Vision: The Niela Project investigates the experiences of Black women in pursuit of doctoral and postdoctorates in engineering and computing.
Project Summary: The Niela Project is a 4-year study funded by the National Science Foundation (EEC-1648332) to explore how Black female doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars succeed in engineering and computer science programs. This qualitative study of 125 Black women graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, along with interviews with faculty mentors and other advisors to such students, will conduct research on a population that has not yet been studied separately from the larger context of women graduate students and postdocs.
Desired Outcomes: The overarching goal is to increase understanding of the dynamics and factors that Black women’s experiences may have on their academic persistence and overall well-being. Interviews with faculty advisors and research mentors of Black women pursuing aim to unveil mentors’ understanding of these women’s experiences and their impact on academic persistence and well-being, the specific challenges they encounter as they advise and mentor Black female doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars, and key strategies they implemented to assist the students to persist and nurture their well-being. Participation in this study will allow the participant to share their experience which will help the educators and researchers learn more about Black women doctoral and post-doctoral experiences in engineering and computing. Results could lead to improved programs, policies, and strategies for more inclusive educational experiences.