Report on Diversity in Biomedical Research Workforce

Universities should evaluate their graduate programs in science and technology for ways to reduce “stereotype threat,” in which female and minority students may feel less able to succeed academically even if in fact they can do so, says a report issued Thursday. The report examines steps colleges and universities may take to increase the diversity of the biomedical research workforce. The report also recommends that colleges and universities use holistic review — in which applicants are considered individually without relying on cutoff scores or formulas of grades and test scores — in doctoral admissions in science and technology fields.