Black PhD Experience

William Ackah is Senior Lecturer in Black and Community Geographies at Birkbeck, University of London.Jacqueline Darkwa is a documentary filmmaker and science communicator. Wayne A. Mitchell is Associate Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Principal Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London.De-Shaine Murray is a Wu Tsai Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University.Madina Wane is a research scientist working in the biomedical sector and the co-founder of non-profit organisation, Black In Immuno.

• Foreword - Jason Arday and Wayne A. MitchellIntroduction: Black PhD Journeys in Context - William AckahPart 1: The ‘Weighted’, Waiting Game: Being Black and Applying To Do a PhD - Wayne A. Mitchell1. Underrepresented and Undervalued: My Reflections on School, University and the Doctoral Application Process - Sophie Martin2. Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: Getting into a PhD Programme - Katty Wadda3. What I Wish I Knew: Deciding on when to Pursue the PhD - Esther Osarfo-Mensah4. The Long and Winding Road: Tackling Barriers and Prejudice on the Journey to PhD Study - Sigourney Bonner5. Ignorance Is Not Bliss: What Every Potential Black PhD Science Student Needs to Know - Jason Amartey6. Being One of the Few Among the Many: My Journey to the PhD Starting Point - Nina Higson-Sweeney7. Making the Garments Fit: Transitions to a Better Place - Dwaynica GreavesReflections on Part 1 and Prompts for Action - Wayne A. MitchellPart 2: Being Black Is Not an Optional Luxury! Struggles for Rights and Recognition in the White Academic Space - Madina Wane8. Studying While Black: Reflections on Researching Blackness in White Space – Alanah Mortlock9. Through, Around or Over the Gate? Navigating Academia from a Black Muslim Woman's Perspective - Amira Samatar10. Fighting the Power: Challenging Institutional Discrimination – A Personal Perspective - Hanna Akalu11. The Missing OnesReflections on Part 2 and Prompts for Action - Madina WanePart 3: For Us, by Us: Finding One Another Amid the Storm - Jacqueline Darkwa12. That Ain’t It, So We’ll Create It: Supporting Black Students When and Where Our Institutions Fail - De-Shaine Murray13. Finding the Black Immunologists in a Pandemic - Madina Wane14. In the Meantime: Creating Change Through Community - Paulette Williams15. Networks, Networking and Finding My Place in the Academic Space - Deyl Djama16. #BlackInTheIvory: Social Media as a Tool for Racial Healing - Louisa Brotherson17. Unravelling the Tapestry of Unspoken Rules: Living with Being Different in the Academic Space - Mary Agyapong18. Making Space for Black Voices and Black Visions: The Formation and Work of the African Diaspora Postgraduate Network - William AckahReflections on Part 3 and Prompts for Action - Jacqueline DarkwaPart 4: Academic Support: The Right Thing, in the Right Place, at the Right Time – De-Shaine Murray19. Reaching Beyond the Horizon: Being Inspired to Succeed Against the Odds - Simone Webb20. In and Out of Prison: My Personal Research Journey of Being a Black Woman, Researching Black Women - Angela Charles21. Not in This Alone: Being Supported to Break Down Barriers to PhD Success - Peggy Warren22. When Seasons Change: Dealing with a Change in my Situation While Studying for a PhD - Rees Johnson 23. Believing That the Impossible Is Possible: My Story of Being Supported to Succeed - Clíona KellyReflections on Part 4 and prompts for Action - De-Shaine MurrayPart 5: Reflections at the Completion of the PhD Journey - Madina Wane24. What It Means To Be the First: My Journey from Windrush to PhD - Julia Morris 25. Why the ‘P’ in PhD Stands for (Black) Power - April-Louise Pennant26. (Un)Making the Imposter Syndrome - Barbara Adewumi27. I Came All This Way for This?! An International Student's Experience of UK Higher Education – AnonReflections on Part 5 and Prompts for Action - Madina WaneConclusion and Recommendations - De-Shaine MurrayOur Ancestor’s Wildest Dreams … (Fictionalisation) - Jacqueline DarkwaAfterword: For Our Community - De-Shaine Murray

“This indispensable volume chronicles narratives on the Black PhD experience in the UK. It is an essential resource highlighting this marginalised yet powerful community, challenging readers to support racial justice and equity in academia and beyond.” Richard J. Reddick, The University of Texas at Austin