Under representation in academia
Inequality (inequity), a lack of diversity, and a lack of inclusion is a recognised problem in the UK HEI sector. This is especially noticeable amongst postgraduate research students. The problems span several characteristics (e.g. gender, age, and disability), but there has been a particular focus recently on ethnicity, race and alma mater (where their previous degree was awarded from).
How we're trying to help
Equal Representation in Academia (ERA) is an initiative which aims to raise awareness of academic research careers for students from statistically underrepresented backgrounds and thereby facilitate the academic career path for those wanting to follow this route. ERA is open to undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds, on any degree programme.
ERA is an independent initiative founded by alumnus Dr Mohani-Preet Kaur Dhillon, and piloted at St George’s, University of London. ERA is part of the social enterprise, Ektaa CIC (translated as Unity in the Punjabi language), which works with organisations to retain diverse talent. The ERA programme is now being rolled out across universities worldwide.
What we offer
Through ERA, we offer:
- work shadowing research placements with a travel stipend. Students who are undecided about a career in academia can shadow a research group to understand the day-to-day life of members instrumental to the scientific process such as postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, laboratory technicians, lab principal investigators (PIs), professors etc.
- funded research studentships for final year students who want to pursue a career in academia, to gain hands-on laboratory experience. Students design and conduct a research project and produce either a conference submission or journal article to evidence this work.
- mentoring, networking and bespoke careers sessions in collaboration with the University of London careers advisors
- engagement with the community to showcase some of the work that scientists do and to highlight the vital contribution of academia to life (e.g. the development of life-saving vaccine treatment for the Covid-19 pandemic).
Apply for a work shadowing placement or studentship
ERA placements provide the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into academic research careers for students from ethnic minorities, to improve their graduate employability and support in the transition from degree to career.
We currently have work shadowing and studentship opportunities available via ERA at St George's, University of London. Find out more about each of these including how to apply, by clicking the headings below.
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There will be 4 candidates awarded an ERA work shadowing placement this year. This includes students from external universities.
The placements will take place between June to September 2023. You will agree on a start date with your supervisor.
About the placements
ERA work shadowing placements provide you with the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into academic research careers. The placements are almost like a “try before you buy” experience. You will shadow a research group to understand the day-to-day life of members instrumental to the scientific process including but not limited to, postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, laboratory technicians, lab principal investigators (PIs) and professors. You may also be involved in the group’s research practices, allowing you the opportunity to develop a research network. You will experience academic activities from grant writing to lab experiments and you will work personally with a careers advisor to review your CV.
Project list
List of work shadowing placement projects and supervisors
| Supervisor(s) | Project title |
|---|
| Dr Dan Osborne, Dr Alan Pittman, Dr Laura Southgate (PI) |
The pipeline of gene discovery in rare disease |
| Dr Audrey Teh |
Producing cancer therapeutic drugs in tobacco plans |
| Dr Deborah Chong |
Does leptin and ghrelin contribute to lung damage in Tuberculosis? |
| Dr Anissa Chikh |
Targetting novel modulators of ADAM17 in skin homeostatis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas c(SCC) |
| Tom Hall et al |
Measuring SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against S1, S2, RBD and N antigens in mothers and their neonates |
| Dr Ferran Valderrama and Dr Clara Cieza-Borrella |
Anaylsis of 3D cell culture spheroids recapitulating the gladular region of the prostrate in a model of prostate cancer |
| Dr Licue Ricciardi |
Interoception based training for Parkinson's disease |
| Dr Mark Bodman-Smith and Dr Mohani Dhillon |
The role of unconventional T cells in cancer immunotherapy and use of MRI to image cancerous brain tumours |
Eligibility
The initiative is open to students from underrepresented backgrounds, in the first and second year of their degree.
If you receive any grants or bursaries from the university and/or are registered with the disability service and/or are from an ethnic minority background , you are eligible to apply.
Award
You will receive a stipend at the same level as Wellcome Trust Studentships (£250 per week). The host laboratory will also be provided with funding to cover the cost of consumables and/or research output.
How to apply
See full placement details and complete the questions at the final page of this document to apply (Word).
Send the completed document, along with your CV to Dr Mohani-Preet Kaur Dhillon (founder of ERA) at mdhillon@sgul.ac.uk by 4pm on Monday 8 May 2023.
There will be only 1 candidate awarded an ERA studentship this year.
The placements will take place between June to September 2023. You will agree on a start date with your supervisor.
About the studentships
ERA studentships provide you with the opportunity to get hands on research experience. You will be able to design a project with a supervisor of your choosing and write a research proposal. The work you conduct during this studentship will contribute towards research output e.g. a research paper, conference submission and/or internal presentation. This is fantastic opportunity for you to grow your research interest and cultivate your research network.
Vacation studentships provide the opportunity to gain valuable research experience in a laboratory at St George's, with the intention of encouraging students to consider a career in research.
Project list
Details of ERA studentships projects and supervisors
| Supervisor(s) | Email address | Project title |
|---|
| Tom Hall et all |
thall@sgul.ac.uk |
Measuring SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against S1, S2, RDB and N antigens in mothers and their neonates |
| Deborah Chong |
dchong@sgul.ac.uk |
Does leptin and ghrelin contribute to lung damage in Tuberculosis? |
Eligibility
The initiative is open to students from underrepresented backgrounds in the final year of their degree.
If you receive any grants or bursaries from the university and/or are registered with the disability service and/or are from an ethnic minority background, you are eligible to apply.
Award
You will receive a stipend at the same level as Wellcome Trust Studentships (£250 per week). The host laboratory will also be provided with funding to cover the cost of consumables and/or research output.
How to apply
You should contact potential supervisors and develop a project proposal. If you are interested in taking on a studentship with a lab host that is not on a project list, please contact them directly regarding this opportunity. Once you have agreed on a project proposal and start date, please document these in the ERA application form.
Complete the application form on Page 4 this information pack (Word).
Send the completed application form to Dr Mohani-Preet Kaur Dhillon (founder of ERA) at mdhillon@sgul.ac.uk by Monday 8 May 2023 at 4pm.
Hear from ERA participants
Lien
Lien took part in one of 4 pilot work shadowing placements at St George's as part of the ERA initiative.
Maya
"This ERA placement has provided me with the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into research and academia which has had a positive influence and impact on the career path I would like to pursue, on completion of my Occupational Therapy BSc at SGUL.
"It was extremely inspirational and encouraging having my PI, Dr Andoulla Elia, other clinicians and research students share their knowledge and journeys of their career paths which made it clear with support, opportunities, hard work and dedication those of us from ethnic minorities can achieve similar career paths.
"Be confident, be bold and never doubt your abilities in pursuing a career you are passionate about."
"The members of the research and academia team were an absolute pleasure to work with, they were extremely welcoming and supportive throughout.
"I would highly recommend this placement to my fellow peers from ethnic backgrounds interested in research and academia to take the plunge and apply, it will most definitely enhance your student experience. "
Hear more from Maya in the video below.
Javeria Nishtar
“ERA has enabled me to gain essential skills, from lab techniques to how to write an effective paper, and presentation skills. The programme has made me challenge myself, and helped me understand what I do, and don’t, want to do in the future. It has definitely given me more clarity on what a career in academia would look like and the many steps towards it!”
Reflecting on why she applied for ERA, she adds: “When I entered my first university lecture, surrounded by faces from different cultures and countries, I was six thousand miles from home. I didn't feel as though this diversity translated to the teaching staff at St George’s.
“Through my education, I’ve learned how important it is to see role models that look like you, come from similar backgrounds, or have stories we can relate to. I had hopes to become a professor someday, and to get more women from underrepresented backgrounds interested in the world of science.
“I also wanted help make science accessible to those who didn’t study or work in the field, because published research is not always communicated to the general public in a way that makes it accessible. It can be difficult for someone without a background in STEM to understand research presented without context - something which can contribute to misinformation among the public.
“I hope to open a wider conversation, and to work on a publication with pieces which interest a wider range of audiences. I wanted ERA to be a stepping stone in achieving my goals, as well as a way to make science more accessible for people all over the world.”
You can read more about Javeria's experience on the programme here.
Samia Islam Tajbiha
"If you're thinking about taking the ERA placement, stop thinking about it and just apply!
"My placement taught me so much about being a scientist, being a doctor and the ability to be both at the same time.
"You learn so much about the world of science, things you were confused about and things you never even knew about before. You get a hands-on experience doing practicals all day, in a comforting and supportive environment where you can ask about the different jobs you can pursue, gaining a real human view on being a scientist and also developing relationships with the amazing St George's researchers that you don't usually get to know during university.
"Not only can you enhance your professional network and career development, but you do all of this with the knowledge that the ERA initiative supports such an important ethos in addressing the lack of workplace diversity. Advocacy is a virtue valued by those in need of equity, and by taking part in this placement, you can advocate for the need of academia representation in the world of research and bring to light its importance in our society!"
More information
Dr. Mohani-Preet Kaur Dhillon, now a Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Research & Education at SGUL, is the founder of ERA and Director of Ektaa CIC.
Mohani is working closely with the Deputy Head and Head of SGUL Graduate School Dr. Mark Bodman-Smith and Dr. Carwyn Hooper and the Dean for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Dr. Vanessa Ho, to improve Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Widening Participation (WP) at SGUL.
If you would like to get involved in ERA or want more information, please get in touch:
Or you can follow us on social media or see us via our YouTube channel:
ERA accolades and press coverage
