Support

Please note: Recruitment for 2024 has now closed

Additional opportunities for candidates from underrepresented groups!

Within our programme, we are dedicated to diversifying our community. As part of our ongoing work to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the NERC Panorama DTP, we offering additional opportunities to UK/Home candidates from identified underrepresented groups: Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those from a disadvantaged socio-economic background, and disabled people.

– 10% additional interview spaces for appointable candidates.
– applicant support via 30 min 1-2-1 video calls with our EDI Officer
– 2 full ringfenced studentships

For Current Students

EDI Officer – Dr. Heather Selley

Heather can provide support with anything related to Equality, Diversity or Inclusion in the DTP. This includes:

• Listening to issues on current student experience, to feed them back (anonymously) to the DTP and work towards resolution
• Providing 1-2-1 support
• Advocating/helping with specific issues such as:
  • Name/pronoun changes
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) applications
  • Discrimination
  • Providing guidance or signposting to other services in Leeds/York/Hull

UoL Identity Information change

Staff and students can make changes to their identity information across UoL IT systems by following these steps.

Research Group Code of Conduct

Encourage your research group to adopt the following code of conduct developed by SSPAL at the University of Leeds, and also used by their School of Chemistry, the University of York and Royal Society of Chemistry’s Leeds division.

Resources

Know your rights! See information on the Equality Act 2010 from the UK Government, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Office for Students.

DTP/University EDI Resources:

• UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) EDI work and projects
• NERC diversity and inclusion living action plan 2022-2025
• University of Leeds Equality and Inclusion Unit and associated policies
  • email: equality@leeds.ac.uk
  • Twitter: @LeedsEquality
  • Faculty of Environment EDI page
  • Leeds University Union (LUU) and associated Postgraduate Hub
• University of Hull – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • email: equalitydiversity@hull.ac.uk
  • Tel: +44(0)1482 465732
• University of York – Equality and Diversity Office
  • email: equality@york.ac.uk
  • Tel: +44 (0)1904 324680

Geoscience/Natural Science/STEM EDI resources:

• The Geological Society – Diversity in the geosciences and associated resources addressing gender, race, accessibility, LGBTQ+ issues, etc.
• Geoscience for the Future
• British Antarctic Survey – Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative
• The Royal Society – Diversity in Science
• Graduate Engineering Engagement programme (GEEP)

Funding, Networks & Resources for minoritised groups:

BAME:

• Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE)
• The Geospatial Scholarship Fund
• Race Equality Charter
• Black Geographers Network
• Black in Geoscience
• Royal Geographical Society – Black Geographers
• Black British in STEM
• The Stuart Hall Foundation
• The Geological Society – Race and ethnicity Resources

Under-resourced/disadvantaged background:

• University of Leeds – Hardship fund
• Commonwealth Postgraduate & Fellowship scholarships
• Gilchrist Educational Trust financial hardship grant
• Stand Alone – support for students estranged from their families
• The Black Heart Foundation scholarships
• Crowd Scholar scholarships
• Education Doorway
• The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust bursaries

Disability:

• If you are disabled, you may be entitled to extra support during your DTP PhD via the UK Govt. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
  • The DSA does not need to be paid back, and covers costs of ‘the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability’ up to £25,575 a year (2022 to 2023 rate).
  • If you think you may be eligible for this, please read the guidance provided by the UK Government and then get in touch with us
  • We can help you put in a claim to the DSA following the UKRI DSA Framework
• The Student Enablement Fund bursary
• University of Leeds – Disability, Accessibility and Mental Health staff network (open to PhD students)
• University of Leeds – Chronic Pain and Fatigue Guidance
• DisabledInSTEM
• The International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD)

Women:

• University of Leeds – Women at Leeds Network
• Athena Swan (gender equality) Charter
• British Council Scholarships for women in STEM
• British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
• WISE Women in STEM networks and funding
• Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN)
• Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)
• Natural History Museum – Women in Science
• The Geological Society – Gender Resources

LGBTQIA+:

• University of Leeds – LGBT+ Staff Network network (open to PhD students)
• Pride in STEM
• The Geological Society – LGBTQ+ Resources
• 500 Queer Scientists
• STEM Equals – EPSRC-funded project
• LGBTQ+ STEM
• Stonewall LGBTQ+ Support Charity

Career break/Caring responsibilities:

• The Royal Society – Parent Carer Scientist visibility project
• Women Returners: The Return to Work Specialists – Resources for Scientist and Researchers
• The Guardian – How to break back into academia when you’ve had a baby
• Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships
• Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships