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A “Chillier” Climate for Multiply Marginalized STEM Faculty Impedes Research Collaboration

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Abstract

Research collaboration is key to faculty career success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Yet little research has considered how faculty from multiply marginalized identity groups experience collaboration compared to colleagues from majority groups. The present study fills that gap by examining similarities and differences in collaboration experiences of faculty across multiple marginalized groups, and the role of department climate in those experiences. A survey of STEM faculty at a large public research university found that faculty from underrepresented groups – in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation – had more negative experiences with department-level research collaborations. Moreover, faculty with multiply marginalized identities had worse collaboration experiences than others with a single marginalized identity or none. They also perceived their department climate to be less inclusive, equitable, and transparent; and felt their opinions were less valued in their department than colleagues from majority groups. Negative department climate, in turn, mediated and predicted less hospitable experiences with department-level research collaborations. These data suggest that multiply marginalized faculty, across different identity groups, share some common experiences of a “chilly” department climate relative to their peers from majority groups that impede opportunities for scientific collaboration, a key ingredient for faculty success. These findings have policy implications for retention of diverse faculty in university STEM departments.

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Availability of Data and Material

The dataset for this study and associated measures are available at Open Science Framework (osf.io/hjynuosf.io/hjynu).

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Acknowledgements

We are immensely grateful for feedback from members of the University of Massachusetts ADVANCE Leadership Team, especially Dessie Clark, Joya Misra, and Laurel Smith-Doerr.

Funding

This research was funded by NSF ADVANCE-IT Award #1824090, “Collaboration and Equity: The Resources, Relationships, and Recognition (R3) Model for Advancing Women and Underrepresented Faculty in Science and Engineering.” All findings and opinions are the authors’ and do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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Correspondence to Nilanjana Dasgupta.

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This project was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Griffith, E.E., Mickey, E.L. & Dasgupta, N. A “Chillier” Climate for Multiply Marginalized STEM Faculty Impedes Research Collaboration. Sex Roles 86, 233–248 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-021-01259-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-021-01259-w

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