Special Communication: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Underrepresented Early-career PhD and Physician Scientists

Underrepresented minorities have higher attrition from the professoriate and have experienced greater negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of 196 early career physician scientists versus PhD researchers who are underrepresented in biomedical research. Participants in the Building Up study answered questions on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their personal and professional lives, and a mixed-methods approach was used to conduct the analysis. While most participants experienced increases in overall stress (72% of PhD researchers versus 76% of physician scientists), physician scientists reported that increased clinical demands, research delays, and the potential to expose family members to SARS-CoV-2 caused psychological distress, specifically. PhD researchers, more than physician scientists, reported increased productivity (27% versus 9%), schedule flexibilities (49% versus 25%), and more quality time with friends and family (40% versus 24%). Future studies should consider assessing the effectiveness of programs addressing COVID-19-related challenges experienced by PhD researchers and physician scientists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. © 2021 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.