Historically underrepresented populations are the largest “untapped STEM talent pools in the United States.”…“Given the shifting demographic landscape, the United States should encourage full participation of individuals from underrepresented populations in STEM fields.” – Public Law 114-329, American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017. Public Law 114-225, 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 requires the NIH Director to “[d]evelop, modify, or prioritize policies, as needed to … increase opportunities for new researchers to receive funding, enhance training and mentorship programs for researchers, and enhance workforce diversity.”
“There is a national need for minority scientists in the fields of biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services research.”-- Public Law 106-525, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000. The National Science Foundation reports that African Americans (or Blacks), American Indians and Alaska Natives, Hispanics (or Latinos), Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are underrepresented at many career stages in health-related sciences on a national basis. (See the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 2019). Individuals from these groups are under-represented when compared to their age-cohorts in science-baccalaureate earners, among science-PhD earners, and in the biomedical workforce overall.
In 2015, only 7percent of science and engineering doctorate holders employed as full-time, full professors at all institutions were from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and at Research Intensive institutions, this proportion falls to only four percent. Moreover, among science and engineering doctorate holders with full-time faculty employment at any four-year institution, those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups were less likely to receive federal grants or contracts than their white counterparts(See the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 2019).
Underrepresentation is also apparent among physicians and physician-scientists in the biomedical workforce. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports that nationally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups comprise about nine percent of the US physician workforce; this poses important concerns for effective health care delivery. Among those with a medical degree, only about two percent report a career in research, and among MDs (or MD-PhDs) with NIH research grants, about seven percent were awarded to individuals from these underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
Data on overall participation of individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in biotechnology, contract research organizations and pharmaceutical industry career sectors is not readily available. Job growth in these areas is strong, and several companies report a workforce with significant diversity, although there may be little diversity at the higher echelons of pharmaceutical firms (see the National Diversity Council’s “Leading While Diverse” report, below).
The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. See data athttp://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the reportWomen, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering).
In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in NIH programs to enhance diversity. For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see theOMB Revisions to the Standards for Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.
FAQs
Underrepresented minorities: Races or ethnicities whose representation in STEM employment and S&E education is smaller than their representation in the U.S. population. This includes Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and American Indians or Alaska Natives.
What is an example of an underrepresented group? ›
For example, in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social science identified underrepresented populations include people with disabilities, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups such as blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaskan ...
What groups are most underrepresented? ›
African American / Black. Asian: Filipino, Hmong*, or Vietnamese. Hispanic / Latinx. Native American / Alaskan Native.
What is the most underrepresented racial ethnic minority group in the federal workforce? ›
Hispanics remain the only underrepresented minority group in the Federal workforce.
What are examples of ethnic minority groups? ›
Ethnic minority, minority ethnic or minoritised ethnic
For example, they include white minority ethnic groups such as Polish or Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller. 'Minority ethnic' is sometimes preferred over 'ethnic minority'.
What classes are underrepresented groups? ›
Identifying Underrepresented Groups
These groups typically include: Ethnic minority students: Individuals from racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in higher education. First-generation students: Individuals whose parents do not have a university education.
Who is an underrepresented person? ›
The term “underrepresented population” means a population that is typically underrepresented in service provision, and includes populations such as persons who have low-incidence disabilities, persons who are minorities, poor persons, persons with limited English proficiency, older individuals, or persons from rural ...
What can I say instead of underrepresented groups? ›
Update your vocabulary by saying “students from underrepresented backgrounds,” “systemically minoritized groups,” “marginalized groups,” “POC,” “HUG,” “BIPOC,”or specify a specific group.
How do you refer to underrepresented groups? ›
The general phrase “underrepresented” or “members of underrepresented groups” is appropriate and is especially preferred when you can be specific and accurate.
What are culturally underrepresented groups? ›
This term refers to groups who have been denied access and/or suffered past institutional discrimination in the United States and, according to the Census and other federal measuring tools, includes African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics or Chicanos/Latinos, and Native Americans.
United States of America
- African Americans in the United States of America.
- Alaska Natives in the United States of America.
- Arab and other Middle Eastern Americans in the United States of America.
- Asian Americans in the United States of America.
- Haitians in the United States of America.
Black or African American. Hispanic or Latino American. Middle Eastern or North African. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
What are the 3 largest minority groups? ›
Racial categories
| 2021 estimates, including separate category for Latino / Hispanic |
|---|
| Hispanic and Latino | 18.9% |
| Black | 12.6% |
| Asian | 5.9% |
| Two or more races | 2.3% |
5 more rowsA term referring to groups who have been denied access or opportunity and/or suffered past institutional discrimination in the US. This has often included people who are Black, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, and individuals with disabilities.
What are the underrepresented community groups? ›
Underrepresented groups definition
For example, historically, women and those from Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) backgrounds have been traditionally marginalised within the workplace and are often not present in a workforce in a proportionate way to the community, society or population of a country.
What are the underrepresented ethnic groups in the media? ›
Black Americans tend to be underrepresented in U.S. newsrooms. Just 6% of reporting journalists are Black, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. journalists.
