Invisible work is any work that is essential to the progress of science and academia, but is not professionally recognized for career advancement (for graduate students while earning their PhDs or for faculty while pursuing promotion and tenure). Prior research has shown that invisible work also disproportionately falls onto minoritized scientists and impacts their career progress and experiences more than well-represented scientists. This extra burden of expected but unrewarded work can, in turn, lead to the exclusion of minoritized scientists from higher position of leadership and/or to increased burnout and attrition of minoritized graduate students and faculty in academia. Some common examples of invisible work include mentorship of minoritized scientists, organizing projects on DEI committees, improving inclusion in the lab/department culture, advocating for equitable policies, and engaging in science communication to the public.

In the current project, we are investigating the types and quantities of invisible work done specifically in chemistry academia across career stages (graduate students, postdoc, staff, and faculty) and identity backgrounds (race, sex, and socioeconomic class).

In this presentation we will examine data from interviews and surveys of study participants, including:

(1) different types of invisible work conducted by scientists in chemistry academia across career stages
(2) impacts of invisible work on scientists’ scientific and professional progress
(3)recommendations for documenting invisible work and its impact for professional advancement
(4) recommendations for advocacy around improving institutional recognition of invisible work and increased support for minoritized colleagues that are expected to do this work.

By illuminating the problems and possible solutions of invisible work in chemistry academia, this work aims to contribute to improving equity, reducing promotion gaps, and increasing inclusion in our community.

Miriam Krause

Appearances