Black scientists are grossly underrepresented
Black scientists are underrepresented in life science doctorates with only 6% awarded in 2018 and 5% over a 20-year period. In 2019, 276 Black students received doctorates in biological and biomedical sciences, only 4.3% of the total degrees awarded. Compared to the general population, 13.4% Black, it is clear—we have a problem.

The existing process leads to under-matching
Empirical studies illuminate the nuanced stories of Black students who sometimes lack confidence and communication skills necessary for developing effective relationships with faculty and mentors. The fear of poor scores on admissions tests, admissions denial, and the burden of taking on more debt sometimes prevent even academically competitive students from applying to a diversity of competitive graduate programs. Sometimes, they don’t apply at all, or just apply to a single option close to home. This can lead to adverse outcomes – including rejection from the only school where they may have applied leading to under-matching and shutting them out of industries where they could succeed.

HBCUs find success despite barriers
HBCUs award almost 18% of STEM degrees received by Black students and educate a third of all Black doctoral graduates despite facing challenges such as financial responsibilities outside of their fields of study.