The study found that major research funders in the United States paid disproportionately more for research by white researchers than those of other races over the past two decades, from 1999 to 2019.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards 20% to 30% of submitted proposals each year.

A study published in eLife found that white researchers consistently received more compensation than the overall average (+8.9%). Asians (-21.2%) and Pacific Islanders (-11.3%) have the lowest relative annual rates.

Rosie Allegado, associate professor of oceanography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, co-authored the study. “Nevertheless, it was shocking to see the magnitude of the disparity in terms of funding rates, and to see this systemic year-to-year difference very evident.

Over 70% of NSF awards from 2013 to 2019 were awarded to research. The remainder was spent on non-research programs such as community outreach, education and conferences.

Research proposals showed greater racial disparities compared to non-research proposals. While funding rates for white researchers gradually increased, research proposals for nearly all other groups were funded at lower rates compared to non-researchers.

Research proposals by white researchers were funded almost twice as much as those by black researchers. Only his 46% to his 63% of awards to black investigators were for research.