We are divers and that is what makes us strong:

Across our ten sites, we bring together many nationalities and cultures, different research disciplines, and a wide range of expertise. We see this diversity as a strength. Through interdisciplinary collaboration built on trust and the intensive exchange of knowledge, we work together to develop holistic solutions to complex challenges.

Here you can find the GENDER EQUALITY PLAN

Our “We are divers and that makes us strong” Posting

Our diversity of mother languages at DZNE in a video 

The DZNE Shows Its Support for Inclusion

Health is a top priority at the DZNE:

This applies not only to our research but also to our everyday working environment. Our Workplace Health Management offers expert talks, weekly online yoga through our partner PME, and access to fitness apps and local fitness facilities via the Wellhub app. Through local health days, the “Brain Runners” running initiative, and meditation videos, we take a holistic approach to supporting mental and physical health. As a health research center, we promote health authentically, based on evidence and genuine conviction.

At the DZNE, we support you in balancing your professional goals with a fulfilling personal life:

As a family-friendly research institute and a member of the “Erfolgsfaktor Familie” network, we offer flexible working hours, opportunities to work from home, and parent-child rooms at our Bonn and Tübingen sites for short-term childcare needs.

DZNE employees also benefit from a strong network of external partners, including pme Familienservice and Sozialwerk Bund, which provide counselling and holiday childcare services. In addition, our workplace care guides are available to offer advice and support. Together, we create reliable conditions for different stages of life.

Mobility at the DZNE is flexible, sustainable, and practical for everyday life:

We subsidize the Deutschlandticket, making it easier to travel to work in a climate-friendly way. Our sites are well connected to local public transport, and GoFlux makes carpooling simple and convenient. We also actively support cyclists with covered bicycle parking, campaigns, and practical cycling equipment. Car parking is also available at selected sites, in some cases including charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

We support our employees in their development:

Our development opportunities range from structured onboarding, workshops, internal training, and lecture series to a growing selection of e-learning courses for self-directed learning. Doctoral researchers and postdocs also benefit from targeted workshops and information provided by the Career Center to help them prepare for their next career step. We also support individual, subject-specific development needs through external training opportunities. And, of course, we support managers in their roles, including through programs offered by the Helmholtz Academy.

Sustainable practices at the DZNE are guided by environmental, social, and governance principles:

We do not see sustainability as an add-on, but as an integral part of our daily work at all DZNE sites. We address environmental aspects through the responsible use of materials and energy, resource-efficient infrastructure in laboratories and Core Facilities, and climate-friendly mobility solutions. Our social responsibility is reflected in healthy and fair working conditions, equal opportunities, support for balancing work and family life, and an appreciative and inclusive working culture. Good governance provides a reliable framework for our actions—with transparent structures, clear responsibilities, and high scientific and ethical standards. In this way, we create a working environment that actively embraces sustainability and takes responsibility—both individually and as a center—to continuously advance sustainable practices for our employees, our research, and a sustainable future.

Fair pay and reliable benefits are a matter of course for us:

At the DZNE, almost all employee groups are paid in accordance with the TVöD Bund collective agreement—including an annual special payment, capital-forming benefits, and an additional pension plan through the VBL. With 30 days of annual leave as well as days off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, where operational requirements permit, we provide genuine time to rest and recharge. We also subsidize the Deutschlandticket and offer free participation in services provided by the Employee Assistance Program, Sozialwerk.Bund, and Workplace Health Management, as well as in a wide range of activities relating to diversity, health, sustainability, development, and mobility. You can access additional benefits through the Corporate Benefits platform. In this way, we combine financial security with a comprehensive range of benefits for your working life.