Why Science Labs Love Older Scientists

The National Science Foundation says about 13% of the doctoral scientists and engineers working in the U.S. are 65 or older. At some universities and national laboratories, the percentage is even higher. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), for instance, says a fifth of its research faculty is over 65.

The number of 65+ Black and Hispanic scientists, however, is fairly small. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center report, Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented among those in STEM (science, technology, engine