A career in research is not for the faint of heart as it requires dedication, long working hours, and always worrying about when your next funding will be. Unfortunately, it’s also an extremely competitive field where women are often overlooked for big grants and those who are early in their career are less likely to secure one. UNESCO’s latest Science Report states that only 33% of researchers are women and their authorships are often underrepresented in high-profile journals.
Meanwhile, less than 5% of new projects in Australia receive funding, and even less of that goes to early career researchers. Cure Cancer aims to close this funding gap by supporting researchers from the outset and is proud to have worked with some of the most brilliant women in cancer research. We asked them: What do women in science need to thrive in a space that sorely needs their representation?
1. Job Security
“Competing for funding with already established researchers is very challenging and the success rates are small,” says Dr Sandra Brosda, an oesophageal adenocarcinoma cancer researcher based in Queensland.
“Therefore, we spend a lot of time applying to many different funding agencies and less time on our actual research projects. It also means that our job perspectives are very insecure and usually limited to short-term contracts. This often leads people to leave research.”
Dr Sandra Brosda
Dr Kate Vandyke, a multiple myeloma researcher based in Adelaide, says, “We have to apply for grant funding to not only pay for research costs, but to also pay our own salaries. This can mean that we can get to the end of one year and not know whether we are going to have the money to keep being employed and be able to do our research the next year.”
This year, female researchers make up 61% of Cure Cancer grant awardees. They are among the 28% of STEM workers nationwide. “I have seen lots of talented academic researchers leave for different jobs due to lack of funding and uncertainty after a few years, which is heart-breaking,” says Dr Jana Panchadsaram, a prostate cancer researcher.
“Funding opportunities specifically targeting early career researchers, such as Cure Cancer, gives us hope and chance to fight this battle to establish ourselves as independent researchers.”
2. Work-life balance
Dr Marlene Hao
While researchers are passionate about their jobs, some eventually leave the industry in search of a better work-life balance.
“I think trying to juggle family life, particularly with young kids, is incredibly difficult for all mid-career researchers, and unfortunately in a lot of cases, still affects females more than males,” says brain cancer researcher Dr Marlene Hao.
“This is a critical period in a scientist’s career where they’re solidifying their own independent research ideas. However, they’re trying to accomplish 50 hours of work a week while also being present for their family.”
“Something that would be a big help is dedicated funding for researchers who have had a career break due to parental leave,” Dr Marlene added.
“Ideally, this would be used for both males and female researchers, as it will encourage young fathers to also take time off with their children, and take on more of the childcare time.”
3. Supportive environment
Globally, women are closing the gap in academic achievement, with 44-55% having attained a bachelor’s, master’s, and PhDs. But as they progress in their careers, it becomes more difficult to manage priorities. Especially if they decide to have a family later on. This may be one of the reasons why female researchers are typically overlooked for bigger grants and tend to have shorter, lesser paid careers compared to their male colleagues.
“Being a very early-career researcher, I’m fortunate that the gender imbalance in science hasn’t affected me too much yet,” Dr Sandra admits. “However, combining family and career is still challenging for many women and is most likely one of the reasons for this gender imbalance in science.”
Dr Kate Vandyke
A supportive environment all around is crucial in empowering women in STEM industries - whether it’s in academia, at work, and at home.
“I am lucky that my boss is very supportive and understands that I sometimes need a bit of flexibility with my work hours to balance all of my responsibilities,” Dr Kate shares.
“And, of course, my partner is incredibly supportive of the work that I do and the demands that this sometimes places on my time. I also have a supportive team that I could trust to keep the research going while I was on leave.”
4. The importance of having female mentors
Dr Venessa Chin
According to a report by UNESCO, only 12% of the members of national science academies are women. This disparity is a result of several factors, including a lack of female mentors in the field.
Having a female mentor in STEM is of utmost importance for young girls and women aspiring to enter the field. As seen in the experiences shared by Dr Venessa Chin and Dr Marlene Hao, having a female mentor can have a profound impact on a woman's career in STEM.
Dr Venessa says, “Although women are still the minority in the research sector, I have been lucky enough to work in labs with very senior and supportive women."
Dr Marlene adds, “My PhD supervisor, Heather Young, was a great mentor and role model for my science career. She was incredibly hard-working, determined, successful and also very kind in her approach to science.
“During seminars and talks, every question that she asked was insightful and showed her interest in the work. But she never used it as a platform for getting across her own point of view. She also always had time for our inane questions! And a lot of what she’s done has really shaped the way that we run the lab now.”
5. Empowering women in STEM: Early Intervention
Researchers such as Dr Sandra Brosda, Dr Kate Vandyke, Dr Marlene Hao, Dr Venessa Chin, and Dr Jana Panchadsaram are brilliant scientists who are successful in their fields, but how do we ensure the next generation of women like them?
Early intervention may be the key. According to the 2nd national data report on women in STEM, fathers are more likely to talk about STEM subjects at home, with 51% participating in such conversations compared to mothers at 38%. Among parents of boys, 47% of fathers and 42% of mothers talk about STEM at home. Additionally, fathers are more than twice as likely to hold a STEM qualification with 47% compared to 20% of mothers.
Dr Jana Panchadsaram
But there's good news: By starting the conversation and taking steps towards small changes, we can help close the gender gap in STEM and empower girls and young women to reach their full potential. Here are a few things we can lobby for and support:
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Encourage girls and young women to explore stem subjects
From a young age, girls should be encouraged to pursue their interests in STEM subjects. You can help by talking to them about the exciting things they can learn and the amazing careers they can have in these fields.
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Encourage girls and young women to explore stem subjects
Schools and your local communities can provide access to educational resources, such as clubs, workshops, and events that can help girls get a head start in STEM.
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Show them the way
Female role models and mentors can be incredibly inspiring for girls and young women in STEM. By sharing stories of successful women in STEM, you can help girls see what's possible for them.
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Invest in their future
Offer scholarships and other opportunities for women to pursue education and careers in STEM. This can help women overcome financial barriers and give them the support they need to succeed.
