The early gender divide

Research on students’ self-efficacy in math and science subjects shows a startling reality: girls and boys begin developing gender stereotypes and self-selecting out of these subjects as early as second grade. By the time girls reach high school, they make up only 25 percent of students pursuing science and engineering pathways. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2015 women earned fewer than 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering.

Childhood experiences matter

What these startling statistics tell us is that the biggest threat to gender diversity in STEM disciplines is not lack of interest, but rather self-selection out due to a lack of early, engaging experiences. To address this and engage more high-school-aged girls in STEM, we must provide formal and informal STEM educational experiences as early as kindergarten, continuing all the way through high school. Girls who have early exposure to high-quality, relevant STEM experiences build confidence and begin to see themselves as scientists and engineers. This is especially important for girls who may not traditionally consider earning a college degree, much less a degree in engineering or science.

Supporting teachers

A critical component of this solution is providing teachers with the training and ongoing support to effectively facilitate these experiences. Quality professional development for early childhood educators should include the building of content knowledge within the STEM disciplines, training around how to serve as a facilitator of project- and problem-based learning experiences, and support and training to help students gain in-demand transportable skills such as communication, creative problem-solving and collaboration.

The role of parents

Parents play a critical role addressing this issue, but they don’t need a background in science or engineering to do so. They simply need to believe their daughters can become scientists, engineers and computer scientists. They can build confidence and provide support as their girls form opinions about who they are and who they want to become. Parents can also advocate for early STEM education in their schools.

With earlier experiences in STEM subjects, as well as the support of educators and parents, we can address the gender divide and make real improvements in the number of girls who are interested in pursuing STEM-related careers.

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Engage

NASA designed the website more than a decade ago to engage young learners using space-related content, information and activities that are safe, educational and fun. In addition to the reliable, fact-based information provided, visitors to the site can play games, do puzzles and answer trivia questions, all while learning the basic tenets of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Interactive features are packaged into five progressive skill set levels, allowing for both challenges and successes that keep the audience wanting more. At Level 1, students use observational skills to solve puzzles and challenges. By Level 5, they are learning about the planets in our solar system and what properties make each unique.

Keeping up-to-date

There are modules on Orion, NASA’s next-generation spacecraft that will take astronauts farther than ever before: airplanes and flight; stars and how their brightness and temperature vary; the components that make up a rocket. New activities are featured on a weekly basis.

NASA Kids’ Club has something for everyone, whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart. Now in Space is a regular feature that highlights the current Expedition crew living and working aboard the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth.

From virtual to historical

In March 2015, American astronaut Scott Kelly began a yearlong stay on the space station. That has never been done before, and the agency is hoping to gain valuable insight on the effects of long-duration spaceflight on humans. This will be essential as NASA prepares to send future crews to Mars and other destinations in our solar system.  

By taking young students along on these virtual journeys, NASA hopes to spark their interest in exploration and inspire them to pursue STEM studies, and eventually STEM careers. They are America’s next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers—and the beginning of their journey of discovery is just one click away.

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Reaching everyone

When you consider that more of our daily lives are moving into the digital world, change is inevitable, so it must be embraced. But with change comes opportunity. And with digital technology, incredible opportunities for people to create new and innovative approaches to doing things—things that five years ago were unimaginable. So we need to do more to raise awareness around this continued evolution and the opportunities it presents.

To engage more people, we need to start earlier and we need to make learning technology skills fun, interesting and relevant. Programs like Scratch, a project lead by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Lab, are leading the way in helping students learn at an early age how to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively. And it is a free program.

Balancing the scales

The gender ratio, however, continues to be skewed both in the classroom and in the working world. That is a tougher challenge to address, but one that absolutely needs addressing. I am optimistic that organizations like Girls Who Code and the great work of the Anita Borg Institute and NCWIT are starting to move the needle in a positive direction to close the gender gap. We have a long way to go, but I am hopeful we will get there. 

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Getting started

Driscoll explains that in high school, she had a strong teacher who turned into an important mentor for her, which is foundational and critical for young students. When Driscoll reached college, she chose a mentor who was known as the most challenging professor in the department.

“I picked her specifically because of what she worked on and because of the way that she excelled through her career,” she explained. “I think that the most important thing for finding a mentor is for finding someone who can fill the gaps that you need to address, it depends what level you’re at in your career, but a really early stage person needs help with figuring out their work–what’s going to motivate them and what’s going to drive them.”

Keeping the momentum

When it comes to staying focused and positive, Driscoll reflects on her organization’s achievements.

“In the ten years that I’ve been at Lilly, I’ve seen so many breakthrough treatments,” she said. “I’ve seen people with really late stage diseases being cured with novel treatments, and I think that is enough to motivate anybody.” I think we can improve upon the treatments we have and develop novel ways of thinking; that’s what motivates me. I will read a random paper in a completely different area of sciences and learn something new every single time. So, I guess in short, just try to do things differently.”

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What is the focal point of your role at Stanford?

I am a professor of chemical engineering, and by courtesy, a professor of chemistry and a professor of material science and engineering at Stanford University. Prior to joining Stanford in 2004, I was a distinguished member of technical staff in Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies from 1995 to 2004. My group pioneered a number of design concepts for organic electronic materials. My work has enabled flexible electronic circuits and displays. In my recent work, we developed skin-inspired organic electronic materials, which resulted in unprecedented performance or functions in medical devices, energy storage and environmental applications.

You are one of the most decorated and influential female researchers of our time, most recently being chosen as 1 of 5 women around the world awarded a 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in physical sciences. How has the recognition in the industry helped you amplify your voice on in the research world?

The award gave me more exposure especially to communities outside my normal specialized scientific communities. I hope my experience and my path in science and engineering can inspire more girls to choose science and engineering as their future career.

Growing up in school, and even in your higher education, can you describe your experience as a minority female in the sciences in comparison to your male peers?

Women have always been the minority in science, regardless of in school, at work or at conferences. This doesn’t prevent me from speaking out or attending events. I feel it is even more important for more women to be present so that we can encourage more women to be part of it. I also try to include more women as speakers if I organize a conference. In my own lab, I try to assemble a team that is highly diverse from gender, countries the group members are from and their scientific background. I truly believe in order to advance science, we need to include people of all backgrounds. This is how we can be more creative and more innovative.

What are the biggest concerns regarding the gender gap for women in research?

I think there may be a misconception that a career in research may not give sufficient flexibility for women who want to have both a successful career and a family. There may also be the concern that it is harder for women to move to higher level positions. I think things are improving over years, but gender gap still exists at all levels. We need to continue to raise awareness and implement policy that will ensure equality at work place.

What do you see is improving for women in research? What other innovations in your industry are exciting to you?

I see at the level of junior faculty, the percentage of women has increased significantly over the past ten years. I hope this will lead to an improvement of percentage of women at senior level in the next ten years. I also see there are more female students in science and engineering. They are more confident about their future than older generations. I think these are great trends.

Stanford is one of the nation’s top research universities. What part of the system in the school was most helpful for you in your current career, and how could other schools draw inspiration from this academic structure to empower their researchers?

I found several things in Stanford very helpful in increasing diversity. First, a general culture of promoting diversity. The administration does not just say it, they truly support ideas and initiatives that helps to promote diversity. We have great role models in Stanford. Our current provost, Dean of Engineering, Associate Dean of Engineering and multiple department heads are female. Stanford also has strong mentoring system and support groups. Female faculty members have formed their own support groups and informally mentor and help each other.

What insight or advice do you have to a young woman considering a career as a researcher, particularly in STEM?

I always tell young people, including young girls, it is most important to choose a career that they are passionate about. Building a successful career is hard regardless which field they choose, so it’s most important to choose something they enjoy and something that motivates them to work harder and push their own limit. In that case, they can overcome any obstacles in front of them. Don’t listen to others who tell you what you can or cannot do. You should believe in yourself.

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The professional health of women in academic science has been grim for years. While the gender gap is narrowing for Ph.D. students, only 22 percent of full professors are female. Moreover, female grant recipients receive significantly lower grant amounts than men from the start of their careers.

Perhaps as a consequence, the difference in the number of males and females becomes more pronounced in leadership areas, where women represent only 16 percent of current deans and 15 percent of department chairs.

A complicated history

In 1776, first lady Abigail Adams made a famous plea in her letter to her husband, John Adams, and the members of the Continental Congress: “In the new code of laws… I desire you would remember the ladies… If particular care is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

The inclusion of women in civic life and in professional ranks are part of a continuum: as in the public sphere, so in discovery and research, and in life. Indeed, the health of our society depends on the innovation and skills of us all, and a better prescription is urgently needed to ensure that our voices are heard and our work is equally valued.

The path forward

I was one of few women when I began my career in the biological sciences 30 years ago. Today, I am humbled by the brilliant women who surround me at the bench and in science leadership. In my lifetime, these women have contributed in amazing ways: they have described how chromosomes are protected and age, sexed the microbiome, and engineered a functional ovary.

As Marie Curie famously said, “We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” Our contributions are of continued necessity to a healthy society.

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The desire to uncover new insights drives many women to choose careers in science and related fields. The same motivators lead others to an industry that is in a constant state of discovery: market research. With the very latest technology, such as artificial intelligence, this space is expanding with new career paths that fascinate even the most avid explorers among us. 

Market research is a STEM field for women with avenues for uncovering insights and exploring. The following five women have found their niche in market-driven research.

1. Joanna Abrams

Abrams took her 20 years of experience in launching new businesses, brand management, strategy and consumer product research to found a global research firm that reflects the values that are important to her. Her company, MindClick Global, helps global brands ensure that their suppliers and products are environmentally sound.

2. Laura Chaibi

Based in Dubai, Chaibi has devoted her career to understanding and studying changing behaviors due to technology. Specializing in digital media measurement, she has conducted ground-breaking and award-winning research for companies like Yahoo!, Orange and BBC, and she’s currently at MBC, the largest broadcaster in the Middle East.

3. Christina Jenkins

Jenkins is part of the brainpower behind platforms you probably interact with everyday. After delving into data behind the scenes as a researcher at LinkedIn, she now takes her knowledge of market research insights and data and translates them to global business marketing at Twitter.

4. Kristin Luck

Luck’s background spans the gamut of the market research industry — from conducting research to driving the technology that makes it possible. Her experience in founding, growing and positioning businesses for acquisition led her to found her own management consulting firm, Luck Collective, which focuses on data-driven growth strategies for her clients.

5. Kristi Zuhlke

Zuhlke, once a researcher at Procter & Gamble, the company that brings us household names like Dawn, Pampers and Charmin, is building the largest database of consumer survey data in the world as CEO and co-founder at KnowledgeHound.

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Kathy Kimmel, a senior clinical research associate, explains how she has navigated and become a leader in her field.

You are currently a senior clinical research associate (CRA) with PRA Health Sciences and have held multiple positions within ACRP. Can you explain your current role?  

I have been a CRA for over 22 years and I earned the title of senior CRA within two years of starting my career as a CRA. I often act as a team leader, helping to develop monitoring tools for other team members, assist in co-monitoring for other team members and mentor newer CRAs. In addition, I usually juggle two to three trials at a time and can manage up to 15 sites at a time. A CRA usually travels each week to the clinical sites to review their enrollment, data entry and adherence to the protocol and relevant regulations. This position is a fast-paced, deadline-driven career.

Can you describe your experience as a female in the clinical research field? What was it like navigating a system that wasn’t built for women?  

My experience in the roles I have had in clinical research has been positive, partly because the field of CRA is predominately filled by women. But, men fill the majority of upper management roles in clinical research organizations and large pharmaceutical companies. Even with the experience of working in the trenches in clinical research as CRAs, few women are able to get these upper management positions.

What is the best part about working in the clinical research industry? What other innovations in your industry are exciting to you?

My greatest joy comes when a project I have worked on gains FDA approval and is available to the public. It is very fulfilling to know you have, in any small way, been able to positively touch someone’s life. Technology has definitely impacted clinical research in the past few years, and it allows the traveling CRA to work virtually from anywhere. But with new technology comes new challenges. Technology can enable cost savings, but it can also remove the personal interactions you get at clinical sites. My adage as I get older is, “just you because you can, does not mean you should.” This usually applies to using technology and replacing people at clinical sites.

You mentioned that you believe universities are changing the exposure to the clinical research industry. What do you see is improving for women in clinical research?  

It is still very difficult for anyone to transition into a clinical research associate role. An arbitrary rule that most pharmaceutical companies adhere to is that CRAs should have two years of experience to be placed on their projects. This is very difficult for contract research organizations (CROs) and others who staff clinical trial teams. But where do you get these two years of experience if you cannot get hired without it? There are now some universities that are offering a clinical research pathway. Some of the large clinical research organizations offer a training program for those who have some experience in clinical research. This seems to be a mutually beneficial endeavor since those wishing to move into a monitoring role have the training and support to do so, and companies struggling to maintain CRAs can have a stream of new CRAs into their companies. The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) is working with pharmaceutical companies and CROs on the Workforce Innovation Initiative to outline the CRA competencies needed to move into this field, regardless of years of experience.

CRA comes in at number 84 on CNN Money’s latest list of the Best 100 Jobs in America. What’s more is that the demand for clinical research professionals has increased 4000 percent since 2000. What insight or advice do you have to a young woman considering a career as a clinical researcher?  

It is a relatively unknown pathway in medicine. I once hired a newly graduated RN for a CRC position when I was managing a clinical site. After about a month she confessed she knew very little about what she was hired to do because clinical research was never mentioned during her RN training. While there is a lot of travel and time away from home and family, I think but the benefits of being a CRA outweigh the inconvenience. My job has afforded me to travel to almost every state in the US, I have met many great people and I maintain friendships with people all over the world. I would advise anyone interested in entering clinical research to seek out locals who are conducting research studies. I would also recommend the ACRP website for training and development opportunities, and most importantly, network with fellow clinical researchers.

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Describe the work you’re doing at Boeing and NASA.

As a rocket structural analysis engineer, I am analyzing parts of NASA’s Space Launch System to ensure the structural integrity of the vehicle.

What was it like being full-time undergrad and simultaneously working for Boeing on NASA’s program? 

Being a full-time aerospace engineering senior at MIT as well as a rocket structural design and analysis intern for The Boeing Company on NASA’s program was definitely a challenge. However, it was exciting. If I was not analyzing parts for a UAV or conducting research to determine the protective layer of a spacesuit, I was working on the most powerful rocket ever created in history: NASA’s Space Launch System.

Can you describe your experience as a minority female in the sciences in comparison to your male peers?

Throughout my upper-level schooling, including high school and college, I first realized that I was truly a minority in STEM as an African American female. There were numerous classes that I had to take where I was the only woman of color, or even person of color. I realized I not only had to succeed as a minority, but I also had to encourage and uplift others who are considered a minority to pursue their STEM passions. Now, in a male-dominated field, it can be tough to not see more female or minority representation, especially in upper-level positions.

What are the biggest concerns regarding the gender gap for women in research? Is it a fear of feeling too masculine, deficient self-confidence, a lack of opportunity in elite labs, the pay gap?

Research is quite expansive in the sense that the demands can vary greatly for various fields of research. However, a reigning concern amongst most, if not all, fields has been the lack of opportunity for women to achieve higher positions due to the societal complex that has set contagious expectations for many years. Many still believe that the female mind is not capable of excelling in the sciences. With that lingering doubt, some women fall ill to that belief and others simply are not presented with the opportunity.

Did you have a mentor when you began to conduct research or do you still have a mentor? Do you believe that mentorship programs can play a big role in helping women take their idea and turn it into something tangible?

Mentorship is vital for helping anyone turn their ideas into something tangible. A mentor is someone from who you can learn, and most importantly, someone who can help you grow. I have a plethora of mentors that have played huge roles in my life in various ways, so I am a strong advocate of mentorship programs. I aspire to create a non-profit organization alongside with my husband, fellow rocket scientist Myron Fletcher, in order to inspire children of various backgrounds to pursue all of their dreams. At this time, we have our Facebook Page “Rocket With The Fletchers” to motivate people of all ages to pursue their dreams via speaking engagements or our Facebook Live sessions where followers can participate in Q&A.

MIT is one of the nation’s top research universities. What part of your education was most helpful for you in your current career, and how could other schools draw inspiration from this academic structure?

As one of the nation’s top research universities, MIT takes special interest in making sure that their students have the exposure to various research opportunities, as well as a researcher’s freedom to explore their own inquiries of science. Undergraduates have the opportunity to undergo an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, or UROP, which presents the student with the ability to contribute to existing research projects. Other programs include independent ventures, research-based courses and numerous others that encourage research throughout all majors offered at the institute.

What do you see is improving for women in research?

I see that women are beginning to be recognized for their capabilities in various fields of research after so long. In my industry, I am excited for our new space race with the destination set to Mars. I’m always interested in seeing new designs and ideas of vehicles to decrease air travel time across the world.

What insight do you have to a young woman considering a career as a researcher, particularly in STEM?

For young women who are considering a career as a researcher in the field of STEM, I encourage you to challenge the gender bias by focusing on understanding your subject matter and excelling in everything that you do. Do not depend on others to define your abilities. Never stop learning. Never give up on yourself.

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Explain your role at Stanford, and the focal point and findings of the research you are conducting.

I am a professor of chemical engineering, and by courtesy, chemistry and material science and engineering at Stanford University. Prior to joining Stanford in 2004, I was a distinguished member of technical staff in Bell Labs (Lucent Technologies) from 1995 to 2004. My group pioneered a number of design concepts for organic electronic materials, and my work has enabled flexible electronic circuits and displays. In my recent work, we developed skin-inspired organic electronic materials, which resulted in unprecedented performance in medical devices, energy storage and environmental applications.

You are one of the most decorated and influential female researchers of our time, most recently being chosen as one of five women awarded a 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award in physical sciences. How has the recognition in the industry helped you amplify your voice in the research world?

The award gave me more exposure, especially to those outside my normal specialized scientific communities. I hope my experience and my path in science and engineering can inspire more girls to choose science and engineering as their future career.

Up until inventing skin-inspired electronic material, can you describe your experience as a minority female in the sciences?

Females have always been the minority in science in school, at work and at conferences. I made myself have a mindset that I do not let any situation prevent me from speaking out or from attending events. I feel it is even more important for more women to be present so that we can encourage more women to be part of it. I also try to include more women as speakers if I organize a conference. In my own lab, I try to assemble a team that is highly diverse in regard to gender, countries the group members are from and their scientific background. I truly believe that in order to advance science, we need to include people of all backgrounds.

What are the biggest concerns regarding the gender gap for women in research?

I think there may be a misconception that a career in research may not give sufficient flexibility for women who want to have both a sucessful career and a family. There may also be the concern that it is harder for women to move up to higher level positions. I think things are improving but the gender gap still exists at all levels. We need to continue to raise awareness and implement policies that will ensure equality in workplace.

What do you see is improving for women in research? 

I see at the level of junior faculty, the percentage of women has increased significantly over the past 10 years. I hope this will lead to an improvement of percentage of women at the senior level in the next 10 years. I also see there are more female students in science and engineering.

Stanford is one of the nation’s top research universities. How could other schools draw inspiration from this academic structure to empower their researchers?

I found several things in Stanford very helpful in increasing diversity. There’s a general culture of promoting diversity; the adminstration does not just say it, they truly support ideas and initiatives that helps to promote diversity. We also have great role models in Stanford, and our current provost, dean of engineering, associate dean of engineering and multiple department heads are female. Lastly, female faculty members have formed their own support group and informally mentor each other. Investing in research and our researchers is paramount to our continued global advancement and competitiveness. The United States spends the most money on research at $44 billion dollars, accounting for 44 percent of market research revenue in 2015. However, only 3 percent of scientific Nobel Prize winners and only 28 percent of the world’s researchers are women.

What insight or advice do you have to a young woman considering a career as a researcher, particularly in STEM?

I always tell young people, including young girls, that it is important to choose a career they are passionate about. If they choose something they enjoy and something that motivates them to work harder, they can push their own limit. Then, they can overcome any obstacles in front of them.

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