Navigating Pathways to STEM Careers: Perspectives of Autistic Students, Career Counselors, and STEM Employers

Overview

This mixed methods study explores the barriers and facilitators in the pathway from postsecondary STEM undergraduate education to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) employment for Autistic undergraduate students. Using a participatory action research approach, each step of the research is guided and informed by a community research team comprised of Autistic college students and recent graduates, career counselors, and STEM employers.

Our research team uses identity-first language (for example, “Autistic person” instead of “person with autism”) because many people in the Autistic community prefer this way of describing their identity.

Why This Work Matters

The pre-employment interview remains a commonly used hiring practice, and yet it often poses a significant barrier for Autistic people – many of whom face challenges with social interaction, communication, and behavior. Investigating how job interviews impact Autistic candidates is essential, as they continue to experience high rates of unemployment and underemployment.

Improving the transition between college education and STEM careers will inform the development of solutions that create opportunities for students to pursue STEM careers. The STEM workforce is enriched by the inclusion of people of all abilities, including Autistic people who bring unique perspectives to STEM problem-solving and discovery.

Additional Info

Objectives

The study aims to:

Explore and understand the experiences of Autistic college students and recent graduates as they relate to their preparation for an interview for employment in a STEM field.
Analyze the impact of various strategies and experiences on the preparedness of these students for STEM interviews and assess the prevalence of barriers they encounter.
Evaluate the perceived readiness of college career counselors with assisting Autistic college students in their STEM career pursuits.
Explore and understand the barriers observed by employers when engaging in pre-employment interviews with Autistic individuals.

The results will be beneficial for identifying solutions and resources needed by STEM employers and higher education that will improve interview processes and systems for students.

Phases

There are two project phases:

Phase I involves conducting 16–20 interviews and surveying approximately 300 Autistic college students and recent graduates pursuing STEM fields.
Phase II involves conducting focus groups with 16–20 employers and career counselors. All project phases and processes are informed by our community research team.

Contact information

Susanne Bruyère (PI)
Email: smb23@cornell.edu
Cornell phone: 607-255-9536

Katie Brendli Brown (Co-PI)
Email: kb726@cornell.edu
Cornell phone: 607-255-9717

Funding agencies

National Science Foundation (NSF). This award has been made in response to the NSF solicitation “Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education” (NSF 23-593). This project is funded by the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences’ Office of Multidisciplinary Activities and the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program (LSAMP).

Principal investigator

Susanne Bruyère (PI)
Katie Brendli Brown (Co-PI)

Collaborating partners

National Association of Colleges and Employers, Landmark College, Mentra, Inclusively, and Specialisterne USA