Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering

THE GENDER AND RACE-ETHNICITY OF FACULTY IN TOP SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS

ABSTRACT

This study examines the gender and racial-ethnic composition of faculty in top research departments for science and engineering (S&E) disciplines. There are critical masses of at least 15% women in top research departments in biological sciences, psychology, and social sciences but not in physical sciences and engineering. Blacks and Hispanics together make up only 4.1% of the faculty in our study. Black and Hispanic females are the most poorly represented groups; together, they make up only 1% of the faculty in top S&E research departments. For most S&E disciplines, less than 15% of full professors in top research departments are women or non-Whites.