Strengthening diversity in researchThe GinF project

9 February 2026

Photo: HRA

The GinF project, coordinated by the Hamburg Research Academy in collaboration with the ZGD, promotes the integration of gender and diversity aspects in research. In this interview, project manager Lynn Berg explains how GinF's offerings help researchers improve the quality of scientific work and reduce bias.

What is GinF and what are the project's goals?

360° Gender in Research (GinF) is a BMFTR-funded project implemented jointly by the HRA and the Center for Gender & Diversity (ZGD). The aim of GinF is to support researchers in meaningfully incorporating gender and diversity aspects into their research. In this way, the project contributes to strengthening research quality, reducing existing biases, and meeting the requirements of national and international research funding.

Why is it important to consider gender in research today?

The question of whether and how gender is relevant in a research project arises in many disciplines. However, systematic consideration of gender is often lacking in research practice. Research that does not sufficiently consider one gender or gender differences can lead to distorted or incomplete results. At the same time, researchers are often faced with very specific questions: When is gender relevant? How can it be meaningfully assessed? And how can we deal with different understandings of gender? This is precisely where GinF's services come in, providing support in addressing these questions in a professionally sound and context-specific manner.

What services are available specifically for doctoral reseachers and postdocs?

GinF offers various formats that are specifically aimed at early career researchers. In talks and spotlights, national and international experts provide insights into the significance of gender and diversity dimensions in different research contexts. Workshops combine subject-specific knowledge transfer with work on participants' own research projects. In addition, GinF counseling supports researchers across universities in reflecting on their research profile and in reviewing and designing gender and diversity aspects in third-party funding applications.

Information on events, counseling, and collaborations can be found on the new project website: https://www.ginf-hamburg.de/