Gender Differences in Patenting in the Academic Life Sciences

Abstract

We analyze longitudinal data on academic careers and conduct interviews with faculty members to determine the scope and causes of the gender gap in patenting among life scientists over a 30-year period show that women faculty members patent at about 40 percent of the rate of men. We find that the gender gap has been improving over time, although it remains large.

Keywords: Science, Females, Males, Gender, Patents, Academic research, Faculty, Colleges & universities, Inventors, Research productivity, Social networks, University-industry relations, Career choices