Families in rural areas and social inequalities are the topics that inspire Sylvia Keim-Klärner as a researcher. "I'm interested in what it means for single women to live in rural regions. How do they experience local services of general interest and the situation on the labour market? How do they manage to reconcile family and career? How do they deal with challenges that arise from their life situation?" says the sociologist.

In her doctoral thesis, she investigated when and why people decide to become parents. She herself had her first child as a doctoral student. "It never fits well in our profession, you can't wait until a project is completed, or until you have achieved an academic degree or a permanent position," says the mother of two children. For many years, she has been working as a researcher on fixed-term contracts. In August 2018, she finally came to Braunschweig to the Thünen Institute for Rural Studies. Initially also for a temporary project position, since 2021 she has been employed permanently. Her research revolves around the living conditions of families in rural areas and also focuses on gender differences and inequalities. She has never worked part-time. As a sociologist, she knows: "Part-time work means part-time pension. That's not possible."

On her career path, it has always been important to her to follow the topics that are close to her heart. "There is not a day that I get up and think I don't feel like doing my work," she says. This passion for her subject always shines through in the conversation.

For her, there are three cornerstones for the balance between scientific work and family life: reliable childcare, family-friendly employers and a partner who goes along with it. "It was always a possibility for me to drop out of science if I had to. At the same time, it was my wish to stay," says Sylvia Keim-Klärner. For her, reconciling work and family has to do with the right prioritization and family-friendly structures. Modern rules for working times are indispensable: "The flexibility with working from home, as we have it now is worth its weight in gold," says the scientist. Only a flexible system allows working parents to react to approaching project deadlines, short-term tasks or cancelled childcare.