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December 2, 2022

Report outlines key recommendations to broaden diversity of PhD students in life sciences

Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) datasets. Credit: Inequality in Early Career Research in the UK Life Sciences (2022).
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Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) datasets. Credit: Inequality in Early Career Research in the UK Life Sciences (2022).

A new report has revealed some of the barriers prospective students face in studying life sciences at postdoctoral level.

The and recommendations are included in a new report which reveals that black graduates, women and those who have non- parents are less likely to succeed in the at Ph.D. level.

The report, which was commissioned by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, revealed inequalities that created barriers for graduates from post-1992 universities wanting to pursue a career as a researcher in the life sciences.

Key recommendations:

The research behind the report, which was carried out by the University of York, found that "prestigious higher education institutions continued to be richer and whiter for life sciences at the doctoral degree level."

Using data from the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) and from BBSRC doctoral training programs (DTPs), the study examined equality, diversity and inclusion across the life science disciplines.

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Key findings:

Widen access

One of the report authors, Professor Paul Wakeling, from the University of York's Department of Education, said, "These findings are really concerning and we absolutely need to address them. We hope the report will inform and galvanize efforts to widen access to doctoral study in the life sciences and address early career inequalities."

"We found relatively low levels of movement across some universities between undergraduate and doctoral level in the life sciences, suggesting that there are structured pathways which work against graduates from the post-1992 universities, which are sometimes referred to as 'new universities' or 'modern universities'."

"Our report suggests that universities and funders need to take serious action to address the underrepresentation of black graduates at doctoral and postdoctoral levels to make rapid progress in achieving a more diverse and inclusive research workforce in the life sciences."

More information: Report:

Provided by University of York

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