Austria’s largest monetary research awards has been announced. On the recommendation of an international jury of experts, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) presented the Wittgenstein Award to microbiologist Christa Schleper.

From a field of 99 applicants, the jury chose six researchers in a very competitive selection process. 

In a long-term study, independent experts at the University of Zurich scrutinised more than 10,000 funding decisions made by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). They found that the quality of proposals has continuously increased, that there is a fair distribution of funding odds across all disciplines, and that age and gender have no effect on the probability of receiving funding.

In the past year, 49 female researchers were selected for the FWF’s career development programmes ESPRIT, Hertha Firnberg and Elise Richter. At the FWF’s invitation, they and many other successful female researchers came together in Vienna’s Museum Quarter to receive their awards, and to discuss women’s careers in science.