Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
09:00
Isolation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their Cultivation on the Porous Bone Matrix
Published on: February 9, 2015
28.3K
Gender Differences in Grant Submissions across Science and Engineering Fields at the NSF
Leslie J RissleR1, Katherine L Hale2, Nina R Joffe3
1Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia.
Bioscience
|September 25, 2020
Summary
Women are underrepresented in science and engineering academic roles, submitting fewer proposals despite equal funding chances. This limits diversity in basic science research.
Area of Science:
- Academic doctoral workforce
- Science and Engineering (S&E) fields
Background:
- Growing women's participation in US academia.
- Persistent underrepresentation in S&E, particularly at senior academic ranks.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate temporal trends in proposal submission patterns.
- Analyze women's representation in the academic doctoral workforce.
- Examine funding and research activity disparities.
Main Methods:
- Estimated numbers of professorial women and men in NSF-funded fields.
- Aligned numbers with six National Science Foundation (NSF) research directorates.
- Analyzed submission patterns and self-reported primary work activity.
Main Results:
- Women are as likely as men to receive funding.
- Women submitted fewer proposals than expected across most fields, except engineering.
- Women are equally employed at research-intensive institutions but less likely to report research as primary activity.
Conclusions:
- Underrepresentation in proposal submission and research activity limits diversity in S&E.
- Work-life imbalance may contribute to fewer women pursuing research as primary activity.
- Addressing these imbalances is crucial for fostering diverse scientific ideas.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Frequency-dependent Selection
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...