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Unique support from identity-based groups: Professional networks of women and LGBTQ+ physicists analyzed and compared by career sector

Chase Hatcher1, Adrienne Traxler2, Lily Donis3, Madison Swirtz4, Camila Amaral4, Justin Gutzwa5, Charles Henderson6, and Ramón Barthelemy4

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Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 22, 020127 – Published 31 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/zbk8-6fcj

Abstract

This paper presents a social network analysis of the professional support networks of 100 LGBTQ+ and/or women Ph.D. physicists, comparing the networks based on the career sectors of academia, industry, and government/nonprofit. The methods for constructing and analyzing the ego networks, which are novel in many ways, are explained in greater detail in an earlier publication (C. Hatcher et al. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21, 020603 (2025)). We describe the networks of the whole group and use statistical tests of independence to explore differences between sectors in terms of whole network metrics, network composition based on alter (network member) characteristics, and support. We find that alters associated with groups (like affinity groups and personal and professional interest groups) are more likely to provide identity-based and community-building support, participants in academia have fewer personal friends in their networks, while those in industry have more; participants in government report less instrumental support, and those in academia report less material support. These results and others lead to suggestions for employers in these sectors on how to better support these physicists, including continuing to promote participation in affinity and interest groups, providing more material support and/or personal time in the academic sector, and more instrumental support in the form of professional development or training in the government sector.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 22, 020127– Published 31 August, 2026
  • Received 16 April 2025
  • Revised 23 April 2026
  • Accepted 17 June 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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