Lifting as we climb: Experiences and recommendations from women in neural engineering

Abstract

Neural engineering is an emerging and multidisciplinary field in which engineering approaches are applied to neuroscience problems. Women are underrepresented in engineering fields, and indeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields generally. Underrepresentation of women is particularly notable at later academic career stages, suggesting that even though women are interested in the field, barriers exist that ultimately cause them to leave. Here, we investigate many of the obstacles to women's success in the field of neural engineering and provide recommendations and materials to overcome them. We conducted a review of the literature from the past 15 years regarding the experiences of women in academic careers, as well as reports on the number of women in fields closely related to neural engineering from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Additionally, we interviewed six women in neural engineering who are involved in initiatives and outreach concerning the inclusion and experiences of women in engineering. Throughout the literature and interviews, we identified common themes spanning the role of identity and confidence, professional relationships, career-related hurdles, and personal and professional expectations. We explore each of these themes in detail and provide resources to support the growth of women as they climb within the field of neural engineering.

Keywords: STEM; academia; academic careers; bias; equity; gender representation; inclusion and diversity; neural engineering.

FIGURE 1

Factors contributing to women in neural engineering leaving academia. These factors were noted by our interviewees and found throughout literature from fields related to neural engineering. Some factors may be applicable to anyone leaving academia, but many are uniquely experienced by women. They are categorized into: Identity-related stereotypes, harassment, and bias; mentoring, networking, and authorship; resources and salary; familial and service obligations. Some factors overlapped categories. Two-body problem is defined as the difficulty of finding jobs in the same geographic region for couples in which one or both partners are seeking academic positions.

FIGURE 2

The attrition of women from fields related to neural engineering. (A) Graph shows the proportion of women in each academic stage for three fields related to neural engineering: Biological sciences (Biol Sci), biomedical engineering (BME), and electrical engineering (EE). Data were collected from annual and biannual reports from the American Society for Engineering Education [ASEE] (2020) and National Science Foundation [NSF] (2021). (B) Graphic highlights the attrition of women in biomedical engineering across each academic stage, represented by a climbing staircase.

FIGURE 3

Proportion of women in biomedical engineering over time. The proportion of women in biomedical engineering graduating with a bachelor’s degree (A), doctorate degree (B), or who are faculty (C) over time. Data were collected from annual and biannual reports from the American Society for Engineering Education and the National Science Foundation. The dashed lines indicate a large gap in data availability.