Research Outputs
Distinct domains: a call for nuance in the categorization and evaluation of “Arts and Humanities” disciplines
Savage WE, Wheeler R, Olejniczak AJ (2025)
Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics
This study challenges the monolithic treatment of 'Arts and Humanities' in research evaluation. We argue that the aggregation of these distinct disciplines into a single category obscures critical differences in scholarly output patterns, citation behaviors, and funding needs. We propose a more nuanced framework for categorization that respects the unique epistemic cultures of disciplines ranging from History to Performing Arts.
Read Full PaperTenure and research trajectories
G. Tripodi, X. Zheng, Y. Qian, D. Murray, B.F. Jones, C. Ni, & D. Wang (2025)
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
We analyze the relationship between tenure decisions and long-term research trajectories. Using a comprehensive dataset of faculty careers, we examine how the pressure of the tenure clock influences risk-taking in research topics and subsequent productivity. The findings suggest that current tenure mechanisms may inadvertently discourage high-risk, high-reward research paths early in a career.
Read Full PaperDiversity of HBCUs’ Institutional Human Capital: A Cross-Discipline, Longitudinal Analysis of Faculty Hiring and Placement at HBCUs
Yan E, Palmer RT, He J et al. (2025)
Innov High Educ
This longitudinal analysis examines faculty hiring and placement patterns at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We investigate the sources of doctoral training for HBCU faculty across disciplines and how these patterns have evolved over time. The study highlights the critical role HBCUs play in diversifying the academic workforce and the unique characteristics of their human capital networks.
Read Full PaperSame as It Ever Was: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity Differences in Promotion for Academic Economists
Ginther DK, Kahn S, Milakhina D (2025)
AEA Papers and Proceedings
Despite decades of attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion, this study finds persistent gaps in promotion rates for women and underrepresented minorities in academic economics. Controlling for publication quantity, quality, and citations, we find that significant unexplained penalties remain in the probability of promotion to full professor.
Read Full PaperUnderrepresented minority faculty in the USA face a double standard in promotion and tenure decisions
Masters-Waage T, Spitzmueller C, Edema-Sillo E et al. (2024)
Nat Hum Behav
This paper presents evidence of a 'double standard' in tenure decisions where underrepresented minority (URM) faculty are held to higher thresholds of productivity than their non-URM peers. Through experimental and observational data, we demonstrate that ambiguous tenure criteria often shift to disadvantage URM candidates, requiring them to demonstrate significantly higher achievements to be rated as equivalent.
Read Full PaperAGE: Age-Gender Effect on Faculty Career Progression in American Universities
Rahmani H, Olejniczak AJ, Weckman GR (2024)
IEEE Transactions on Big Data
We introduce the 'AGE' framework to model the intersectional effects of age and gender on faculty career progression. Utilizing big data techniques on a massive dataset of academic careers, we quantify how age penalties in hiring and promotion differ significantly by gender, with women facing steeper age-related barriers earlier in their careers than men.
Read Full PaperGender and retention patterns among U.S. faculty
Spoon K, LaBerge N, Wapman KH, Zhang S, Morgan AC, Galesic M, Fosdick BK, Larremore DB, Clauset A (2023)
Science Advances
In a comprehensive study of U.S. faculty retention, we find that women are more likely to leave academia at every career stage than men. This attrition gap cannot be fully explained by publication productivity or institutional prestige. The findings suggest that workplace climate and structural factors play a larger role in retention than previously quantified.
Read Full PaperA model for reference list length of scholarly articles
Ghaffari F, & Wilson MC (2023)
Scientometrics
Reference lists in scholarly articles have been growing longer over time. We propose a mathematical model to explain this inflation, identifying factors such as the growth of scientific literature, strategic citation behavior, and changing journal policies. The model accurately predicts reference list lengths across several major disciplines.
Read Full PaperThe impact of geographic inequality in federal research funding: A comparative longitudinal study of research and scholarly outputs in EPSCoR versus non-EPSCoR states
Mohammadi E, Olejniczak AJ, Walker GE, Nagarkatti P (2023)
PLoS ONE
This paper evaluates the efficacy of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). We compare scholarly outputs and funding success rates between EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR states over a longitudinal period. Our analysis reveals persistent structural inequalities in federal funding distribution that correlate with lower research outputs in targeted states, despite intervention efforts.
Read Full PaperGender pay gaps in economics: A deeper look at institutional factors
Kim M, Chen J, Weinberg B (2023)
Agricultural Economics
We investigate the gender pay gap within the fields of economics and agricultural economics. By controlling for rank, experience, and productivity, we isolate the role of institutional factors. We find that a significant portion of the wage gap is attributable to women being less likely to be employed at the highest-paying institutions and less likely to receive retention offers.
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