Outcomes for Women Minority Fellows Differ Strikingly from Male Counterparts

Data analyzed by the Research Department on ASA’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) show that women in the MFP are half as likely as their male counterparts in the program to be employed at research-extensive universities, half as likely to receive National Science Foundation and/or National Institutes of Health grants, about two-thirds as likely to become ASA section leaders, and have about half the amount of peer-reviewed journal publications as men in the MFP, since receiving their PhDs.

We speculate that Women in the MFP might be less encouraged to participate in normative academic activities than men in the MFP. For example, publications in grad school usually suggest that one will have a career of scholarly publishing ahead of him/her. Over three-quarters of MFP men had a least one publication prior to receiving their PhDs, compared to 38.1 percent of the MFP women. These differences will require further study. We welcome you to share your thoughts about these findings.

Looking for Data on Sociology?

Want to know how many bachelors degrees were awarded in sociology in 1990? Or maybe how sociology faculty salaries compare to political science? You can find this, and other data on sociology and social science degrees and enrollment, employment, funding, and sociology programs, as well as ASA membership on our Trend Data page. Links to similar datasets can be found on our Data Resources page.

More Research Funding Opportunities: ASA’s Funds For the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD) Grants

The Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD) is supported by the American Sociological Association through a matching grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the program is to nurture the development of scientific knowledge by funding small, groundbreaking research initiatives and other important scientific research activities such as conferences. FAD awards provide scholars with “seed money” for innovative research that has the potential for challenging the discipline, stimulating new lines of research, and creating new networks of scientific collaboration. The award is intended to provide opportunities for substantive and methodological breakthroughs, broaden the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and provide leverage for acquisition of additional research funds.

Interested applicants must apply online. Annual deadlines are June 15 and December 15. Visit the ASA website to learn more. We will also be hosting FAD workshop at the 2011 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas (see below).

Click here to view a PDF of the Workshop announcement.

Social Science Funding Opportunities on the West Coast

Sea Grant is looking to fund more social science research in California, Oregon and Washington. A letter of intent is due February 22. All details can be found on their website.

The four West Coast Sea Grant programs are seeking research proposals to address specific social science issues of West Coast regional priority. Projects will be selected through an open, competitive, peer-review process. Researchers must contact their state Sea Grant program directors (see below) to discuss ideas and linkages before submitting a letter of intent. Proposals must be submitted through Washington Sea Grant.

Subject to the availability of funding, the four West Coast Sea Grant programs will make a total of $700,000 available collectively at the regional level over two years to fund projects. In addition, the National Sea Grant Office may augment available state program funds. Given these funding limits, we anticipate being able to fund between two and four regional projects for the 2012–2014 biennium.

Project Submission and Review Schedule

*   Letter of Intent due: Feb. 22, 2011, by midnight PST

*   Review and recommendations for full proposals: March 15, 2011

*   Full proposals due: May 15, 2011, by midnight PST

*   Peer review and project selection: June–Sept. 2011

*   Notice of funding decisions: Mid-Sept. 2011

*   Projects begin: Feb. 1, 2012

For complete details, see the full RFP at www.csgc.ucsd.edu/FUNDING/APPLYING/RegionalSocialScience2011.html