Interview | Johanna Hess has received a scholarship from the BTU Equal Opportunities Office for the final phase of her doctoral studies

What was the application process like?
"When I became aware of the fellowship, I was on parental leave. My position as a research assistant had not been renewed and I knew that if I started applying for jobs, my PhD would be on hold for a long time. I even feared that with a job and two small children, I might not be able to finish the dissertation at all. Talking to the Equal Opportunity Officer, I immediately realized that the scholarship would be the optimal support for me to bring the doctoral thesis to a successful conclusion. I immediately made the decision to apply. A few weeks later, I received the notification that I would receive a six-month scholarship to complete my doctoral work. That was great motivation."

Was it difficult to get the documents together?
"Not at all. First, I was communicated very clearly what I needed to submit. In addition to the application form, these were: a tabular CV, a letter of motivation, a report on the status of my research and a timeline, the birth certificates of my children, proof of completion of my university studies, and a statement from my doctoral supervisor."

Was the effort of applying worth it?
"The scholarship has firstly freed me from financial worries, secondly allowed me to fully concentrate on completing my PhD in terms of time, and thirdly enabled me to balance my research with my family responsibilities. The recognition and support that comes with the scholarship has also motivated me immensely to complete my doctoral work in a timely manner."

Visit the website of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Equal Opportunities Office and find out about funding opportunities:
www.b-tu.de/en/gleichstellung