Cambridge sociologist Professor Jason Arday, the university’s youngest Black professor, is set to publish a memoir charting his progression from a non-speaking autistic child to an academic. The publication comes amid allegations that parts of his PhD thesis and later academic articles were copied from other scholars without proper attribution, prompting a dispute over academic standards and whether the claims are being politically or racially motivated.

Arday, 40, was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay at three, spoke at 11 and learned to read and write at 18 before gaining a doctorate and joining Cambridge in 2023. Critics point to similarities in his 401-page doctoral thesis and published work; Liverpool John Moores University says it investigated allegations received in September 2025 and that his PhD remains valid. Supporters and colleagues argue that he is being targeted by a racist smear campaign, while Cambridge says it considers research-integrity allegations under its policies.