IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/scient/v130y2025i2d10.1007_s11192-024-05229-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The “leaky pipeline” in the academic growth: evidence from excellent young scientists of the NSFC

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaohong Wang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Jiyang Zhao

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Ben Zhang

    (Harbin University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Female researchers play an increasingly paramount role in advancing scientific development. However, the “leaky pipeline” among female researchers in the academic growth still is prevalent, hindering the full utilization of the distinctive wisdom and talent of female in the field of scientific research. Therefore, it is paramount to investigate the gender gap in academic growth as well as the influence mechanism. This study employs the data of 1,598 Excellent Young Scientists that are sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to unveil whether there is significant difference in growth chances and time to growth to Distinguished Young Scholars between male and female researchers. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in growth chances and time to growth between male and female researchers. In addition, the spatial distribution indicates that the gender gap in academic growth worsens from east to middle to west China, and the gap is especially large in the areas with small number of universities. Finally, the publication quantity plays a significantly positive mediating role in the nexus, while there is insignificant difference in publication citation impact between male and female researchers. The results indicate that the underlying reason that can account for the “leaky pipeline” is mainly attributed to the disparity in publication quantity. This study can shed some light on and fully unleashing the potential of female researchers, thereby contributing indispensable strength of female researchers to the advancement of science and technology and the progress of society.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohong Wang & Jiyang Zhao & Ben Zhang, 2025. "The “leaky pipeline” in the academic growth: evidence from excellent young scientists of the NSFC," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 130(2), pages 1129-1158, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:130:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-024-05229-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-024-05229-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11192-024-05229-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11192-024-05229-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Takahashi, Ana Maria & Takahashi, Shingo, 2015. "Gender promotion differences in economics departments in Japan: A duration analysis," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-19.
    2. Lawson, Cornelia & Geuna, Aldo & Finardi, Ugo, 2021. "The funding-productivity-gender nexus in science, a multistage analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(3).
    3. Luke Holman & Devi Stuart-Fox & Cindy E Hauser, 2018. "The gender gap in science: How long until women are equally represented?," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(4), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Li, Meiling & Wang, Yang & Du, Haifeng & Bai, Aruhan, 2024. "Motivating innovation: The impact of prestigious talent funding on junior scientists," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(9).
    5. Ming-liang Yue & Rui-nan Li & Gui-yan Ou & Xia Wu & Ting-can Ma, 2020. "An exploration on the flow of leading research talents in China: from the perspective of distinguished young scholars," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(2), pages 1559-1574, November.
    6. John M. McDowell & Larry D. Singell Jr. & James P. Ziliak, 2001. "Gender and Promotion in the Economics Profession," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 54(2), pages 224-244, January.
    7. Lijuan Cao & Jing Zhu & Hua Liu, 2023. "Research performance, academic promotion, and gender disparities: Analysis of data on agricultural economists in Chinese higher education," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(2), pages 307-326, March.
    8. Christine Wennerås & Agnes Wold, 1997. "Nepotism and sexism in peer-review," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6631), pages 341-343, May.
    9. María Guillermina D'Onofrio & Juan D Rogers, 2022. "Key factors affecting the promotion of researchers of the Argentine Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(2), pages 188-201.
    10. Shang, Jing & Zeng, Mingbin & Zhang, Gupeng, 2022. "Investigating the mentorship effect on the academic success of young scientists: An empirical study of the 985 project universities of China," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    11. Poh Kam Wong & Annette Singh, 2010. "University patenting activities and their link to the quantity and quality of scientific publications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(1), pages 271-294, April.
    12. Donna K. Ginther & Kathy J. Hayes, 2003. "Gender Differences in Salary and Promotion for Faculty in the Humanities 1977–95," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 38(1).
    13. José María Cavero & Belén Vela & Paloma Cáceres, 2014. "Computer science research: more production, less productivity," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(3), pages 2103-2111, March.
    14. Alicia Girón & Amirreza Kazemikhasragh, 2022. "Gender Equality and Economic Growth in Asia and Africa: Empirical Analysis of Developing and Least Developed Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1433-1443, June.
    15. Kaur, Jasleen & Ferrara, Emilio & Menczer, Filippo & Flammini, Alessandro & Radicchi, Filippo, 2015. "Quality versus quantity in scientific impact," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 800-808.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ana Maria Takahashi & Shingo Takahashi & Thomas Maloney, 2015. "Gender salary and promotion gaps in Japanese academia: Results from science and engineering," Working Papers EMS_2015_02, Research Institute, International University of Japan.
    2. Bukstein, Daniel & Gandelman, Néstor, 2019. "Glass ceilings in research: Evidence from a national program in Uruguay," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(6), pages 1550-1563.
    3. Bosquet, Clément & Combes, Pierre-Philippe & Garcia-Penalosa, Cecilia, 2013. "Gender and competition: evidence from academic promotions in France," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58350, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Michele Pezzoni & Fabiana Visentin, 2024. "Gender bias in team formation: the case of the European Science Foundation’s grants," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 247-260.
    5. Pat O’Connor & Gemma Irvine, 2020. "Multi-Level State Interventions and Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions: The Irish Case," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Karen Mumford & Cristina Sechel, 2020. "Pay and Job Rank among Academic Economists in the UK: Is Gender Relevant?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(1), pages 82-113, March.
    7. Clément Bosquet & Pierre‐Philippe Combes & Cecilia García‐Peñalosa, 2019. "Gender and Promotions: Evidence from Academic Economists in France," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 121(3), pages 1020-1053, July.
    8. Maria De Paola & Vincenzo Scoppa, 2015. "Gender Discrimination and Evaluators’ Gender: Evidence from Italian Academia," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 82(325), pages 162-188, January.
    9. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/5v9i4841369lkrbpqk218acl8m is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Takahashi, Ana Maria & Takahashi, Shingo, 2015. "Gender promotion differences in economics departments in Japan: A duration analysis," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-19.
    11. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/5v9i4841369lkrbpqk218acl8m is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Jihui Chen & Qihong Liu & Myongjin Kim, 2022. "Gender gap in tenure and promotion: Evidence from the economics Ph.D. class of 2008," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(4), pages 1277-1312, April.
    13. John T. Addison & Orgul Demet Ozturk & Si Wang, 2014. "The Role of Gender in Promotion and Pay over a Career," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(3), pages 280-317.
    14. Ioana Boiciuc, 2015. "The Effects of Fiscal Policy on Emerging Economies. A TVP- VAR Approach," South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, vol. 13(1), pages 75-84.
    15. Bol, Thijs & de Vaan, Mathijs & van de Rijt, Arnout, 2022. "Gender-equal funding rates conceal unequal evaluations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    16. Stefano Bianchini & Patrick Llerena & Sıla Öcalan-Özel & Emre Özel, 2022. "Gender diversity of research consortia contributes to funding decisions in a multi-stage grant peer-review process," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Ana Maria Takahashi & Shingo Takahashi & Atsuko Ueda, 2019. "Gender Promotion Gap in Japanese Academia in 2004-2013: Has It Changed Over Time?," Discussion Papers 1914, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.
    18. Matthias Kuppler, 2022. "Predicting the future impact of Computer Science researchers: Is there a gender bias?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(11), pages 6695-6732, November.
    19. Maria De Paola & Michela Ponzo & Vincenzo Scoppa, 2018. "Are Men Given Priority for Top Jobs? Investigating the Glass Ceiling in Italian Academia," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 12(3), pages 475-503.
    20. Joan Daouli & Eirini Konstantina Nikolatou, 2015. "The Market for Ph.D. Holders in Greece: Probit and Multinomial Logit Analysis of their Employment Status," South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, vol. 13(1), pages 47-74.
    21. Fengyuan Liu & Petter Holme & Matteo Chiesa & Bedoor AlShebli & Talal Rahwan, 2023. "Gender inequality and self-publication are common among academic editors," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 353-364, March.
    22. Karen Mumford & Cristina Sechel, 2017. "Pay, Rank and Job Satisfaction amongst Academic Economists in the UK," Discussion Papers 17/17, Department of Economics, University of York.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:130:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-024-05229-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.