This study delves into the implications of faculty’s multidisciplinary educational backgrounds on their academic placement and upward mobility, and underscores the moderating effects of gender and academic inbreeding. Grounded in the theories of knowledge recombination and limited attention, the study finds that having a multidisciplinary background tends to challenge favorable academic placements and upward mobility. However, it also shows that male faculty and those who have graduated from the same institution where they work (academic inbreeding) are better at overcoming these challenges. Additionally, elite universities seem to have a higher regard for multidisciplinary backgrounds. This study provides insights for individuals navigating academic careers and offers valuable information for university leaders and policymakers.

这项研究深入探讨了教师的多学科教育背景对其学术安置和向上流动的影响，并强调了性别和学术近亲繁殖的调节作用。该研究以知识重组和有限注意力理论为基础，发现拥有多学科背景往往会挑战有利的学术安置和向上流动。然而，它也表明，男性教师和那些从同一机构毕业的人（学术近亲繁殖）更善于克服这些挑战。此外，精英大学似乎更重视多学科背景。这项研究为个人的学术生涯提供了见解，并为大学领导和政策制定者提供了宝贵的信息。