Imperial Women’s PhD Network

Who we are

The Imperial Women’s PhD Network is a dedicated community within the Imperial Women’s Network Alliance (IWNA) that brings together women doctoral students across disciplines to share experiences, foster collaboration and to build peer support that strengthens both academic growth and personal wellbeing throughout the PhD journey.

The Imperial Women’s PhD Network was created in direct response to the 2023 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), which revealed lower levels of satisfaction among women PhD students compared to their male peers. As part of the wider ‘Women PhD Perspectives Project,’ led by the Early Carrer Research Insitute (ECRI; formerly the Graduate School) in collaboration with the Union and the Associate Provost for Equality Diversity and Inclusion, students themselves highlighted the need for stronger, more visible networks dedicated to supporting women doctoral and early career researchers. The Network was therefore established at the request of students, for students, to provide a supportive community that reflects their voices and needs.

The Network’s academic lead is Dr Jess Wade (Materials), with administrative support provided by Bethan Ritchie (ECRI). The Student Programme Partners, Martha Day (Civil and Environmental Engineering) and Gemma Mortell (Surgery and Cancer), were appointed to help establish the Women’s PhD Network and its Committee. Recruitment for the Committee aimed to be as representative as possible of women PhD students across Imperial, reflecting the diversity of departments, disciplines, and research taking place at the university. The resulting 15-member Committee, co-led by Martha and Gemma, now brings together students from 13 different departments.

Imperial Women’s PhD Network Mission

The Imperial Women’s PhD Network exists to create a dedicated space for women doctoral students to shape initiatives, build connections, take part in opportunities that enrich their research and student experience.

For the inaugural 2025/26 year, our goals include:

• Building community and peer support through social spaces and networking opportunities.
• Showcasing women’s achievements and celebrating the diverse research taking place across Imperial.
• Providing inspiration and guidance by hosting speakers, workshops, and events tailored to the challenges women PhD students face in academia.
• Strengthening support in departments by signposting resources and wellbeing contacts.
• Creating lasting visibility for women doctoral researchers through a strong committee presence and dedicated activities.

Together, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving network that will continue to grow and support future generations of women PhD students at Imperial.