Recent publications in Nature and Women’s Health by Institute Director Teresa K. Woodruff and her post docs have seemed to hit a nerve among other science writers who are beginning to explore issue raised by Dr.

I recently received a copy of an article written in 2007 by Molly Carnes, MD and Judyann Bigby, MD.   One of the obstacles to the advancement of women in academic medicine is discussed in terms of the Jennifers vs the Janets.   Jennifers refer to the younger women who are just coming out of medical school, who may be junior faculty and are starting their careers with great optimism.   Janets are the women who graduated in the 1980s and are at the pinnacles of their careers–experienced, competent, and who have earned the competence for leadership positions.

A recent post on the Oncofertility Consortium Blog discussed gender disparities in the senior levels of scientific research. Women receive 56% of science and engineering undergraduate degrees and are awarded more than 40% of graduate degrees in the sciences, often a PhD. However, they make up only 22% of senior academic faculty members in the United States.

The Journal Nature may have come across another reason for the gender gap in science. Salary differences. Nature just released the results of their first-ever salary and career survey of more than 10,000 scientists. In addition to examining salaries across countries, academic stages, and industry, the study also looked across genders.