Gender Differences in Grant Submissions across Science and Engineering Fields at the NSF

Abstract

There has been great growth in women's participation in the US academic doctoral workforce, but underrepresentation remains in all science and engineering fields, especially at high academic ranks. We obtained estimates of the numbers of professorial women and men in fields likely to seek funding from the National Science Foundation and aligned those numbers with each of six research directorates to investigate temporal trends in submission patterns. We found that women are as likely to be funded as men, but the percentage of women submitting proposals was less than expected in every field but engineering. Women are as likely as men to be employed at the most research active institutions, but women are less likely than men to self-report research as their primary work activity in almost all fields but engineering. This work imbalance ultimately limits the diversity of basic science research ideas in science and engineering.

Rebuild the Academy: Supporting academic mothers during COVID-19 and beyond

“…Before discussing targeted strategies, we highlight universal infrastructure everyone should be fighting for: affordable, high-quality, childcare. Research has shown that when high-quality care is provided, mothers can and do reenter the workforce and children benefit [ 2 , 13 , 14 ]. Thus, this type of assistance makes both ethical and economic sense.…”

“…Another solution is working to adjust expectations and requirements for the traditional tenure period, rather than prolonging the tenure process. It is already known that womxn are PIs on fewer grants [ 28 , 29 ], are less likely to be published in high-ranking journals [ 30 ], are cited less [ 31 , 32 ], and are evaluated more harshly in teaching evaluations and reference letters [ 33 , 34 ]. Racial bias further exacerbates these issues for womxn of color [ 35 ].…”

“…Analogous to the advice for Colleges and Universities, nuanced approaches will be needed to address the variable impacts of COVID-19 on the community and on academic mothers in particular who, even before the pandemic, were submitting fewer grants than their male colleagues [ 14 ]. Facilitating no-cost extensions is a clear, relatively easy fix given current research restrictions.…”

Perceptions of Barriers to Career Progression for Academic Women in STEM

“…And do they think these barriers are unique to women? Earlier studies have examined the barriers to career progression for women in STEM [36] but often within the same institution or country (with some exceptions, e.g., [37]), academia in general [38], and in various related aspects such as publication and citations [39] and grant submissions [40]. This study aims to provide a more holistic overview by soliciting the stories, experiences and perspectives of women in STEM from a range of institutions, career stages, and nationalities.…”

Rebuilding the Academy: Strategies for Supporting Academic Mothers during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic and Beyond

“…Analogous to the advice for Colleges and Universities, nuanced approaches will be needed to address the variable impacts of COVID-19 on the community, and on academic mothers in particular who, even before the pandemic, were submitting fewer grants than their male colleagues (33). Facilitating no-cost-extensions is a first step, but it is likely that multi-year extensions will be needed.…”