The Meyerhoff Scholars Program (MSP) is one of several projects attempting to increase representation of minorities in scientific research. Recently, spokesmen for MSP have made extravagant claims for their program in more than one venue. Unless I am mistaken, MSP has not demonstrated that their graduates remain in scientific careers as researchers. As an anecdotal comparison, many, if not most, of the Ford Foundation Fellows obtaining Ph.D.'s in STEM disciplines (including Psychology) chose administrative careers rather than careers in scientific research (theoretical or empirical). Before MSP can claim success, one would like to see evidence that their graduates enter and persist in careers in scientific research, including successful acquisition of competitive grants in their specializations and peer-reviewed publication in mainstream outlets.
Several of my colleagues and I have prepared a tentative list of potential (individual and structural) barriers to diversity in scientific research. I would be happy to share this list with any interested party from academia and to discuss ways in which barriers might be overcome in order to increase representation of minorities in scientific research. To date, no formula has been demonstrated for the realization of this goal.
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