The program’s name was chosen for a reason: Elise Richter was a pioneer in Austrian science. A romance language scholar, she was appointed as Austria’s first female university professor in 1921. She taught at the University of Vienna until 1938, when she was removed from her position due to the Nazi racial laws.
The FWF’s Elise Richter program was one of the key funding instruments for outstanding women researchers in Austria from 2006 to 2025. The program was aimed at female researchers in the senior postdoctoral phase across the entire spectrum of basic research and helped grant recipients achieve top academic positions at national and international research institutions.
The program evolved into an important tool for career advancement and provided lasting momentum for more equal opportunities in academia. As part of the reform of its career programs, the FWF integrated the Elise Richter Program into the FWF ASTRA Awards in 2024. Based on the program’s core objectives, the ASTRA Awards support the career development of outstanding researchers through additional funding opportunities, including special measures for female researchers, such as additional funding for tenure-track positions.
In the nearly 20 years it ran, the Elise Richter program funded a total of 338 research projects, advancing the careers of 338 women. The program made an important contribution to strengthening career paths for women in science and increasing their visibility in the Austrian research system. Many former program participants now hold professorships or other leadership positions at universities and research institutions both in Germany and abroad.
The program’s impact extends beyond its expiration, both in the scientific achievements of its alumnae and in its contribution to making Austria a diverse and high-performing research location. As an association of Elise Richter alumnae and ASTRA Award winners, the Elise Richter Network, which is independent of the FWF, also contributes to this effort. Through a wide range of activities, the network advocates for gender equality and works to eliminate structural disadvantages in the Austrian academic system.