CORA Coaching Programme

Coaching Women for Research and Academia

CORA offers all coaching and training sessions entirely in English.

Your career compass in academia

CORA supports female scientists and FLINTA individuals in shaping their academic careers strategically — all the way to a professorship or leadership position in academia.
The program combines:

Individual coaching for clarity and strategy
Exclusive trainings for your academic career
Regular networking meetings for sustainable exchange

The goal: To shape your career intentionally—with strategy, reflection, and support.

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Application 2025/26

The application process for the next round will start in December 2025.

Coaching

Academic coaching is a professional process focused on the development and clarification of professional roles and identities. It provides female researchers with the space to align their professional and personal goals by promoting reflection, decision-making, and the development of effective strategies.

More about Coaching

Small group of female researchers in conversation with the Vice-Rector

Training

The CORA Trainings are exclusive, customized training sessions developed specifically for the participants of the programme. Generally, participants from previous rounds can also be invited. Participation is mandatory for the current round’s participants.

Dates

A CORA participant in training is showing a picture

Networking Meetings

The third pillar of the coaching programme is aimed at building and maintaining a network of female researchers. Every six to eight weeks, you will meet with other CORA participants to reflect and share experiences together. This regular exchange not only promotes your professional development but also opens up new contacts and resources that can support your career. You should attend at least three of the six meetings.

Dates

The CORA Program

Target group

CORA supports excellent women researchers with a completed doctorate, postdocs, junior professors, and research group leaders from all faculties.

Postdocs who are at least one year past their doctorate are particularly encouraged to apply. This phase is crucial for the further development and planning of their academic career.

Intersex, non-binary, transgender, and agender persons are warmly welcome to apply.

Number of participants

Program content

Requirements

You intend to qualify for a professorship or a leadership position in research and academia.
You commit to participating in the CORA events.
You have an existing employment relationship with the university of Freiburg for at least one year from the start of the round.

Applications are submitted via the online form by the participant. The following documents must be included with the submission:

Curriculum vitae, including details on publications and teaching activities.
Proof of Employment Contract with the university of Freiburg for at least one year from the start of the round.

Application

Downloads

Small group of female researchers in training

Call for Applications

The next call for applications is expected to start in December 2025

The CORA program was a great experience for me and has helped me on my way to my current position as professor. The courses that I could take via CORA helped me to get training in a variety of people skills. I found the one-to-one meetings with a personal coach enormously stimulating, and this really empowered me to set small goals each month to finally reach for my dreams. The peer group of female scientists was very supportive and it resulted in some long-standing friendships for me.

Prof. Dr. Tessa Q.

CORA Programm, 1. Round

CORA war eine wunderbare Gelegenheit, Wissenschaftler*innen aus anderen Disziplinen kennenzulernen, die eigene Karriere strategisch zu planen und alles, das so anfällt, im Einzelgespräch mit ausgebildeten Coaches produktiv durchzusprechen. Besonders wertgeschätzt habe ich die Flexibilität, mit der das Programm und die Koordinatorin auf die individuellen Bedürfnisse der Stipendiat*innen eingegangen ist, mit ad hoc Coaches und Trainings, die passgenau auf unsere Stipendiat*innengruppe zugeschnitten war.

Ass. Prof.-Dr. Katja W.

CORA Programm, 3. Round

Mariana Vargas Ustares [sie/ihr]

Programmleitung

mariana.vargas-ustares@zv.uni-freiburg.de
Tel.: +49 761 203-9053
Montags und dienstags nach Terminvereinbarung.
Montag und Dienstag 9:00–17:00 Uhr, Freitag 14:00–17:00 Uhr.

Helen Naaber [sie/ihr]

Mitarbeiterin

CORA@zv.uni-freiburg.de