How the COVID pandemic affected the career progress of disabled researchers who are minoritized by race, gender and caring responsibilities

Background: The career progress of a researcher is challenged by heavy workloads, competition for funding and pressure to conduct groundbreaking research. Being minoritized places an additional strain to meet these demands. The aim of this study was to understand the predictors of career progress of academic researchers who are minoritized by disability, race, gender and caring responsibilities and the impact of the COVID pandemic on their career progress in researchers.
Methods: An online self-report survey was designed around themes including the decision for choosing a career in research, seeking career guidance, succeeding as an academic researcher, receiving support from the institution and experts in the discipline and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundred and twenty-eight participants completed the survey and represented academic researchers in the United Kingdom who identified with the abovementioned protected characteristics and those who had no protected characteristics.
Results: Researchers with sensory impairments or multiple disabilities received more support during the COVID pandemic than researchers who were not disabled. Researchers from a racially minoritized background perceived more benefits of the support for research than White researchers who were not British. Among disabled researchers, greater perceived support from the institution predicted a greater sense of career progress. Among racially minoritized researchers, seeking career guidance and choosing a career in research because of the stability it offered predicted career progress. Among women and those with caring responsibilities, the type of employment contract predicted a greater sense of career progress.
Conclusion: Factors such as receiving career support and perceiving the support received, stability offered by a research career and the type of employment contract, guide the perception of career progress for disabled researchers. Mentoring minoritized researchers can help minoritized researchers to perceive the success of their research and set concrete goals for career progress.