bereits zum wiederholten Mal, dass sie sich erfolgreich dafür einsetzen, Männer und Frauen gleich zu behandeln, Vielfalt zu befördern sowie die Voraussetzungen dafür zu schaffen, dass Mitarbeitende Arbeits- und Privatleben gut vereinbaren können.

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15. May 2018

FLI again awarded with "Jenaer Familiensiegel"

In recognition of our excellent equal opportunities policies, we were awarded with the "Jenaer Familiensiegel" on May 15th.

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09. November 2016

TEQ Certificate re-awarded to the FLI

In recognition of our excellent equal opportunities policies, we were for the second time awarded with the TEQ Certificate on Novemer 9 in Nuremberg.

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29. October 2013

Leibniz-Institut für Altersforschung mit TOTAL E-QUALITY-Prädikat ausgezeichnet

Für das Leibniz-Institut für Altersforschung in Jena gehört Chancengleichheit und Familienfreundlichkeit zum Selbstverständnis einer zeitgemäßen Personalpolitik. Mit zahlreichen Maßnahmen unterstützt das Institut seine Beschäftigten, um Beruf und Familie besser miteinander kombinieren zu können. Dieses besondere Engagement hat überzeugt: Das FLI wurde am 28. Oktober 2013 mit dem Total E-Quality-Prädikat ausgezeichnet. Um dieses Prädikat können sich Organisationen aus Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Verwaltung bewerben, die in ihre Personal- und Organisationspolitik bereits nachhaltig Maßnahmen der Chancengleichheit und Familienfreundlichkeit integriert haben. Das Prädikat wurde zunächst für 3 Jahre verliehen.

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14. October 2013

FLI ist Gründungsmitglied im "Dual Career-Netzwerk Thüringen"

Um potentielle Bewerber für Thüringen zu gewinnen und an die Region zu binden, wird es immer wichtiger, auch dem Partner oder der Partnerin eine entsprechende Berufsperspektive aufzeigen zu können (Dual-Career-Paare).

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