Being assigned a female professor leads to substantial increases in the probability of female studenst working in a STEM occupation

Although women earn approximately 50 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) bachelor’s degrees, more than 70 percent of scientists and engineers are men. 

This study explores a potential determinant of this STEM gender gap using newly collected data on the career trajectories of United States Air Force Academy students. 

Among high-ability female students, being assigned a female professor leads to substantial increases in the probability of working in a STEM occupation and the probability of receiving a STEM master’s degree.