What ED&I means to us

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is integral to how we manage recruitment and advertise vacancies in the Department. We always strive for gender balance across selection panels and ensure that all staff involved in the selection process have completed essential EDI and Unconscious Bias training. When we advertise roles we encourage applications from underrepresented groups and all candidates are offered reasonable adjustments to the interview process should this be required.

As a Department we have a responsibility for increasing diversity in Genetics and encourage outreach opportunities and work based placements for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. We engage with a broad range of students from across the globe by hosting research visits, work experience placements and Internships; supporting the School of Biological Sciences Experience Postgrad Life Sciences program. We hope that by investing in these opportunities, students from all backgrounds will continue to be fascinated by Genetics in the future.

Promoting Women in Science

• We host a biennial event celebrating the work of Edith Rebecca Saunders
• We actively try to recruit women to senior positions and include a statement in all of our vacancies encouraging women applications
• Celebrating Women's History Month

Race Equality Charter

The Race Equality Charter (REC) is a national scheme that provides a framework for higher education institutions to recognise, investigate and challenge barriers to recruitment, progression and retention of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. The University joined the Advance HE's Race Equality Charter in 2016 and received the REC Bronze award in November 2019. The Bronze award was successfully renewed in February 2026.

Since then, it has successfully renewed its Bronze award in 2009 and 2012, and in 2014 achieved a Silver Athena SWAN award with renewal under the new criteria in 2018 and 2024.

The School of Biological Sciences holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award recognising our commitment to gender equality and to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment for all.

Staff Networks

In order to support EDI at Cambridge, the University has a number of staff networks helping to support staff from underrepresented groups, as well as offering advice and guidance to Departments and the wider University e.g. on policy development. These are:

• Race Equality Network
• Women’s Staff Network
• LGBTQ+ Staff Network 
• Disabled Staff Network