Cultivating ‘scientific identity’: Insights from plant cell and developmental biology

Identity plays a major role in academia, with an important interplay between personal identities and the development of a “scientific identity”. Scientists from historically marginalized groups face unique challenges with academic self-concepts due to intersectional struggles and how those are perceived by peers, colleagues and advisors, often realized during the establishment of scientific identities in STEM fields. For marginalized individuals, systemic barriers continue to impact the establishment and development of this crucial part of a scientists’ journey, contributing to their limited mobility within academia. Plants are an excellent model that highlights the importance of early establishment of cell identity to better adapt to challenging environments. By applying insights from plant development, where robust, layered mechanisms emphasize the importance of and support the establishment of cell identities, efforts to dismantle or lower these obstacles to promote successful scientific identity establishment may be possible. Similarly, internal and external “signals” for students and faculty within academia will help establish and develop scientific identities, creating more space for upward mobility, while also reinforcing a positive feedback loop for the next generation of marginalized scientists in STEM.