Jumpstarting STEM Careers

Abstract

A successful career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) requires great education and research experiences as well as extensive training and preparation with dedicated mentors. Recent statistics show women received over 40% of all BA/BS degrees awarded by U.S. 4‐year colleges and universities in the life sciences and the proportion of women with doctorates has exceeded 40–60% in some fields. However, the proportion of women associate professors in the basic science departments of most universities is still below 30%, and the proportion with rank of full professor is only 20%. Therefore, the Central Arizona Chapter of the Association for Women in Science at ASU, in collaboration with colleagues from George Washington, Gallaudet and Ottawa Universities, has developed a program to help prepare graduate students, post docs and early faculty for careers in STEM. This NSF advance funded program tackles the problem of low career advancement of women and minorities by hosting career development seminars and workshops to provide training, mentoring and networking opportunities for graduate students and post docs. Such career training programs will help address the complex problem encountered by women and minorities and thus will aid in restoring a pipeline of diverse STEM professionals.