Summary of Intervention(s) | • As of 2020, candidates for tenure-track assistant professorships at Yale University’s MB&B were instructed to submit anonymized applications—no names of people, places, funding agencies or journals.
• The reason was to subvert unconscious biases that psychologists argue contribute to ingroup favoritism and racial hiring discrimination.
• Based on research in occupational psychology, the MB&B introduced an anonymous application procedure that no longer triaged candidates based on their CVs.
• Evaluations were instead conducted ‘blind’ to de-emphasize overreliance on shortcut proxies for quality and achievements, including where candidates earned their degrees, who mentored them, in which journals they publish their work etc.
• Candidates have been judged instead on substantial descriptions they submit of their research, inclusive teaching and plans to promote equity among scientists.
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