Attracting STEM talent: do STEM students prefer traditional or work/life-interaction labs?

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Higher Education Studies
• Science Communication

Background:

• Increasing demand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals contrasts with declining Millennial student enrollment in STEM fields.
• This shortfall may stem from a mismatch between Millennial preferences for career flexibility and work/life integration and traditional, rigid lab environments.
• Traditional lab models often emphasize long hours and individual achievement, potentially alienating students seeking better work-life balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if Millennial students' career preferences for flexibility and work/life integration influence their pursuit of STEM careers.
• To compare the effectiveness of traditional, work-focused lab recruitment versus progressive, work/life-interaction-focused recruitment strategies.
• To understand how different lab environments impact students' sense of belonging and desire to participate in STEM research.

Main Methods:

• Two recruitment videos were created, one depicting a traditional, work-focused lab and the other a progressive, work/life-interaction-focused lab.
• Study 1: 40 professors validated the distinct characteristics of the two lab training approaches.
• Study 2: 53 STEM graduate students (current and prospective) were randomly assigned to view one video and then reported their anticipated sense of belonging and desire to participate.

Main Results:

• Professors confirmed that the videos represented meaningful differences in lab training styles.
• Students who viewed the work/life-interaction-focused video reported significantly greater anticipated sense of belonging (d=1.49) and desire to participate (d=1.33) compared to those who viewed the work-focused video.
• These findings indicate a strong preference among Millennials for work/life integration, challenging the traditional STEM lab model.

Conclusions:

• The traditional STEM lab model may be a significant barrier to attracting and retaining Millennial talent.
• Adopting more flexible and integrated work/life approaches in STEM labs can enhance student belonging and participation.
• Implications for STEM recruitment strategies suggest a need to adapt to the evolving preferences of the Millennial generation to meet workforce demands.