Economist Doris Weichselbaumer (Institute for Women's and Gender Studies, JKU) was presented with the Gabriele Possanner Award, endowed with € 10,000 in prize money. Prof. Weichselbaumer’s research focuses on various forms of discrimination in the labor market. As she is currently spending a semester at the University of Berkeley in California/USA, Professor Alberta Bonanni, JKU Vice-Rector for Research, Gender and Diversity, accepted the award on her behalf.

The Gabriele Possanner Award honors outstanding achievements in the field of gender research. Prof. Weichselbaumer remarked: "I am delighted and honored to receive this award named after Gabriele Possanner, a remarkable pioneer for academic participation and equal career opportunities. This is all the more exciting, especially given that one of my main areas of research focuses on equal career opportunities."

JKU Vice-Rector Bonanni considers the award a confirmation of the JKU's commitment: "Gender studies takes a critical look at seemingly unquestioned circumstances and is a cross-sectional topic across all scientific and academic disciplines. Gender studies is an area of social research that should be actively conducted at a university, especially one that is aware of its emancipatory potential and one that values interdisciplinary practices. The JKU was one of Austria’s first universities to create an interdisciplinary university institute in 2001 focusing on women’s affairs and gender studies.”