Mission & Core Focus
Black Doctoral Network supports Black PhD researchers, postgraduate researchers and early career researchers at Imperial College London and across wider London and national academic networks. Its mission is to create community, opportunity and belonging for Black researchers who are navigating postgraduate research in environments where isolation, uncertainty about progression and wellbeing pressures can be especially acute.
Initiative Key Achievement
The strongest achievement over the past 12 months was delivering Empower 2025, a flagship one-day conference designed to broaden career visibility and strengthen community support for Black postgraduate researchers. Around 140 people attended from universities across the UK, covering a wide range of subject areas. The event was fully designed and organised by a five-person committee alongside their full-time PhDs. Attendees reported increased confidence, stronger belonging and the value of networking with other Black PhD students.
