Why STEM? The External Factors Influencing International STEM Postdoctoral Scholars’ Career Decision
- Conference
- Location
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Baltimore , Maryland
- Publication Date
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June 25, 2023
- Start Date
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June 25, 2023
- End Date
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June 28, 2023
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Minorities in Engineering Division(MIND)
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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13
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--44046
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/44046
- Download Count
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228
Paper Authors
Sylvia L. Mendez University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Dr. Sylvia Mendez is a Professor of Leadership, Research, and Foundations at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas, a MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and a BA in Economics from Washington State University. She is engaged in several National Science Foundation-sponsored collaborative research projects focused on broadening participation and success in STEM academia. Her research centers on creating inclusive higher education policies and practices that advance faculty careers and student success.
Kathryn Watson
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
orcid.org/0000-0002-2062-2849
Kathryn is a doctoral student at University of Colorado Colorado Springs in Education Leadership, Research, and Policy. Her studies focus on supporting student mental health in secondary education. Kathryn's prior education includes a Master's from Marist
Abstract
This research paper explores the external factors that influence international STEM postdoctoral scholars to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Understanding these factors may be critical as the U.S. grapples with the need to broaden and diversify participation in the global STEM workforce. Duffy and Dik (2009) identified four key external factors that influence a person’s career decision: (1) family expectations and needs, (2) life circumstances, (3) spiritual and religious reasons, and (4) social service motivations. Using an instrumental case study design (Stake, 1995), interviews with 20 international STEM postdoctoral scholars occurred to explore the external factors that influenced their STEM career decision deductively. Three themes emerged: (1) parents were highly encouraging, (2) a love of science was nurtured in school, and (3) they were eager to engage in and promote scientific innovation. These findings illustrate the ways in which family, schools, and community influence the STEM career trajectories of international postdoctoral scholars. This knowledge base can be valuable when seeking to recruit and retain them in the U.S. STEM workforce. The identified factors also could be particularly instructive to U.S. primary and secondary school teachers and administrators, as well as U.S. higher education faculty.
Mendez, S. L., & Watson, K. (2023, June), Why STEM? The External Factors Influencing International STEM Postdoctoral Scholars’ Career Decision Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--44046
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