Imperial increases support for at-risk academics to continue their research

Imperial has been proud to partner with Cara since 2020. Pictured: leaders from Imperial and Cara

Imperial has announced plans to increase its support for academics who are at risk in their home countries.

Partnering with Cara (the Council for At-Risk Academics), Imperial will grant funding to initially host eight Cara Fellows at Imperial to complete two-year research placements. 

"Our Cara Fellows join us from a range of countries and backgrounds and bring with them diverse ways of thinking. We look forward to welcoming them to Imperial and will do everything we can to support them to realise their ideas and ambitions.”  Hugh Brady President of Imperial

Increased global instability has meant that Imperial is receiving more requests for support to host at-risk academics than ever.

The Fellowship programme enables academics who are at risk due to war, violence or persecution to continue their research and professional development from a place of safety.

The funding enables them and their family to relocate to London where they will take up a visiting research position. 

Imperial has been proud to partner with Cara to host at-risk Fellows since 2020. Researchers that have taken part in the programme have gone on to enjoy successful careers, and some have continued their employment in their research group at Imperial following their placement. 

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, said: “Science is truly an international endeavour but sadly some of our fellow academics are experiencing very challenging times. These academics share our pursuit of knowledge and discovery but are unable to continue their work due to the situation in their homelands.  
 
"Our Cara Fellows join us from a range of countries and backgrounds and bring with them diverse ways of thinking. They add great value to our community and research environment. We look forward to welcoming them to Imperial and will do everything we can to support them to realise their ideas and ambitions.” 

“We are very grateful to Imperial for providing these extra Fellowships for at-risk academics."    Professor Stephen Wordsworth Executive Director of Cara

Professor Stephen Wordsworth, Executive Director of Cara, said: “We are very grateful to Imperial for providing these extra Fellowships for at-risk academics.   
 
“As a result of recent crises in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere, including of course the Middle East and most recently Gaza, we have seen a big rise in the number of academics looking to Cara for urgent help to escape from danger – to get away to a place where they can continue their work and where their families will be safe until they can one day go back home to help rebuild.   
 
“Fellowship awards like these give us the resources to change, even save, lives.  We very much look forward to working with Imperial to take this forward.” 

‘Rewarding and enlightening experience’ 

One of Imperial’s current Cara Fellows, Professor Hala J. El-Khozondar, is based in the Department of Materials.

“It has been an incredibly rewarding and enlightening experience for me to carry out my research at Imperial, made possible by Cara.”  Professor Hala J. El-Khozondar Cara Fellow

The focus of her research is on the green energy industry.

She is specifically looking into the best structure for Gold (Au) nanoparticles to enhance their performance in a variety of applications, such as energy conversion and sensing, in addition to her studies on optical fiber applications. 
 
She said: “It has been an incredibly rewarding and enlightening experience for me to carry out my research at Imperial, made possible by Cara.” 

“In my research, I am searching for new materials for the progress of the green energy industry.

"Imperial’s Department of Materials, in particular Professor Fang Xie and her group, provided a supportive scaffold for my research journey, guiding me with expertise and encouragement every step of the way.” 

‘Cara was a bridge to both safety and career advancement.’ 

One of Imperial’s previous Cara Fellows spoke about the importance of the support they received through the programme to enable them to continue their research and career. 
 
She said: “We all need that push to reach a future that might be hindered by circumstances beyond our control. For me, Cara was a bridge to both safety and career advancement. 

“The unexpected upheaval of the ruthless war in my country has caused me great hardship and forced me to reassess my goals as I have been unable to return to my country without putting myself in danger.  

“It has been heart-wrenching to watch from afar the destruction and carnage of my country and kinsmen. It goes without saying that this situation has tremendously affected my life on many levels.  

“My dreams of reuniting with family and pursuing a career as a lecturer and researcher were shattered, leaving me hanging between two countries; a country I belong to but was almost impossible to return to, and a country that has hosted me for years but where I faced the real threat of being forced to leave. 

“The Cara fellowship offered a ray of hope in this dark time, allowing me to join a prestigious research team at Imperial. It has been essential in facilitating my academic and professional growth. I was mentored by one of the leading researchers, enhancing greatly my profile and my career prospects by taking part in ground-breaking research projects that laid the groundwork for my current project which was awarded funding by a very prestigious funding body in Europe. 

“The Fellowship has provided stability and access to resources vital for pursuing my academic goals in a supportive academic environment. Imperial's commitment to research excellence, fostering innovation, and creating knowledge with societal and economic impact has further enriched my experience, aligning with my aspirations for meaningful contributions to society.” 

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Imperial’s previous Cara Fellow requested to tell their story anonymously.  

If you are an academic at Imperial who would be interesting in hosting a Fellow or would like to learn more about the Cara partnership, please contact the International Relations Office – international.relations@imperial.ac.uk