DCDI Projects
Listening Labs
The goal of Listening Lab events is to provide a forum and safe space for the discussion of topics relating to social and racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Events alternate between two main formats: casual discussion in small groups, and more formal panels or talk-style presentations modeled on the Growing Up in Science series.
PAST TOPICS:
- The barriers and unseen struggles facd by underrepresented groups while pursuing scientific training
-Imposter syndrome
-Influence of cultural and racial background on one's career
Discussions are open to all members of the HMS Neurobiology community (faculty, students, administrative staff)
Empowerment Packages
Our departmental culture is the collective product of the cultures of individual laboratories. This is why encouraging structured conversations around DEI topics within the laboratory is necessary for transformative change within our community. Empowerment Packages are educational guides to scholarly papers related to DEI and biomedical research. Each package will include discussion prompts, key definitions, essential context (grounded in DEI scholarship) for concepts discussed in the accompanying research article, and a list of additional suggested readings on the subject.
Materials will be reviewed under the guidance of an appropriately trained DEI professional.
CONTACT:
kevin_mastro@hms.harvard.edu
soha_ashrafi@hms.harvard.edu
taralyn_tan@hms.harvard.edu
Mentoring Workshops
Faculty members play a key role in shaping equity and inclusion. They do so through their individual influence within labs and their collective influence on the Department as an institution. Offered twice a year, the two-part workshop Taking Mentoring To the Next Level convenes faculty to brainstorm how we can improve equity and inclusion in both of these domains. In part one, participants discuss individual mentoring relationships and lab culture, and in part two they brainstorm new institutional support systems that would allow everyone to do their best science. The workshop serves as a basis for making concrete changes in the Department and graduate program.
DEI-Focused Post-Bac Program
The newly created Program in Neuroscience post-baccalaureate (PiNBAC) is a one-to-two-year neuroscience training opportunity for recent college graduates belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM. It is offered as a specialized neuroscience track within the Harvard Research Scholar Initiative (RSI) program. PiNBAC aims to prepare post-bac scholars for successful application to—and success within—top-tier neuroscience PhD programs. It does so by providing mentored, intensive research experiences in cutting-edge neuroscience laboratories, academic and professional development opportunities. It also provides community-building and networking opportunities with the Harvard neuroscience community.
Neuro Postdoc Club (NPC)
NPC aims to enrich the experience of all postdoctoral fellows involved in neurobiological research at Harvard Medical School by fostering diversity, inclusion, collaboration, education, and communication. NPC organizes scientific presentations and hosts career development workshops, peer- and faculty-mentoring, and networking events.
CONTACT:
soha_ashrafi@hms.harvard.edu
nerveimPulse
The Departmental Committees on Diversity and Inclusion (DCDI) will conduct a “pulse” survey called nerveimPulse. The survey was developed by the DCDI In-reach subcommittee in partnership with the HMS Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Partnership office.
Our overarching goal is to have a robust mechanism for regular self-assessment of DCDI progress. nerveimPulse will serve as a critical tool for measuring the impact of our work.
By sharing your perspective, you help make our HMS Neurobiology community a place where everyone can thrive. Your input will help guide priorities, practices, and policies in the months and years to come.
CONTACT:
soha_ashrafi@hms.harvard.edu
Theme J
Theme J is an educational feature showcasing research, initiatives, people, and other resources. Named after SfN’s corresponding “Theme J: History, Education, and Society”, the project aims to benefit our community’s efforts to educate and train the next generation of neuroscientists in an environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Theme J is a recurring column in The Action Potential departmental newsletter, disseminated biweekly. If you are interested in writing a Theme J entry or have topics that you would like to see featured, please email taralyn_tan@hms.harvard.edu.
Lab Culture Incubator
The Lab Culture Incubator workshop is an organizing space for people who want to promote inclusion within their own lab communities. The workshop provides space for collective brainstorming about what inclusion and allyship look like in the lab and how to change lab culture to align with this vision. Participants attend the workshop as a cohort from their lab and leave with concrete plans to bring back to their lab. Future workshops will be scheduled for the cohorts to come back together, discuss successes and failures, and "troubleshoot" obstacles.
CONTACT:
xdumaine@g.harvard.edu
calebsw@gmail.com
Women in Neuroscience (WiN)
Women in Neuroscience is dedicated to promoting equity in science by increasing awareness of issues related to gender balance. All members of the community interested in ensuring inclusivity are welcome to join.
CONTACT:
soha_ashrafi@hms.harvard.edu
Biobus
Biobus is partnering with DCDI to execute new programs centered around neuroscience and microscopy teaching K-12 students and teachers about the amazing brain.
CONTACT:
austen_sitko@hms.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Mentorship
Our Undergraduate Mentorship program is dedicated to remedying disparities in access to academic and mentorship resources stemming from racial and socioeconomic inequity. We aim to engage undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds and provide them with guidance in navigating the academic landscape. Direct mentorship is a valuable resource that can help students identify, understand, and make use of tools and resources in order to enter the academic field and launch successful scientific careers.
CONTACT:
gordon_fishell@hms.harvard.edu
Call for Volunteers
We encourage all members of our community to get involved! Please reach out to us if you’d like to contribute to any of the listed projects or have an idea for a DEI-project that is currently not listed.