A missing influence in keeping diversity within the academy?
A new study of science PhDs who embarked on careers between 2004 and 2014 showed that while nearly two-thirds chose employment outside academic science, their reasons for doing so had little to do with the advice they received from faculty advisors, other scientific mentors, family, or even graduate school peers. The 3,669 PhDs, including 225 from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds, said that they made the decision to stay or leave academia primarily on their own. Reasons given included a desire for autonomy, leadership roles, prestige, high salaries, work variety, and opportunities for one's partner, according to the paper about to be published in CBE-Life Sciences Education (LSE) by researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Harvard Law School, and The Jackson Laboratory.