Thread by @KristaLerista

I am officially no longer a graduate student. I was discriminated against because of my disability and forced to leave my program.

Academia, we need to talk

🧵1/13 #DisabledInStem, #AcademicChatter, #DisInHigherEd

My former advisor’s lab was a poor fit for my ADHD and my advisor saw my symptoms and struggles as bad choices, not the result of my biology. Instead of getting the accommodations that would have allowed me to be successful, I was dismissed from the lab. 2/13

I haven't found a new lab after ~1.5 yrs. Though I’ve been publishing and generating novel research, without a committee chair, I cannot defend a thesis and therefore cannot get a PhD.

All I want to do is study cool lizards but it's hard when I have to deal with all of this.

I’ve been trying to file a formal complaint but, according to the disability office, graduate coordinator, department chair, graduate student ombudsman, student union, and ADA office, enforcing compliance with student protection regulations is someone else’s job, not theirs. 4/13

This is systemic oppression. There is no way for a lower level academic to resolve problems that involve other people, especially people with more power. The only thing to do is put up with the problems or quit. When the system doesn’t work to protect it works to exclude. 5/13

People talk about a “leaky pipeline”, but pipes leak indiscriminately. I always think about it more like the jelly bean sorter at the jelly belly factory which is a fancy sieve that rejects beans that aren’t just the right size and shape. 6/13 4:40-4:54

As a biologist, this all feels analogous to natural selection. Ecological and academic success are both influenced by how well an individual's traits work in their environment.

A polar bear’s coat is great in the arctic but wouldn’t be in Miami. 7/13

In academia, it’s clear that, more than intelligence, or work ethic, the traits that influence “survival” are those related to being part of a disadvantaged/minority group, poor, rural, first gen, disabled, Black, LGBT, etc. 8/13

URMs are preferentially selected out of the population, leaving a relatively homogenous population on track to tenure.

However, unlike in nature, the environment of academia is designed by people. It could be designed to allow all types to succeed but instead we have this. 9/13

Some might argue that it’s those that are less productive that are selected out and that sacrificing diversity for productivity is worth it to get the best scientists. But URMs wouldn’t have productivity issues if they didn’t have to deal with the impediments academia has built!

Does productive=best? The prevalence of antivaxxers + climate change deniers makes it clear trust is a bigger impediment to change than the generation of knowledge. Supposedly science benefits humanity, but can one trust it's for everyone if not everyone can be in on the process?

As a paleontology student, I’ve learned that the most resilient communities in tough times are the most diverse. Diversity is also at the root of creativity and innovation. The best way to ensure we all get through these weird times ahead is to make sure we’re all involved. 12/13

Just like in conservation, we need to start by establishing an environment in academia that will support and protect a greater diversity of people. 13/13
-Make sure protections actually work
-make the hidden curriculum known
-find impediments and mitigate them
-listen and learn