Dr Asha Akram has recently been appointed as the University of Sheffield lead for the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE).
The project aims to improve access, opportunities and experiences of BAME individuals to complete a PhD.
The Consortium is a collaboration between five universities in Yorkshire, 12 UKRI funded Doctoral Training partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training plus a number of external partners dedicated to equity at doctoral level.
The Office for Students, Research England and YCEDE partners have committed to invest more than £4 million over four years to improve access and participation of BAME people in postgraduate research study across Yorkshire.
Dr Akram will be leading on improving experiences of BAME doctoral students through bespoke mentoring programmes, networking and career development opportunities.
"I'm really excited to be appointed as the University of Sheffield lead,” said Dr Akram.
“I think the aims and ambitions of the YCEDE align closely with my values and the work is extremely valuable. I know first-hand some of the challenges and barriers faced by individuals from racially minoritised groups and I'm extremely grateful for the mentorship that I've had in my own career. I want to empower a whole generation of students, who can have a rewarding experience on their programme of study and go on to have successful careers post-PhD."