Supports and Barriers: Voices From Black Females in the Biomedical Research Pipeline

• In Event: 29.079 - Experiences and Career Choices of Females in STEM-Related Fields: Supports and Barriers

Abstract

Women of color continue to be underrepresented in faculty positions. Using cultural competence and cultural-ecological theory and qualitative research design (Miles and Huberman’s approach), we investigated the supports and barriers reported by Black female PhDs in biomedical research. Supports include summer program, prior research experiences, fellowship, grant writing and publishing, mentoring and supportive interactions. Barriers include facing minority-barriers, gender-barriers, personal barriers, and institutional barriers. Our findings relate to the existing theories indicating that women professionals who socialize and seek support from families, institutions, mentors and advisers, colleagues, and peers find it easier to integrate themselves into the workforce, being more equipped to handle barriers that can cause long-term effects like attrition from the field.

Authors

• Devasmita Chakraverty, Washington State University - Spokane

• Donna B. Jeffe, Washington University in St. Louis

• Dorothy Andriole, Washington University in St. Louis

• Heather D. Wathington, University of Virginia

• Robert H. Tai, University of Virginia