The leaky pipeline in research grant peer review and funding decisions: challenges and future directions
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The leaky pipeline in research grant peer review and funding decisions: challenges and future directions Sayaka Sato1 · Pascal Mark Gygax1 · Julian Randall2 · Marianne Schmid Mast3 Accepted: 11 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract 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 conclu‑ sively resolved whether these biases persist during the peer review process of research grant funding and whether they impact respective funding decisions. Whereas many have argued for the existence of gender inequality in grant peer reviews and outcomes, others have demonstrated that gender equality is upheld during these processes. In the present paper, we illustrate how these opinions have come to such opposing conclusions and con‑ sider methodological and contextual factors that render these findings inconclusive. More specifically, we argue that a more comprehensive approach is needed to further the debate, encompassing individual and systemic biases as well as more global social barriers. We also argue that examining gender biases during the peer review process of research grant funding poses critical methodological challenges that deserve special attention. We con‑ clude by providing directions for possible future research and more general considerations that may improve grant funding opportunities and career paths for female researchers. Keywords Gender inequality · Research grant funding decisions · Equal opportunities · Female researchers · Grant peer review
* Sayaka Sato [email protected] Pascal Mark Gygax [email protected] Julian Randall [email protected] Marianne Schmid Mast [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Rue P. ‑A.‑de‑Faucigny 2, CH‑1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
2
Research Promotion Service, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
3
Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
13
Vol.:(0123456789)
Higher Education
The leaky pipeline in research grant peer review and funding decisions: challenges and future directions Academia is by no means an exception when considering the matter of gender inequality extant in the current labour market. Despite years of continuous effort, the European aver‑ age in 2016 indicates that female academics continue to be underrepresented in academia. Specifically, among all research positions held by women in Europe, only 7.4% hold the highest research positions1 as opposed to 16.7% for men (She Figures; European Commis‑ sion, 2018). Nonetheless, the gender issue is not limited to a smaller number of female pro‑ fessors. A series of aspects differ among female and male researchers that may be respon‑ sible for women not wanting to pursue an academic career or for women not advancing at the same pace and with the same success in their academic careers. The present paper highlights these aspects, focusing particularly on issues relating to r
