Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%.
Project Detail:
It has been widely recognised that there is stark gender inequality in engineering in the UK. In the higher education (HE) context the Athena SWAN charter was developed to tackle gender inequalities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, which has achieved some successes. The focus on the ‘pipeline’ of women has resulted in a focus on particular areas, for example on Early Career Researchers. There is however, a persistent gender gap at Professorial level despite many years of initiatives, indicating a need for better understanding of the mechanism of inequalities that appear to be compounded at mid-career level and onwards.
This study will take the national picture in engineering HE and systematically profile women academics across the various engineering disciplines as a starting point. This exercise will highlight areas where problems exist and clearly delineate differences across different engineering fields, with the view to exploring this in more depth with qualitative methods. The main aim of the study is to develop a more nuanced perspective on gender inequalities across the engineering disciplines and clearly define the structural issues in higher education that contribute to the up to now glacial speed of change.
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a social sciences or a related subject. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Social research methods; Gender in STEM. English Language requirement of IELTS band 7.0 or above with not less than 7.0 in each component.
Contact details:
Name: Dr Sarah Barnard
Email address: S.H.Barnard@lboro.ac.uk
Telephone number: 0044 (0)1509 223100
How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select ‘Business School’.
Please quote reference number: SBE17/SB1