Below we highlight published items of interest to current/future postdocs and other PhD professionals. We are especially interested in drawing attention to policy issues, minority postdocs, and national/regional postdoc diversity affinity groups. For busy PhD professionals, we will scan the diversity literature and news outlets.
With the pressures of research and productivity, white majority faculty do not have time to reflect on issues such as equity, affirmative action, racism, sexism, discrimination and diversity, nor do they feel they have a moral obligation to do so.
The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science runs an online minority postdoc community that allows members to participate in peer-to-peer mentoring via discussion groups and opportunity listings...These resources offer scientists the opportunity to connect and share experiences where it would be difficult to meet in real life.
"Programs that have increased the number of minorities and women in science at the K-12 and undergraduate level have not resulted in a corresponding increase in these groups in postdoctoral and faculty positions. Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) address this glaring weakness in segments of the science 'pipeline.'"
No longer available online
"A summary of national highlights from the Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey, based on information provided by 7,600 postdoctoral scientists at 46 American research institutions, appeared in a special 16-page insert called "Doctors Without Orders" in the May-June issue of American Scientist, the magazine of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society."
"Although the percentage of minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has traditionally been small, many institutions are making a serious effort to change that."
The tiny number of minority postdocs suggests that the problem starts at the beginning of the pipeline. Still, very little is being done to plug the leaks near the end, where careers are meant to blossom.
Access of minority women to the more prestigious postdoctoral positions and appointments in distinguished institutions has been and remains limited...The conferees felt that an awareness of the necessity of postdoctoral experience for advancement and mobility in certain fields, biomedical sciences especially, is an example of the kind of information minority women students often do not get.