Reconciling the Tension Between the Tenure and Biological Clocks to Increase the Recruitment and Retention of Women in Academia (Report‪)‬

Introduction Most entry-level, tenure-track science positions require the completion of a PhD and one or more years of post-doctoral training. Women and men are beginning their academic careers in their late twenties to mid-thirties and then facing an additional six to seven years probationary period before acquiring tenure. The average age for receiving a PhD is 33 and many professors do not secure tenure before they are 40. Research Intensive institutions expect probationary faculty to develop robust research agendas that are well-funded and to produce several high-quality, highly-regarded research papers. Masters level institutions expect probationary faculty to develop research agendas that are funded, to publish some high-quality research papers, each year to teach several classes that employ current pedagogy and engage students, and to mentor students through research and advising.