Black women need more support in physics doctoral programs

To improve their experience in Ph.D. physics programs, Black women need academic advisers to understand the unique challenges they face in STEM, help them obtain tutorial assistance, and improve access to mental health resources, according to recommendations from a recent study.

In the study, titled “Amplifying Voices: Journey to a Ph.D. Through the Lens of a Black Woman in Physics,” researchers examined the experience of Black women in physics Ph.D. programs, many of whom encounter racism, sexism, and financial and mental health challenges while pursuing advanced degrees.

The research team — Camille Coffie, a physics professor at Spelman College; L. Trenton Marsh, assistant professor of urban education at the University of Central Florida; Jacquelyn J. Chini, a physics professor at The Ohio State University, and Itunu Illesunmi, a professor of social work at the University of Northern Iowa — received funding from the APS Innovation Fund, which supports collaborative projects that advance physics education and community.

More than 2,000 people in the U.S. receive doctoral degrees in physics each year, but fewer than 0.5% of them are awarded to Black or African American women, noted Coffie, the lead researcher, in a recent webinar.

“Most of these women initiated a Ph.D. in physics, but they were often forced out, pushed out or what we call mastered out,” said Coffie.

Thirteen women participated in the study, which began in January 2023, using a qualitative research method called “photovoice.” Participants were asked to take photographs, documenting their social landscapes, ideas, and experiences about their Ph.D. journey.

For example, one participant photographed a cemetery to “mourn the graduate experience that [she] wanted to have.” In a focus group, the participant noted that she felt she did not receive enough support in her Ph.D. program, even when she was grieving two deaths in her personal life. “All of the tombstones are a portion of me that is grieving — something being piled on top of the grief,” she said about the photo.

Another participant photographed her sneakers with the laces triple-tied, expressing anxiety about tripping over them in a lab — a mistake she felt she would be judged more harshly for as a Black woman.

In another, a woman photographed herself in front of the mirror, taking out her braids. “Whenever we had to take our initial picture, I remember people making comments like, ‘Her hair is so big — like she’s covering up our faces,’” the participant said, an example of the microaggressions she experiences in her program.

Some participants highlighted their own resilience. Despite having few supportive faculty members in her program, one woman photographed a diamond ring, an allusion to the way that diamonds are formed: under intense pressure. “When we talk about diamonds under pressure … it’s not always a smooth process,” said Ilesanmi.

The researchers suggested several recommendations to improve Black women’s experience in Ph.D. physics programs, including improving relationships with faculty advisers, increasing access to tutorial services and mental health services, and providing more opportunities for Black women to participate in fellowships, research, and assistantships. Other recommendations touched on non-academic issues related to the graduate experience; for example, policies that offer students more affordable healthcare, an enduring challenge for many in graduate school, would provide support.

The researchers plan to turn their findings into a digital resource. “It’s important when working with Black women to broaden your perspective and think about the different barriers they may face that may be unique when compared to other students,” said Coffie.