GenerationResearch provides paid research opportunities to talented UK students from diverse backgrounds, with a commitment to provide practical solutions to creating sustainable diversity in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine).  

To ensure an impactful and inclusive future for STEMM, it is crucial to engage diverse communities of highly-skilled individuals to empower the next generation. However, essential investment in early career stages often fail to reach some of the most talented undergraduates.

GenerationResearch provides the following opportunities in STEMM subjects for UK students from underrepresented groups:

• 6-12-week paid summer studentship placements at universities across the North and employers across the UK, for undergraduates from any university in Yorkshire

• Masters by Research scholarships for graduates from any UK university

• PhD scholarships for graduates from any UK university

Each student will benefit from the mentorship of a personal supervisor, and become part of the GenRes community. This involves meet-ups over the summer, the chance to celebrate and present their work at an annual Symposium, and making connections with a large community of GenRes alumni to enable a supportive network for their future.

These opportunities have the possibility of shaping careers and changing the lives of students who otherwise would not be in a position to access them, and will contribute to shaping the future of science and STEMM more broadly.

In 2025, GenerationResearch received over 600 applications for 44 summer studentship placements. With your help we can provide more opportunities for students from underrepresented groups.

Jessie is one student who benefitted from a GenerationResearch summer studentship in 2023 during the final year of her Biochemistry degree at York. She has since gone on to complete a research-based Masters for a year, and is now working towards a PhD in Medical Sciences through Hull York Medical School. Jessie went to school in an area of the North East of England with few opportunities and was the first in her family to attend university, which she did while also being a commuting student with caring responsibilities.

“Without the GenerationResearch scholarship, I wouldn’t have applied for the MRes with the PI I met during my summer studentship, and without that, I definitely wouldn’t have received a PhD offer. It’s not just about the technical skills you learn from these lab studentships - though those are extremely important for your CV and application forms. It’s also about learning the daily life of an independent researcher - being in the lab from nine to five, teamwork, data analysis, public speaking and problem solving. These are transferable skills which employers really value. I gave a  presentation at the GenerationResearch symposium, which was my first opportunity to speak to 100 people. That was intimidating but very rewarding for my confidence. It’s also about the connections you make with other researchers, which are important for opening doors to future opportunities.”

Jessie, GenerationResearch Alum

57% of GenRes alumni pursue a Masters or PhD programme in STEMM, compared to just 9% of the UK average among STEMM graduates. Similarly, 24% of our alumni directly enter STEMM careers, surpassing the UK average of 13% among STEMM graduates. This demonstrates the power of GenRes in encouraging talented young students from underrepresented backgrounds into a career in STEMM.

Please consider helping us to make STEMM more inclusive by making a gift to GenerationResearch.

Thank you.

Find out more and meet the team at generationresearch.ac.uk

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