EDI Lecture: Johnna Frierson: Lessons from the Literature: Defining Elements of Inclusive Research Environments

Lessons from the Literature: Defining Elements of Inclusive Research Environments Abstract: Racial and ethnic minorities comprise one-third of the U.S. population yet represent only 10% of life science PhDs-and just 5% of tenure-track faculty in the biological sciences. Regarding gender, women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds earn more than half of PhD degrees in biomedical sciences yet comprise only 38 percent of full-time faculty and 22 percent of tenured faculty. The literature on disparities in the STEM workforce points to several factors which contribute to inequity from lack of exposure to careers in STEM in early education, a scarcity of models of identity, inequitable access to sociocultural and financial resources, and bias both implicitly and explicitly at work within the way we identify, educate, train, and support scientists and scientific research. In light of these barriers, we must look beyond recruitment to effectively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific community. In this talk, I will discuss findings from the literature which highlight systemic and individual elements that can enhance or inhibit the development of a productive and inclusive research environment.