Navigating Pathways to STEM Careers: Insights from Autistic College Students, Employers, and Career Counselors

Researchers at Cornell University are conducting a mixed methods study of the barriers and facilitators in the pathway from postsecondary STEM undergraduate education to STEM employment for Autistic undergraduate students. The pre-employment interview remains one of the most commonly used hiring practices, and yet it often poses a significant barrier for our subject population—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 people with autism who bring unique perspectives to STEM problem-solving and discovery. 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, career counselors, and STEM employers. This mixed method study aims to: 1) explore and understand the experiences of students enrolled in the study as they relate to their pursuit of STEM interview preparation related to employment; 2) 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; 3) evaluate the perceived readiness of college career counselors in assisting Autistic college students, in their STEM career pursuits; and 4) 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. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.