The 2nd cycle of the Mentoring Program "Women in Science" has been announced

The PEER mentoring program "Women in Science" in 2019 selected "Tuberculosis (TB) in Asia" as its main field and will support networks of women scientists conducting research on the development and implementation of effective tools and approaches for the prevention, detection and treatment of tuberculosis. We are looking for candidates from a variety of academic backgrounds, including, but not limited to, behavioral and social sciences; health and medical sciences; life and earth sciences; and computer, engineering, or physical sciences.

Applicants for this cycle of the program must be citizens or residents: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan.

The mentoring program "Women in Science" will support a one-year mentoring experience, which includes professional training for both mentors and wards. In addition, wards will have the right to apply for competitive grants after a one-year program. Please note that mentors and mentees must apply for participation in the program as a group, since PEER cannot select participants.

To learn more about the program and how to apply, please visit the program's website. Applications are accepted until January 10, 2020.

Women candidates of sciences in STEM fields make up 41%, but only 28% of them become teachers and associate professors of the department. A persistent problem in academia is the disproportionate proportion of qualified women who drop out of science as they move up the career ladder in education and higher education. The global loss of women in STEM, in particular, from the transition from postdoctoral studies and junior teaching staff to the stages of their senior teaching career, is explained by various reasons, including: work-life balance conflicts, hostile environment from colleagues, gender discrimination, little opportunity for professional development, as well as a lack of role models and mentors.

Without mentors or role models, women receive limited career and personal development advice. Mentoring can help eliminate the feelings of isolation and marginalization that women often report in educational institutions. The mentor leads and becomes a colleague on whom the student can depend and who can be trusted. In a study conducted in 2017, women in the field of mechanical engineering who were assigned a female mentor experienced more involvement, motivation and confidence, better preservation of science and higher career aspirations than women appointed either a male mentor or no mentor at all. When more junior-level professionals are motivated and confident and have positive mentors and role models, they are also more likely to successfully receive research funding awards, which will help them move up the corporate ladder.

Over the past seven years, the PEER program has received more than 3,200 applications for funding. However, less than 30% of them were from women as leading sole proprietors. The UNESCO Statistical Institute has found that less than 30% of the world's researchers are women (UNESCO Statistical Institute, June 2018). Regional averages of the proportion of female researchers (based on available data for 2016) range from 48% for Central Asia and 45% for Latin America and the Caribbean to 18.5% for South and West Asia.

While there are probably various interacting factors that prevent faculties of postdocs and younger women from advancing their careers in science and applying for international scientific awards, the PEER program "Women in Science" was developed in 2018 to help keep women in science, build self-confidence, and teach aspiring scientists to write successful international research awards. More details on the website The National Academies Sciences Engineering Medicine