Junior research programme empowers Black students to pursue careers in academia

Education inequality, skincare and Pan-Africanism in Britain are just some of the research topics presented by the 2024 Junior Researcher Summer Programme (JRSP) Awardees at an event last week at SOAS University of London. 

The JRSP seeks to inspire Black undergraduate students to think about postgraduate study and research-based careers, by giving them an opportunity to explore research questions that they feel are relevant to their own lives, communities, and the world around us.  

Now in its fourth year, the JRSP is part of The Ebony Initiative led by Dr Althea-Maria Rivas, which seeks to nurture and foster community among Black scholars and address the “broken pipeline” of Black students progressing to postgraduate, PhDs and academic positions in UK higher education. 

Students are selected for the JRSP, a unique Award in the UK, through a competitive application process. They are then provided with resources, mentorship, and a £1500 prize stipend to complete a 6-week full-time research project during Summer 2024. Last week, the ten undergraduate Awardees came together with their friends, family and SOAS staff to celebrate their findings, and to speak about their experience of participating in the programme. 

According to JRSP Awardee Oscar Gjesdal, "The project was extremely meaningful to my friends and family, and hopefully everyone can learn something from it." 

By empowering students with the skills and confidence to pursue research and academic careers, the programme not only addresses the lack of diversity in higher education but also enriches the breadth of knowledge produced.

In her opening remarks at the event, Professor Laura Hammond, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Knowledge Exchange, inspired the students by sharing her own pathway to becoming a researcher. Victoria Edwards, the Head of Access, Participation and Student Success, said, “I am incredibly proud of the impact the Junior Researcher Summer Programme continues to have. 

"By empowering students with the skills and confidence to pursue research and academic careers, the programme not only addresses the lack of diversity in higher education but also enriches the breadth of knowledge produced.”

The 2024 research projects showcased the breadth of knowledge among the students, and explored a wide range of topics, ranging from regional integration and technological innovation in Africa, to the diasporic origins and importance of grime music, to an examination of the experiences of school exclusion among Black and Mixed-race students in London. 

Eniola Adeoba, a graduate from the SOAS School of Law, had noticed a knowledge gap in treating black skin with conditions such as acne and eczema, as well as a lack of diversity in skin types in dermatology and skincare. Speaking about her project, Any Skin I’m In: An Autoethnographic Tale of Black Skin, she said: “I considered what I wanted to know at the start of my journey, why the knowledge gap exists in the first place and how we can overcome it. Researching something that has only recently started being discussed was difficult, but highlights the need for black researchers, studies and black study participants.” 

 This opportunity has definitely stretched me bigger than I thought I could go, so thank you.

Elizabeth Nzuki, BA History and International Relations, studied the subjugation of female epistemologies, drawing on the history of witchcraft and “old-wives tales” in Kenya. She said: “It’s been a great summer of reflection and introspection. This is not something that I would have applied for in my own right.”   

Germa Tsion, BA Social Anthropology and Africa and Black Diaspora, explored Pan-Africanism in the Voluntary Sector in Britain, explained "The JRSP promotes black excellence in academia by nurturing the talent of future scholars. The personal growth I have experienced by being awarded a place on this prestigious programme is phenomenal. A special thank you to Dr Althea-Maria Rivas for believing in us."   

Rachael Mwangi, BA Global Development, examined the barriers that can prevent Black students from achieving their educational potential. Reflecting on her experience in the programme, she said: “This opportunity has definitely stretched me bigger than I thought I could go, so thank you. This research has helped me understand to think differently, continue asking questions.” 

After completing the JRSP I realized how vital it is for research to be conducted by people with a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding. I am interested in developing a career in research and using it as a space to further connect with my community.

The projects were not only academically rigorous but also visually engaging, and demonstrated the imagination, creativity, innovation of students, taking a variety of forms including essays, soundscapes, movies, original works of visual art, and community-focused publications. 

Remaya Robinson-Beckles, BA Law, created three original sketches that represented her research study on intergenerational experiences with education in Caribbean families, she summed up her summer as a JRSP Awardee saying; “I found it fascinating learning how to conduct interviews and how to engage with the participants. The programme taught me so much about myself, the way I work and interact with others but also how deeply passionate I am to ensure that people of Caribbean heritage and their contributions to British society are authentically shared and appreciated. 

"After completing the JRSP I realized how vital it is for research to be conducted by people with a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding. I am interested in developing a career in research and using it as a space to further connect with my community."

The 2025 progamme opens in February 2025, with information on the application available via the Ebony Initiative and on SOAS platforms. More information on the JRSP programme and previous student projects can be found on the Ebony Initiative website.