Gender Differences in Research Grant Applications for Pediatric Residents

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have reported gender differences in research grant applications and funding outcomes for medical school faculty. Our goal was to determine whether similar patterns exist at the resident level and, if so, to explore possible explanations. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all applications to an internal, mentored research grant fund at a large academic pediatric residency program from 2003 to 2008. We determined whether gender differences existed for application characteristics and outcomes and defined significant predictors of success. RESULTS: During the 5-year period, the fund supported 42 (66%) of 64 applications. Among all applicants, men were more likely than women to hold an advanced research degree. Men requested more money than women and obtained more favorable application scores. Funding success rates were not statistically different between male and female applicants. Among funded applicants, men received higher awards than women, although the percentage of requests funded was the same. In a multiple regression analysis, advanced degree was the significant independent predictor of successful funding outcome. Controlling for advanced degree attenuated the association between gender and timing of application, type of project, dollars requested, and dollars awarded; however, even after controlling for advanced degree, women had inferior grant scores compared with men. CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences existed in research grant applications and funding among pediatric residents that mirrored faculty patterns. Among residents, these differences were explained in part by the correlation of male gender with holding an advanced research degree.

[1]  F. Lovejoy,et al.  Prospects for academically trained pediatricians in academic medicine. , 1992, Clinical and investigative medicine. Medecine clinique et experimentale.

[2]  A. Nattinger,et al.  Promotion of women physicians in academic medicine. Glass ceiling or sticky floor? , 1995, JAMA.

[3]  A. Helwig,et al.  Promotion of Women Physicians in Academic Medicine: Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor? , 1995 .

[4]  S. Kaplan,et al.  Sex differences in academic advancement. Results of a national study of pediatricians. , 1996, The New England journal of medicine.

[5]  Gerhard Sonnert,et al.  Women in Science and Engineering: Advances, Challenges, and Solutions , 1999 .

[6]  L. Nonnemaker,et al.  Women physicians in academic medicine: new insights from cohort studies. , 2000, The New England journal of medicine.

[7]  J. Bickel,et al.  Why Aren't There More Women Leaders in Academic Medicine? The Views of Clinical Department Chairs , 2001, Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

[8]  A Gender Gap in the Next Generation of Physician-Scientists: Medical Student Interest and Participation in Research , 2002, Journal of Investigative Medicine.

[9]  R. Ferrer,et al.  Predictors of short-term and long-term scholarly activity by academic faculty: a departmental case study. , 2002, Family medicine.

[10]  N. Andrews.  The other physician-scientist problem: Where have all the young girls gone? , 2002, Nature Medicine.

[11]  L. Barron.  Ask and you shall Receive? Gender Differences in Negotiators' Beliefs about Requests for a Higher Salary , 2003 .

[12]  D. Fang,et al.  Effect of Two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Programs for Medical Students on the Likelihood of Pursuing Research Careers , 2003, Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

[13]  William R. Swinyard,et al.  Women in academic medicine: a report of focus groups and questionnaires, with conjoint analysis. , 2003, Journal of women's health.

[14]  D. Schonfeld,et al.  Research exposure during pediatric residency: influence on career expectations. , 2003, The Journal of pediatrics.

[15]  P. Carr,et al.  Compensation and Advancement of Women in Academic Medicine: Is There Equity? , 2004, Annals of Internal Medicine.

[16]  T. Ley,et al.  The physician-scientist career pipeline in 2005: build it, and they will come. , 2005, JAMA.

[17]  Kathleen L. McGinn,et al.  Constraints and Triggers: Situational Mechanics of Gender in Negotiation , 2005, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[18]  Sharon E Straus,et al.  Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. , 2006, JAMA.

[19]  J. Ingelfinger,et al.  Women in academic medicine--progress and challenges. , 2006, The New England journal of medicine.

[20]  Reshma Jagsi,et al.  The "gender gap" in authorship of academic medical literature--a 35-year perspective. , 2006, The New England journal of medicine.

[21]  Lei Lai,et al.  Social incentives for gender differences in the propensity to initiate negotiations: Sometimes it does hurt to ask , 2007 .

[22]  D. Korn,et al.  New physician-investigators receiving National Institutes of Health research project grants: a historical perspective on the "endangered species". , 2007, JAMA.

[23]  Alice M. Agogino,et al.  Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering , 2007 .

[24]  D. Jeffe,et al.  Characteristics and career intentions of the emerging MD/PhD workforce. , 2008, JAMA.

[25]  F. Lovejoy,et al.  Creating an academic culture during residency training. , 2008, The Journal of pediatrics.

[26]  K. Zou,et al.  Gender differences in research grant applications and funding outcomes for medical school faculty. , 2008, Journal of women's health.

[27]  The merger of two pediatric residency programs: lessons learned. , 2008, The Journal of pediatrics.