Resources

The growing literature on gender inequality in academia attests to the challenge that awaits female researchers during their academic careers. However, research has not yet conclusively resolved whether these biases persist during the peer review process of research grant funding and whether they impact respective funding decisions. 

Concerns about systemic racism at academic and research institutions have increased over the past decade. Here, authors investigate data from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a major funder of research in the United States, and find evidence for pervasive racial disparities.

Recently, the Dutch Research Council (NOW) has initiated a new funding instrument “Advancing Equity in Academia through Innovation”. The goal of this instrument is to contribute to equity of underrepresented ethnic groups within academia in the Netherlands and to create a more inclusive cultural climate. 

Funders’ goals for diversity, equity and inclusion are laudable, but they will only be successful if the funders prioritize health disparities research and address biases in the funding application process.

Authors propose that one concrete way to monitor and redress racial and other disparities in funding is to collect and publicize data on grantees by gender, race, ethnicity, and location from neuroscience funding agencies.