Experts: Gender Gap

Hughes studies STEM identity (one’s belief that they fit the perception of a scientist and can be successful in their chosen field) of women and people of color who have historically been marginalized in STEM fields. She uses an intersectional lens to study STEM identity both during a short term program (such as a summer camp) and over years of experiences. She mainly employs qualitative methods in her studies.

Hughes wrote about the importance of the role of teachers in shaping girls’ futures as coders for The Conversation. She also authored a piece for Scientific American about how a NASA-themed Lego set inadvertently played into damaging stereotypes.

Perez-Felkner’s research uses developmental and sociological perspectives to examine how young women and men’s social contexts influence their college and career outcomes. She focuses on the mechanisms that shape entry into and persistence in institutions and fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented. In particular, she investigates racial-ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic disparities in entry to scientific career fields, in the U.S. and globally.