women in STEM

She was Northeastern's first ‘Woman of the Year’

A member of Northeastern’s inaugural class of women in 1943, Grace McKinlay Mattern was an academic trailblazer, winning the very first women’s scholarship and earning the university's Woman of the Year award—not once, but twice. “Northeastern was good to me,” recalls Mattern, who studied math, physics, and German at the university.

• by Noelle Shough - contributor and Gregory Grinnell   July 9, 2020

Northeastern awards grants to 6 universities to help increase the number of women in computer sciences

Northeastern’s Center for Inclusive Computing will provide the institutions with the funding and collaboration that will allow them to recruit and retain more women in the field of computing. 

• by Molly Callahan   May 4, 2020

Do women publish less than men in scientific fields? Turns out, scientists have been asking the wrong question.

There is a gender gap in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM): Over the last 60 years, across all disciplines, only 27 percent of research publications were authored by women, according to a new study by Northeastern researchers.

• by Tyler Machado, Molly Callahan and Eunice Esomonu   March 5, 2020

From the G7 to Northeastern: French, US leaders tackle gender inequality

The inaugural Paris-Boston Women’s Forum—a project initiated by the Consulate General of France in Boston and hosted by Northeastern University—brought together leaders from both cities to work through the systemic challenges women face in higher education and their careers.

• by Molly Callahan   September 25, 2019

How gender bias excludes women from international scientific collaboration

International collaboration among scientists is on the rise, but even such broad collaboration is subject to gender biases, says Kathrin Zippel, who is a professor of sociology at Northeastern University.

• by Molly Callahan   August 7, 2019

Robots are coming for our jobs. Here’s why women should be even more prepared.

Numerous studies have suggested that women will have a harder time adjusting to the automation of jobs and development of artificial intelligence than men. But a global survey conducted by Northeastern University and Gallup revealed that women are more concerned about losing their jobs to trade and as a result of companies moving jobs overseas to cut costs.

• by Khalida Sarwari   July 17, 2019

These PhD students credit female mentors for their success. Now they’re paying it forward.

Jennifer Morales and Jaclyn Lock recently received their PhDs in bioengineering, a feat they say they could not have accomplished without the help of their female mentors. “Sometimes it takes strong women to tell other women that they’re strong too,” Lock said. Now they’re paying it forward and inspiring young girls to do the same.

• by Emily Arntsen   August 14, 2018

CCIS dean’s own path spurs drive to increase student opportunities

Carla Brodley started college as an economics major. She finished with a double major in math and computer science, the result of a programming course she took during her sophomore year. Brodley, the dean of the College of Computer and Information Science, is being recognized Tuesday with a national mentoring award for her leading efforts to increase opportunities for students—particularly women and underrepresented groups.

• by Greg St. Martin   May 17, 2016