Ever been mistaken for cleaning staff when setting up for a lecture? Or wondered what to change about yourself so you fit in better?
Academia regularly loses talents by making those who might not fit the dominant image of academics feel out of place. Let’s talk about how we can make our universities and research teams a more diverse place.
Maynooth University psychologist Katriona O'Sullivan has managed several large grants, and makes a significant impact on policy. Her bestselling memoir describes that when she started her career, she was made to feel out of place at university. Flowery dresses, gold hoops, fake tan, and speech patterns figure in her vivid description of how (not) to pass as "professorial". O'Sullivan didn’t leave academia, but switched to a more diverse institution.
Feeling like an outsider or imposter isn’t something people make up in their mind, or a lack of self-confidence. It’s often the result of repeatedly experiencing systemic bias and exclusion (to quote Ruchika Tulshyan & Jodi-Ann Burey).
If we want to keep potentially brilliant researchers from leaving, academia needs to be more accessible and permeable. In a leadership role, you have the power to make it easier for everyone. How?
- Focus on potential rather than background when making decisions (like taking on a PhD candidate or hiring someone for your team).
- Think: Could communication in your team or your hiring processes benefit from an external coaching to reduce bias and exclusion of great perspectives or candidates?
- Check your citations, reading assignments, choice of visiting lecturers: Is there a theme that could be traced back to a bias?
- Reflect: Can students from all walks of life find role models in your department? Can they ask questions and are their ideas acknowledged?
- Think twice before you tell someone to be more confident or resilient, and instead reflect on if you can change your environment to require this less.
What else do you do to attract and retain the brightest researchers?
Read on:
- Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey (2021): Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome, Harvard Business Review,
- Katriona O’Sullivan (2023): Poor, Sandicove.
This text is part of our researcher development blog, reflecting about academic culture and working conditions. More here: Blog - RCC (uni-graz.at)