By Isha Negi
At the NEON Postgraduate Diversity Summit, passionate In2research members and alumni united to shape the future of academia.
Snigdha Dutta, Isha Negi and Rebecca Jelbert, along with two In2research alumni, played a key role in shaping the conversation on postgraduate diversity. Their diverse perspectives and dedication to inclusivity helped contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in higher education in order to make academia more inclusive and accessible for all.
Spotlight on alumni experience
Abigail’s journey to a PhD in Psychology
Abigail Agyemang, an In2research alumna from 2022, is now pursuing her PhD in the Department of Psychology at Cambridge University. She shared her experiences of navigating the path to research, emphasising how the In2research programme supported her during the critical stages of applying for her PhD. Abigail highlighted how her academic mentor provided essential guidance on crafting her academic CV and cover letters, which were instrumental in her successful applications.
Deciding on a research career
A second alumnus who completed the programme in 2023 and has since gone on to study an MSci reflected on their eight-week research placement, where exposure to laboratory procedures helped her decide whether a research environment was the right fit. She found that presenting to different audiences during her In2research placement was crucial in developing her science communication skills.
The role of mentorship in academic success
They both highlighted the importance of having an academic mentor to support them through the process of finding and applying for PhDs, and providing a better understanding of the day-to-day life of a researcher. This is especially important for participants who are the first in their family to attend university and so may not have as much knowledge of the PhD process.
Improving access to doctoral research
When asked about how access to doctoral research could be improved, they both emphasised the difference that lecturers and supervisors can make in encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to consider postgraduate research study. Drawing from their own experiences with the In2research programme, both previous participants shared how mentorship and targeted support were instrumental in their journey into research, and that they also wanted to give back to the In2scienceUK community to continue to support postgraduate diversity.