Scientific Career Persistence in a Diverse Biomedical Sample

• In Event: 540 - Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Scientific Careers and Education

Abstract

The argument that a diverse scientific workforce is essential to the health of the nation’s scientific research enterprise is finally being heard from the nation’s highest leaders. While bringing focus to the problem is welcome to those who have been working on these issues for years, it is nevertheless the case that understanding the structural parameters of these dynamics is still in its infancy. This research begins with a policy overview to understand the forces that have brought about a general recognition that the diversity of the workforce is lacking. It posits that taking a life course perspective helps to theorize about the factors that may affect scientific participation, and uses inter-categorical intersectional analysis to evaluate determinants of persistence in science. The empirical component relies on a new data source, the 2013 Study of Scientists’ Careers. Preliminary results suggest that being male and being white continue to advantage scientists in persisting in science. The relationship, however, is highly sensitive to how socioeconomic origin is conceptualized and measured. Rather than eroding the importance of race and gender in science, the effect of socioeconomic origin is an important issue at the macro level, since members of domestic minority groups are especially likely to come from backgrounds of limited economic opportunity. I use the results to argue that science policy based on race and gender—without reference to socioeconomic opportunity structures—is bound to be limited in its ability to diversify the nation’s scientific workforce.

Author

• Monica Gaughan, Arizona State University