Project: Gender issues in Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths (STEM) fields in Higher Education Institutions (HEI)- An Exploratory Study
Call for Research Associate :1 Post (On Contract)
Duration: 5 months (November, 2024 – February 2025)
About the Project
Women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SETM) has been improving globally but it is low. Girls are enrolling in STEM fields primarily due to no options available in social sciences in the neo-liberal context. Earlier, the students had choice but the participation of girls in higher education was limited. Thanks to all affirmative actions of the State, the awareness among parents on girl’s higher education, peer influence, transport and communication, hostel facilities, scholarships and fellowships etc which could facilitate the girls to make their choice to higher education in general and STEM fields in particular. It is to be analysed as to which class, social group, region, religion, tribes could gain in STEM education and able to choose their career in STEM fields. Women and Girls are not homogeneous, their social and economic background largely determine the educational choices and their choices to their programme
Globally, certain factors such as work-life balance, burden of domestic chores and gender discrimination/sexual-harassment are seen as some of the main deterrents for women’s continued participation in STEM in general and women’s work participation in particular. India has implemented policies such as establishment of day-care centres and child-care leave, based on the 2004 studies, yet the numbers have to increase significantly. Women’s participation in education above graduation to research degrees has been declining. Thanks to various fellowships and enabling environment provided to encourage more women to join research but it has not shown much improvement over the decades where actually the women’s participation has got stagnated. It is in this background,present the study has been conceived. The aim of the study is to identify barriers that persist in the career path of women, gender minorities and other marginalized communities in HEIs in India where the GATI programme implemented institutions will be taken.
The study would explore the nature of both facilitative factors and socio cultural and political barriers at the personal, social and institutional contexts and how far those factors have been taken into account in the policies and programme interventions to improve the women’s participation in STEM fields in India. It will investigate the institutional barriers subtle patriarchal norms and pressures at private and public spheres, affirmative actions and identify gaps if any to provide alternative policies within the framework of various forms of barriers faced, to ensure equity and equality in terms of gender, social group, region ethnicity etc. It will also focus on 10 male participants in STEM fields to get their views and stands on gender concerns in STEM.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Research Associate
- Work on literature review, collect secondary data related to the topic of research, access th the policy documents of governmens and International organizations, with the guidance of Principal Researcher and Co Principal Investigator.
- Engage in qualitative and quantitative tools development to both online and physical interviews, and conduct online interviews with faculty members in STEM in premier technical institutions in India with the guidance of the Research Team
- Code the online tool developed, conduct a pilot study, modify the tool and conduct the data collection and conduct interviews both online and in person as directed by Research Team
- Collect data, conduct in-depth interviews and key informant’s interviews five each with STEM faculty members and officials connected to policy framing in various institutions with the Government and analyse and complete the study with the guidance of PI and Co PI.
- Transcribe the qualitative data of both online and in person interviews, and collate case studies, clean and enter the data, analyse with the support of Research Team and prepare the draft report.
- Any other work which is connected with the study and completion of the Report.
Requirements
Candidate should be Ph.D or PDF Scholars in social sciences or science background with gender specialization . Those who worked in STEM field specialization and familiar with constructing and handling digital questionnaire development and administer to collect data and analyse will be preferred and need to work full time for the entire period of appointment at CWDS, Delhi.
Good communication in English and Analytical ability are basic requirements
Applicants from the Marginalized communities and women are invited to apply.
Remuneration
Salary is Rs. 47,000/- per month as per ICSSR Rules. The actual field travel expenses will be reimbursed as per CWDS rules
Application Process: Interested individuals can send their updated CV to with manimekalai@cwds.ac.in latest by 29th October, 2024.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to for the online interview and selected candidates will be expected to join in the first week of November
N.Manimekalai – Principal Investigator
Madhurima – Co-Principal Investigator