Career self-efficacy disparities in underrepresented biomedical scientist trainees
Deepshikha Chatterjee1, Gabrielle A Jacob2, Susi Sturzenegger Varvayanis3
1Department of Psychology, Baruch College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States of America.
Plos One
|March 1, 2023
Summary
Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities impact career self-efficacy in biomedical trainees. Mentorship is crucial for underrepresented groups to foster a diverse scientific workforce.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Career Development
- Social Sciences in STEM
Background:
- Career self-efficacy is critical for academic and research career progression.
- Understanding disparities in self-efficacy is essential for promoting diversity in STEM.
- The National Institutes of Health Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (NIH BEST) programs aim to enhance trainee experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in career self-efficacy among graduate and postdoctoral trainees in biomedical fields.
- To evaluate the impact of intersectional identities on trainee career self-efficacy.
- To identify factors influencing career self-efficacy and inform interventions.
Main Methods:
- Survey data from 6077 US citizens and naturalized graduate and postdoctoral trainees across 17 US institutional sites.
- Analysis of demographic data, including race, ethnicity, and gender, alongside career interests and trainee seniority.
- Statistical examination of the relationship between intersectional identities and career self-efficacy.
Main Results:
- Racial/ethnic group, gender, career interests (academic PI vs. other), and seniority level were significantly associated with career self-efficacy.
- These associations were consistent across both graduate and postdoctoral trainees.
- Specific disparities were observed, particularly impacting women and trainees from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in biomedical sciences.
Conclusions:
- Intersectional identities significantly influence career self-efficacy in biomedical trainees.
- Mentorship plays a vital role in building research and career self-efficacy, especially for underrepresented groups.
- Systemic changes in the biomedical academic research community are necessary to retain a diverse workforce.
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