Few women make up senior faculty at scientific institutions

A new study finds a lack of women among senior faculty at scientific institutions. Starting in 2016, the New York Stem Cell Foundation piloted a program requiring certain grant applicants to submit reports of gender parity at their institutions. Reports from 541 institutions across 38 countries indicated that although women made up more than half of the undergraduate and graduate student population, their numbers fell as the seniority of positions rose. Some 40% of women were assistant professors, a third were associate professors, and about a quarter were full professors. Women were also in the minority when it came to faculty committees and other activities, including being seminar speakers. Based on the findings of this report, the foundation now hopes to outline best practices for institutions to improve gender parity. Read more here.