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The main goal of this project was to explore foreign female academics' experiences working at universities in Europe. The Bologna Declaration has enabled the cross-border exchange of academic staff within Europe. Female academics represent an essential and steadily growing group within academia; they are occupying desirable academic positions at unprecedented rates. For women, building their teaching and scientific career at another university is associated with both privileges and challenges. The main goal of this project was to explore foreign female academics’ experiences working at universities in Europe. Methodology, this study had a qualitative design. Twelve female academics with a foreign background participated in the study. Data were collected via a digital workshop and analysed using the story dialogue method. The results show that the participants have faced daily challenges in the form of discrimination, bullying, and injustice regarding their personal, pedagogical, and research skills. All participants emphasized the importance of a structured introduction to a new country and university with a designated mentor. To retain female foreign academics who are an important scientific resource European universities, as employers, must develop and implement clear guidelines for a good, welcoming working environment.

Additional file 8. Estimated means linear predictions/response in creatinine-adjusted urinary sulfur amino acid concentrations. Values are derived from a linear mixed model regression. The p-values denote the p for interaction between group and time and indicate the difference in response over time between the Met/Cys-medium and Met/Cys-high groups. Abbreviations: Met/Cys, methionine and cysteine.

Additional file 11. Individual responses in mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the Met/Cys-medium group. Abbreviations; Met/Cys, methionine and cysteine; MTR, methionine synthase reductase; CBS, cystathionine-β-synthase; CDO, cysteine dioxygenase; GCLC, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit; GCLM, glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit; CPT1A, carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1a; ACACA, acetyl-CoA carboxylase; FASN, fatty acid synthase; DGAT1, diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1; SCD1, stearoyl CoA-desaturase 1; SREBP, sterol regulatory element binding protein; PPARG, peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor γ; MTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; LEP, leptin; PRDM16, PR domain containing 16.

Additional file 3. Mean daily sulfur amino acid intake in the low, moderate and high Met/Cys diets.

Additional file 4. Primer sequences of gene expression measured by qPCR.

Additional file 7. Estimated means linear predictions/response in creatinine-adjusted urinary sulfur amino acid concentrations. Values are derived from a linear mixed model regression. The p-values denote the p for interaction between group and time and indicate the difference in response over time between the Met/Cys-low and Met/Cys-high groups. Abbreviations: Met/Cys, methionine and cysteine.

Additional file 2. A typical daily menu in the 7-day diet.

Additional file 9. Estimated means linear predictions/response in serum Fibroblast growth Factor 21 to the diets. Values are derived from a linear mixed model regression. The p-values denote the p for interaction between group and time and indicate the difference in response over time between the Met/Cys-medium and Met/Cys-high groups. Abbreviations: FGF21, fibroblast growth factor 21; Met/Cys, methionine and cysteine.

Additional file 6. Estimated means linear predictions/responses in plasma sulfur amino acids. Values are derived from a linear mixed model regression. The p-values denote the p for interaction between group and time and indicate the difference in response over time between the Met/Cys-medium and Met/Cys-high groups. Abbreviations: Met/Cys, methionine and cysteine; SAM, S-adenosylmethionine, SAH, S-adenosylhomocysteine; GSH, glutathione; GSSG, oxidized glutathione.