IGEN Research Hub

With the support of an Alliance award from the National Science Foundation’s Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES) program, IGEN is committed to the audacious goal of closing gaps between STEM PhD and BS attainment for black and Latinx students, and women of all backgrounds. IGEN brings together disciplinary societies, scholars of graduate education, universities, affinity groups, and national labs to promote institutional change in the physical sciences.

The IGEN Research Hub, under the direction of Julie Posselt, advances knowledge and practice about equity in graduate education and the disciplines, especially those in STEM. The Research Hub coordinates multidisciplinary experts to a) advance knowledge about equity and inclusion in graduate and postdoctoral training, b) inform disciplinary societies about effective practices and change strategies they can promote, and c) coordinate with the Inclusive Practices Hub in developing evidence-based professional development materials for faculty and other leaders. The Research Hub seeks to effectively disseminate emerging evidence from graduate education researchers to disciplinary faculty as well as the social sciences communities who could benefit from the findings.

In addition to these coordinating activities, Posselt and her research team are carrying out two research projects. The first project seeks to understand qualifying exams as a gatekeeping milestone and developmental process in graduate education. The second project explores the potential role of disciplinary societies and their leaders as change agents within their fields.

For more information about IGEN, visit the project’s website at IGENetwork.org.