Dr. Amy Danson

Amy Danson was elected as Equal Opportunities Officer in June 2023. She moved to Germany in January 2020 after completing her PhD in epigenetics at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in the UK.

During her PhD, Amy was actively involved in gender equality initiatives at QMUL. She noticed an imbalance between the genders in senior scientific and management positions, which motivated her to lead the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) committee and to work on the steering committee of the Athena Swan Award. This prize promotes gender equality and diversity in higher education.

Amy is committed to making the Equal Opportunities Office at the DKFZ work for all employees. She not only champions gender equality, but also believes in the importance of intersectionality and strives to include all dimensions of diversity. Her goal is to create an inclusive workplace that sets a benchmark for equity for all DKFZ employees.

We offer confidential consultations to all employees on the following topics:

Work–Life Balance

• Maternity protection, parental leave, and returning to work
• Flexible working models (part-time, remote work, job sharing)
• Support with family responsibilities, e.g. caregiving for relatives

Equal Opportunities at Work

• Fair participation in hiring, promotions, and committee work
• Gender-sensitive advice for both staff and leadership

Protection from Discrimination and Harassment

• First point of contact in cases of sexual harassment, bullying, or unfair treatment
• Support with next steps (e.g. informal conversations, formal complaint processes)

All consultations are confidential.
We provide independent, solution-focused guidance that supports gender equality.