Repairing the Broken Rung: Advancing Women's Leadership in Life Sciences

Tufts University proposes Repairing the Broken Rung, a research-informed Diagnostic and Intervention Model targeting the first promotion into management, where women's careers in life sciences often stall. Women aren't the problem; systems are. By partnering with companies, we will diagnose organizational barriers and co-design interventions for employees, managers, and institutions. Building on a proven early-career program, the STEM Career Advantage Academy, this work delivers a scalable, replicable model measured by promotion, retention, and organizational change.