e d i to r i a l

Wanted: women in research

Women are still underrepresented in senior academic positions in science. A fundamental restructuring of the way
scientists are evaluated is essential to remedy this disparity.

M
arch 8th marks International Womens Day. Data from the osition after earning a PhD than married men with children and
p
US Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that there is much to 27% less likely than men to achieve tenure on entering a tenure-track
celebrate: in the US, women made up about 47% of the overall job. A 2007 survey of 1,300 NIH postdoctoral fellows found a similar
workforce and 51% of the workforce in management and professional trend; women, particularly those with children, were less likely to
occupations. Closing the gender gap in the workplace represents one of consider a principal investigator position (45% compared with 69%
2010 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

the biggest social changes of the last few decades. For women in scientific of men with children).
research, h owever, the news is not all good. Women still make-up only Establishing better childcare options will certainly help, but is
about 19% of tenured US National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff and unlikely to change the status quo much. No matter how good the
only about 18% of tenured academics in the European Union. Gender quality of childcare, women still need to take time out to have children.
stereotypes alone are unlikely to explain much of this disparity. Instead, Even if provisions like a flexible tenure clock are made, taking time
a fundamental restructuring of the way academic science is conducted away from the lab can only hinder success in a competitive research
and how individual scientists are evaluated is necessary if we are to fully environment; for example, papers may get scooped or delayed.
embrace women in all walks of science. Unless factors other than publication record, such as mentorship,
Certainly, we have made progress in increasing the participation of collaboration and innovation, are given prominence in measuring
women at the early stages of the research career pipeline. The National the productivity of a scientist, women (and men) who take time away
Science Foundation reports that women now account for 56% of all for other obligations will invariably be at a disadvantage. Encouraging
science and engineering undergraduate degrees. In 1973, only 20% of men to take similar amounts of time off for childcare responsibilities
all science doctorates were awarded to women; the number was closer might help level the playing field.
to 50% in 2005. The proportion of women employed in academic Lack of confidence is also another key factor preventing the rise
positions, however, rose only ~20% during the same period, from of women. In a recent survey of NIH fellows, both men and women
about 10% in 1973 to 32% in 2005. The drop-off rate is dramatic reported a similar self-assessment of professional skills (such as grant
as women climb the academic ladder; for example, women received writing, oral presentations, etc), but only 40% of women (as opposed
63% and 54% of NIH and National Science Foundations predoctoral to 59% of men) were confident that they would obtain a principal
awards, respectively, in 2007, but only 25% and 23%, respectively, of investigator position. Assuming that they were successful in obtaining a
the faculty grants awarded that year. faculty position, only 45% of women (relative to 55% of men) reported
The reasons for this attrition have been hotly debated, but it seems confidence that they would get tenure. An analysis of research grant
likely that it cannot be attributed solely to gender prejudices and applications from Harvard affiliated institutions showed a similar
stereotype. Bibliometric studies have concluded that gender has no effect trend; women were less likely to submit applications, applied for fewer
on peer review (Nature 459, 602, 2009). We have previously reported years of funding and requested less research money, despite an absence
that gender also does not seem to influence chances of publication at of bias in the grant-reviewing process.
Nature Neuroscience (Nat. Neurosci. 9, 853, 2006). There are no quick fixes to close the gender gap, and women
There is even some evidence that women may be at a slight advantage abandon academic science careers for complex reasons. Unless there is
when it comes to competing for faculty positions. A 2009 report by the a drastic restructuring of the way academic research is conducted, such
US National Academies, based on surveys of 1,800 faculty members, as encouraging part-time work, rewarding smaller labs, encouraging
found that women were more likely to have been interviewed for tenure more collaborations and lab-sharing, and a fundamental overhaul of
track positions (2% more than their application rate), more likely to how scientists are evaluated and rewarded, women may never make up
receive an offer (10% more than their application rate) and as likely to even close to 50% of this pipeline. Given the tremendous competition
receive tenure. The report concluded that at many critical transition for funding and the limited funds available for research, one could
points in their academic careers (), women appear to have fared argue that, so long as these highly trained women are finding attractive
as well as or better than men. Despite this absence of bias, however, jobs elsewhere, there is no real urgency in demanding change.
fewer women applied for tenure-track positions in the first place, and However, this would be shortsighted. A strong scientific research base
women were likely to remain as assistant professors for longer and to is at the heart of a strong economy, and it would be foolish to keep a
drop out in greater numbers. system in place that consistently bleeds some of its best minds. Just as
Why is the pipeline then so leaky for women? Children are we celebrate women bridging the gender gap in the general workforce,
undoubtedly a factor; a 2007 survey concluded that women who were we need to ensure that the scientific enterprise welcomes women at
married with children were 35% less likely to enter a tenure-track all levels. L

nature neuroscience volume 13 | number 3 | march 2010 267