# Where are my Black professors? The research culture preventing Black researchers from thriving in UK institutions

## TL;DR

Black researchers are severely underrepresented in UK STEMM fields due to systemic barriers and an exclusionary research culture.

## Contribution

The paper highlights how structural and cultural issues in UK institutions prevent Black researchers from advancing in STEMM, beyond mere pipeline problems.

## Key findings

- Less than 1% of STEMM professors in the UK are Black, with some disciplines having zero Black professors.
- Black researchers face exclusion, racial harassment, and funding disparities that hinder career progression.
- Grassroots initiatives provide support but result in the 'Minority Tax', diverting time from career development.

## Abstract

This paper investigates the persistent underrepresentation of Black heritage researchers and academics at UK Higher Education Institutions in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Medicine (STEMM), with a focus on Biomedical Research where possible. Despite decades of policy development, research, and advocacy, 0.6% of STEMM professors are Black, falling to zero in certain disciplines. Are the structural barriers that exclude Black researchers at every stage of the STEMM pipeline?

Research culture influences how research is conducted, communicated, and how researchers are supported. Academic progression depends on research, funding, publications, teaching, and leadership, and the criteria are often unequally applied. Evidence highlights Black researchers’ experiences of exclusion, racial harassment, and opaque advancement processes; moreover, funding disparities further entrench inequality. Data reveal that Black researchers account for less than 1% of fellowship holders and Principal Investigators. Additionally, without institutional support, Black researchers and academics are routinely excluded from the research culture and economy.

Black professors’ underrepresentation is not simply a pipeline issue but a result of intersecting failures in recruitment, funding, and academic culture. Grassroots initiatives offer community support but come at a cost, the “Minority Tax”, which is unpaid labour that diverts time from career-building activities.

Representation matters for students, knowledge production, and institutional legitimacy. Therefore, systemic reforms are urgently required. Research funders and institutions must implement transparent, equitable policies that enable Black researchers to not only enter but also thrive and lead within the UK research ecosystem.

Black heritage researchers are significantly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) in UK institutions. Four percent of the population comes from a Black background; however, despite years of policies and efforts to improve diversity, less than one percent of STEMM professors are Black, and in some fields, there are none.

This study examined the reasons for this ongoing inequality. Black researchers face structural barriers at every stage of their science journeys from education to leadership, and the way research is selected, funded, and supported often hinders and acts against them. Black academics frequently report feeling excluded, experiencing racism, or being left out of important career opportunities. They are also less likely to receive research funding or to hold senior roles.

The answer is not just about getting more Black heritage people into the system. It concerns the research culture of the system and how this affects both the researchers and the people in charge of making decisions within this system. This under-representation is important. Diverse voices improve research quality, support students, and strengthen institutions.

This paper calls for urgent, system-wide changes; ultimately, the people responsible for funding research or leading our institutions should ensure that there are fair and equal opportunities for Black researchers to succeed and lead in UK research.