The STEM workforce has long been notorious for its low proportion of women in STEM careers, with its current figure sitting at 27% in Australia. Here, we learn how organisations like Cure Cancer are committed to making a change.
Organisations like Cure Cancer are seeing an inspired change with more and more females applying for their cancer research grants. In 2020, women researchers make up more than half of their current class and in the last five years, over 60% of their scientists have been female.
Two of the Cure Cancer alumni were recently recognised for their contribution to cancer research – Dr Maria Kavallaris was named the 2020 NSW Premier's Woman of the Year and Dr Angelica Merlot the 2019 NSW Young Woman of the Year.
There is a growing trend of motivated women breaking into what is traditionally seen as a male industry. The hope is that talented women are able to stay in science, despite the challenges they are likely to face.
Research institutes Australia-wide are showing an increased commitment to supporting women with flexible working arrangements post-maternity leave and childcare opportunities, but this hasn’t always been the case. When Professor Pamela Russell AM started in science in the 1970s, she was paid half the salary of men at the same stage, simply because she was a woman. When she returned to work after having her family, NHMRC policy required that she restart her career as a research assistant.
While there are role models at the top tiers of science combating gender bias , like Cure Cancer’s star alumni Prof Pamela Russell AM, Prof Robyn Ward and Prof Carolyn Mountford , the jump from PhD student to lead researcher may at first seem insurmountable for many women.
Former Cure Cancer grant recipient Kara Perrow points out that students considering a career in science are told that competition for research funding is fierce, giving rise to short-term contracts and job insecurity . ‘This sees scientists working overtime and on weekends , which makes it harder to succeed if you are a female scientist and mother.’
Although this outlook can leave students questioning their future in science, there is a way to make a successful and rewarding career in science as demonstrated by the stories of Perrow, her colleagues, and the numerous women who have received Cure Cancer funding in the past five years.
Dr Tracy O’Mara , Cure Cancer’s 2020 Researcher of the Year, says, ‘I feel fortunate to be able to pursue novel research in an area I’m passionate about, which wouldn’t have been possible without this grant. It’s so important to back early-career researchers. We’re the future! Young researchers have some incredibly interesting and novel ideas which can really drive change.’
However, gender equity remains a particularly sticky issue for science.
The choice to raise a family may be judged as a disruption to research output when scientists are assessed for funding, although these days scientists do have an opportunity to explain that disruption and have it considered. Child-bearing time is the point where many women choose to leave academic careers . The global nature of science also necessitates regular long-distance travel, which is difficult for those with family responsibilities.
As Dr Melissa Cantley , funded by Cure Cancer in 2020 for blood cancer research, says, ‘I’ve had to accept that I can’t always travel interstate or to international conferences, particularly when my boys were babies, which impacted on opportunities to network with colleagues and achieve recognition in the research field. One of the biggest challenges, though, has been the impact on research productivity as a result of having two periods of maternity leave very close together.’
Perrow advises that a strong local support network can make the task of balancing young children and the demands of research more manageable. If you are fortunate to have one, family networks can offer assistance when travel or extended work hours are called for. Similarly, a supportive, collegiate ethos between co-workers can encourage and boost young postdocs.
It is widely recognised that networking is fundamental to building a career in science, and early-career researchers should do their best to find effective mentors. Cure Cancer endorses these ideas. They have instituted an annual Research Symposium which provides an environment where current grant recipients can meet one another and develop opportunities for collaboration. Additionally, they’ve also launched a mentoring program where their experienced alumni provide advice to their early-career researchers.
Dr Sarah Hancock , 2019 Cure Cancer alumna and pancreatic cancer research, says, ‘This is why what Cure Cancer does is so important. They give early career researchers such as myself access to start-up funding that allows us to “graduate” our training period and start developing our independent research career.’
The greatest support given to these early-career researchers is funding. Cure Cancer’s grant system offers one-year grants to early-career researchers in their first three years after PhD or medical degree. They are eligible for two-year grants for the next four years.
The researchers who are able to attract two (or even three) of our grants take themselves a long way towards greater future job security. In decisions made in conjunction with Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer gladly permits young mothers to take maternity leave during their grant periods, or, if appropriate, permit them to supervise their work while strictly speaking they are on leave.
With more funding available, Cure Cancer could offer more two-year grants and help early-career researchers in their mission to eliminate the threat of cancer for good.
Show your support by making a donation today and let’s help Cure Cancer’s researchers, both female and male, make this the last generation to die from cancer.