Research Councils UK should pay attention to the difficulties faced by doctoral students such as Patty Ramirez who have families (“Juggling childcare and a PhD made me quit academia for good”, Opinion, 4 June). The Medical Research Council is willing to pay clinicians proper salaries to do a PhD, but imagines that others can survive on a stipend with no provisions for childcare. And then it is surprised by the continuing dearth of women in STEM subjects and academia, and the utter lack of diversity.
Catherine Pitt
Via timeshighereducation.co.uk