MANAGING BARRIERS AND BUILDING SUPPORTS IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DOCTORAL PROGRAMS: CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS FOR A NEW ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN

摘要

This article describes an online psychological education program for women in science and engineering doctoral programs. CareerWISE offers resilience training to strengthen women's personal and interpersonal skills for overcoming discouragers and barriers in STEM fields, and expanding supports to fulfill personal and professional ambitions. CareerWISE is built on a foundation of theory and research on psychological processes, environmental contexts, and behaviors that contribute to how women experience their work and decide on academic and career paths. Research questions ask whether strengthened personal and interpersonal skills serve as protective resources for facing potential barriers in chosen fields of study, mitigate discouragement, and improve persistence. The foundations for the program, the design elements, program components, current status, and future directions are described.