The proportion of women occupying academic positions in biological and life sciences in the United States has risen slightly since 2001, finds a report by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2011 says that women made up 31% of life scientists in 2001, and 36% in 2008. The growth matches the increasing number of women earning doctorates in the field, says Bobbie Mixon, an NSF spokesman. The report, released on 28 February, also found that by 2008, the overall number of life scientists working in industry and academia was 16% less than at its 23-year peak in 2006. Mixon links the decline to pharmaceutical and biotechnology layoffs.