Diversity

Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Why This Moment Matters

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 17:21:00 GMT

The Black Lives Matter Movement sparked a worldwide response indicating these issues have broad impact. We encourage you to join us for our initial discussion and would love for you to tell us how it’;s impacting you. Share topic ideas for future activities at diversity@sfn.org and continue the conversation on the SfN Community. ;

Neuroscience is stronger with diverse perspectives. Although there have been gains in the percentage of underrepresented neuroscience researchers in recent years, there is still more work to be done to increase representation of diverse researchers and to create inclusive and equitable research environments. On July 2 from noon – 1 p.m. EDT, SfN will host a panel discussion called, “Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Why This Moment Matters.” The discussion will be moderated by Joanne Berger-Sweeney, PhD, and will feature Nii Addy, PhD, Marguerite Matthews, PhD, and Fitzroy ‘Pablo’; Wickham. During the discussion, our panelists will speak about challenges diverse neuroscientists face within the field and provide guidance on how the neuroscience community can leverage this moment to influence change. Additionally, the panel will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the tenure clock for junior faculty, and how that impacts faculty of color. Neuroscientists of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussion.

Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Maintaining the Movement

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

On June 29, join SfN for ;“Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Maintaining the Movement”, a follow-up to last year’;s Black Lives Matter event, ;“Why This Moment Matters.”

Ways to Change the Implicit Bias Status Quo

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

We're working on improvements. Stay tuned for updated content.

A ;study ;examining student evaluations in France and the United States revealed one of the consequences of gender bias in academia. As reported in the Inside Higher Ed article, ;Bias Against Female Instructors, French male students ranked male instructors higher, even though students taught by male instructors did worse on final exams than students taught by females. In the United States, a male and female teaching assistant for an online course each taught a group using their given names, and then each taught another group using the other person’;s name without the students knowing. Both male and female students ranked the instructors they perceived to be male higher, and female significantly lower.

IWiN Toolkit: Candidate Recruitment and Evaluation

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Content updates are in progress. Check back shortly for new content.

Neuroscience departments and programs and SfN chapters that are working to increase awareness of the issues facing women in academia, and implement effective strategies to improve hiring practices have a new tool: the Increasing Women in Neuroscience (IWiN) presentation, ;Candidate Recruitment and Evaluation, created by SfN’;s ;Professional Development Committee.

In this 30-minute presentation, which highlights compelling data and success stories and offers ready-to-use tools, you’;ll find answers to:

What is causing the leaky pipeline, and what can be done to improve the situation?
What recruiting strategies can you implement to increase diversity?
How can you promote awareness of evaluation bias?
What steps should you take to avoid implicit bias when reviewing applications and interviewing candidates?

IWiN Toolkit: Improving Faculty Climate

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

We're working on improvements. Stay tuned for updated content.

Are you working to increase awareness of the issues facing women in academia? Neuroscience departments and programs and SfN chapters can help with a new suite of tools: the ;Increasing Women in Neuroscience (IWiN) presentations ;created by SfN’;s ;Professional Development Committee.

This resource, ;IWiN Toolkit: Improving Faculty Climate, is a 30-minute presentation with compelling data and practical steps to create an environment where faculty thrive.

IWiN Toolkit: Promotion and Tenure

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

We're refreshing this content. Please return soon to see what's new.

This resource, ;IWiN Toolkit: Promotion and Tenure, is a 30-minute presentation with compelling data and ready-to-apply takeaways on current promotion and tenure practices, and ways to improve the process to increase faculty diversity.

How This Early Career Scientist Hopes to Motivate Diverse Students

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:21:00 GMT

Monserrat Orozco is a graduate student at the University of New Mexico pursuing a PhD in biomedical sciences, with a specialization in neuroscience. She is also a 2023 SfN Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA). In this interview, she shares how being a first-generation, low-income, bisexual, and Chicana student has shaped her personal and professional journey, and how the field of neuroscience can benefit from allyship and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

My Experience as a Deaf Person in Science

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:39:00 GMT

Melody Schwenk is a PhD student studying the intersection of language, cognition, and education at Gallaudet University. Schwenk’;s parents discovered that she was Deaf when she was two and a half years old. She also discovered at a young age that she was interested in science. Through every stage of her life, from learning ASL and spoken English at an early intervention school, to now working in the Action & Brain Lab at Gallaudet, Schwenk aims to show others that it is possible to succeed in science and be Deaf.

The Value of Celebrating Our Accomplishments

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:15:00 GMT

Why do humans celebrate, and what is the science behind it? Expressions of celebratory behavior hardly seem necessary for survival, yet they are universal.

An “N of One”: A New Landscape Without Affirmative Action in Higher Education Neuroscience Training

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:44:00 GMT

What I feared happened. The Supreme Court of the United States in an expected decision of six to three, and following a trend of its conservative majority, eliminated the affirmative action law that until today allowed significant number of universities to guarantee that a portion of their matriculants would come from underrepresented groups if they met the admission requirements.

What It Takes to Succeed: Finding a Work/Life Balance

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

You’ve heard of the elusive work/life balance — but is it really possible to find time for both a personal and professional life? Established scientists tell you the strategies they use to integrate home and work life.

Surviving as a Minority Scientist in a Majority World

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Erich Jarvis, a neuroscientist and molecular biologist who is a professor at Rockefeller University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, shares highlights from his science research, personal and professional journey, and lessons learned as an underrepresented scientist in this town hall talk at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Affirmative Attention: Advancing Science Through Diversity

Wed, 10 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

During the Preparing the Next Generation of Neuroscience Leaders conference, speakers on this panel present data on the scientific workforce, discuss how diversity strengthens science, and provide examples of what individuals at institutions can do to ensure that diversity is prioritized at all levels.

Opening remarks by Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, President, Society for Neuroscience.

Implicit Bias Lesson Two: Attitudes and Stereotypes

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson Two in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video explores the differences between two primary categories of automatic associations: attitudes and stereotypes.

Implicit Bias Lesson Three: Real World Consequences

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson Three in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video explores findings that implicit biases can influence our real world behavior.

Implicit Bias Preface: Biases and Heuristics

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is the introductory video in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video describes how biases and heuristics can influence our decision-making and behavior without us even knowing it.

Implicit Bias Lesson Four: Explicit vs. Implicit Bias

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson Four in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses the differences between explicit and implicit bias.

Implicit Bias Lesson One: Schemas

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson One in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses schemas, which are mental short-cuts that help us navigate the world around us.

An Adaptable Model to Build Diversity in STEM

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 08:57:00 GMT

There’s a national need to improve retention and graduation rates among underrepresented and first-generation students in STEM. At Lehigh University, we’re implementing institutional changes to meet this goal with the aid of grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

We want to contribute to a technologically advanced, diverse workforce by implementing multiple evidence-based practices that enhance STEM retention and graduation rates. In the longer term, we plan to scale the most successful practices to the full STEM community at Lehigh.

Through the HHMI award we received in 2014, we’ve been able to set up two programs to help meet this aim: the Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience (RARE) and BioConnect.

RARE is a pre-admission-to-graduation, four-year STEM immersion program designed to build outstanding scientific and leadership skills in underrepresented students. BioConnect is a collaboration with community college partners to increase STEM graduation and transfer rates to four-year institutions.

Implicit Bias Lesson Five: The IAT

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson Five in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the wealth of data it has generated.

Implicit Bias Lesson Six: Countermeasures

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

This is Lesson Six in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses three primary strategies for countering implicit bias: mindset, debiasing, and decoupling.

How to Advocate For Yourself

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Magda Giordano, professor and chair of the department of behavioral and cognitive neurobiology at the Institute of Neurobiology at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), shares how to advocate for yourself.

She points out that advocating for oneself is something not necessarily officially taught and easy to do, but rather learned along the way. “I had to pick it up as my career went along because I did not feel very comfortable selling myself as something very special,” shares Giordano.

When advocating for yourself, she stresses it’s not only your words that count, but also your work product. “Even if you write a beautiful letter, if you have nothing concrete to show for yourself, then there's no possibility of advocating for yourself.”

Watch the video to learn how to showcase your achievements and advocate for yourself.

Building an Inclusive Community: What Science Departments Can Do

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:40:00 GMT

Every academic institution has its own unique climate — a term that refers to its structures, policies, values, and work conditions as perceived by its members, as well as the quality of the interactions among its leaders and members. The kind of climate that all departments strive toward is one where the community is inclusive, meaning that the skills and talents of all members are recognized and used to help drive success. Furthermore, all members have equal opportunities for reward and advancement.

My Story: Having a Family and Embracing the Joy of Being a Neuroscientist

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 09:08:00 GMT

People often ask me, “Can you have it all?”

I don’t know if you can, but I’m certainly having a good time trying. Here’s how.

Changing the Face of Academia: Recruitment Practices Can Make a Difference

Fri, 01 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Recruitment of new faculty is a core activity of academic institutions, and diversity contributes to excellence in all professions, including academia.

Leveling the Playing Field: Improved Tenure and Promotion Practices Lead to a More Diverse Faculty

Fri, 08 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Attaining tenure and earning promotions are key milestones in an academic career. The process takes between five and seven years, and decisions are made based on a combination of research, teaching, and service to the academic community.

Expanding Diversity in Biomedical Sciences at Historically Black Colleges

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:12:00 GMT

When Melissa Harrington started as an assistant professor at Delaware State University, a Historically Black institution, she had a keen appreciation of the potential for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to enhance diversity in biomedical sciences. In her time at DSU, Dr. Harrington, has led the creation and growth of many programs designed to encourage underrepresented students to participate in research and support their academic success, but more can and should be done to increase opportunities for diverse students to participate in science. In this article, Drs. Melissa Harrington and Christine Charvet explain the challenges of and potential solutions for enhancing diversity in STEM fields.

Experience and Environment: One Neuroscientist’s View on Belonging

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:08:00 GMT

These days, I eat lunch in empty conference rooms. I run experiments without inquisitive undergraduate or high school mentees peeking over my shoulder. I pass masked colleagues in the hallways at a distance—;just making out their faces before narrowly missing the opportunity to wave.

I think most of us have experienced the unique emotions of isolation and loneliness at some point, at the very least throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout my life, I wondered what makes us feel and act on emotions like loneliness. As a middle schooler, during an outreach program’;s Neuro Night, the answer was placed in my hands: the brain! It was a plastinated human one. I soon also discovered that I could study it as a scientist.

Why Conversation and Community are Important to Stopping Bias

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:18:00 GMT

Lionel Rodriguez is a neuroscience PhD candidate at Johns Hopkins. In this interview, Lionel discusses dealing with implicit bias and imposter syndrome. As a Gay, Latinx scientist, he also gives his hopes for the future of approaching discussions of equitable treatment and inclusion of historically marginalized communities in STEM.

Gentry Patrick on Building Pathways for Students to Find Their STEM Identities

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:33:00 GMT

Gentry Patrick is the director of mentorship and diversity at the University of California at San Diego. Patrick serves as an active mentor for underrepresented student researchers and advocates for the convergence of diversity and academic excellence. Through his own efforts and experiences, he understands the importance of strength in numbers for change to take effect in the scientific community. In the interview below, learn how he continues to educate others to use their platform as science educators to empower young scientists.

How One Scientist Stays Focused in the Face of Prejudice

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:35:00 GMT

Bita Moghaddam is the Ruth Matarazzo Professor of behavioral neuroscience at Oregon Health and Science University. At the time of this interview in March 2020, she was also the chair of her department. Bita shares how she stays focused despite the prejudices she has faced as an immigrant woman and person of color. She also shares the importance of good mentors and the impact they had on her career.

Diversity and Inclusion in Neuroethics

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:49:00 GMT

In response to the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, many organizations, corporations, professional sports teams, and individuals have issued statements expressing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and their condemnation of racist violence, police brutality, and the systematic and structural racism that exists in our society. Among the organizations that have published statements are three closely connected to many members of the International Neuroethics Society (INS) and to those working in neuroethics – the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Philosophical Association (APA), and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN).

Overcoming Challenges as a Native American in STEM

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Naomi Lee is an assistant professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Lee’;s research focuses on infectious and chronic diseases while using chemistry and biology tools and public health research to inform vaccine design. In this interview, Lee discusses challenges of being a Native American in research, and her goals of improving American Indian and Alaskan Native health through research, STEM education, and mentoring.

Advice for Navigating Academia as a Black Woman

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:43:00 GMT

Kaela S. Singleton is an NINDS D-SPAN scholar, adjunct professor at Agnes Scott College, and a mentor to her students at Agnes Scott College and Emory University. In this interview, Kaela recounts her experience with imposter syndrome and how to navigate implicit bias in academia. She also discusses successful mentor relationships and her hopes for the future of diversity in academia.

Walk us through your career path.

I've been interested in neuroscience since seventh grade when I got to dissect a sheep's brain through a science outreach program. That was the only activity in school I thought was really cool and I could imagine doing for the rest of my life. I ended up choosing Agnes Scott College because it had a well-defined neuroscience major.

I started research in undergrad and worked in several labs that focused on neurodevelopmental disorders. In graduate school, I researched the molecules that regulate neural development across species and how they differ in function despite being highly conserved across species. My postdoctoral work is focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, using my foundational molecular neuroscience research skills and developmental approaches to investigate how copper and environmental toxins affect fetal development. Despite being a grad student, I didn't think an academic career in neuroscience was a true option for me until I was in my fourth year of graduate school. Up until then I kept going because I enjoyed it and thought it was interesting. I eventually realized there was a reason I was good at it, and that I could be a professor or have my own lab if I wanted.

Combating Bias Through Science: A Journey of Self Discovery

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:33:00 GMT

Daniel Colón-Ramos was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is now the McConnell Duberg Professor of neuroscience and cell biology at Yale School of Medicine. In this interview Daniel shares insights from his journey in science, including the importance of belonging, and community, in STEM careers. Throughout his reflections he provides advice for underrepresented trainees and thoughts on how to achieve equity in STEM.

Diversity: Region Specific Challenges and Solutions

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 13:27:00 GMT

In this panel discussion, neuroscientists from the United States, South Africa, Korea, Argentina, France, and Croatia share what it will take to counteract bias in their region.

The goals of the discussion are to:

Determine region-specific challenges in increasing diversity and fighting bias.

Identify solutions to these challenges that have been implemented or are being implemented.

Share best practices between regions to create a community and move forward as a global initiative.

Speakers

Keynote speaker: Tracy L. Bale, University of Maryland, USA - IBRO President & Member of the ALBA Board of Directors

Africa region: Fleur Howells, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Asia/Pacific region: Jinju Han, KAIST, Korea

Latin America region: Amaicha Depino, CONICET-University of Buenos Aires, Argentina - Young IBRO Committee member

Europe region: Anne Beyeler, University of Bordeaux - INSERM, France - ALBA Ambassador

The event was chaired by Zeljka Krsnik, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia – Young IBRO Committee Chair & Member of the ALBA Board of Directors

Diversifying the Field Through Mentorship and Scientific Exposure

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:25:00 GMT

Corey Harwell, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, aims to create a diverse, collegial, and collaborative lab environment. Part of that stems from the influence of his own ambitious and caring mentors who supported his career step-by-step, often by sharing new research opportunities he wouldn’;t have known existed. Here, he reflects on those relationships, his path into science, and his hopes for increasing diversity in the field, through exposing underrepresented minorities to science as a career path. His message to them, "We need you."

This interview is a complement to SfN's podcast series, History of SfN: 50th Anniversary. Guests on the podcast were asked to nominate individuals whose careers are making positive cultural ;or scientific impacts that will shape the next 50 years of neuroscience. Corey Harwell was nominated by Bill Martin, president and chief operating officer of Blackthorn Therapeutics.

Navigating and Thriving in Institutions as an Underrepresented Researcher

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

BIPOC scientists face unique challenges in their careers, from undervaluing of their work to microaggressions and tokenism at their institutions. In this interview, Pablo Wickham, Marguerite Matthews, and Nii Addy share their advice for Black students and researchers navigating these and other challenges. This interview is a follow-up to SfN’;s recent webinar, Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Why This Moment Matters. Hear more from Wickham, Matthews, and Addy, by watching the webinar on Neuronline or reading their recent live chat where they answer member questions directly.

What Institutions Can Do to Build Diverse, Inclusive Communities

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Institutional leaders play a crucial role in supporting underrepresented scientists. In this interview, Nii Addy and Marguerite Matthews share how departments and labs can build a community for their BIPOC members while addressing the issues of recruitment, retainment, and tokenism. This interview is a follow-up to SfN's recent webinar, Black Lives Matter and Neuroscience: Why This Moment Matters. Hear more from Addy and Matthews by watching the webinar on Neuronline or reading their recent live chat where they answer member questions directly.

A Gratifying First Step Toward Achieving Gender Equity in Neuroscience

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

I am a female neuroscientist who has worked with incredible neuroscientists, male and female, over the course of my career.

A director at the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy, I advise foundations looking to develop strategies for funding scientific research. As philanthropy consultants, we set up review committees and scientific advisory boards and deploy new funding sources in a given research area. Our team works on the front lines to ensure that philanthropic investments in research are made in a way that will make the greatest impact on science and health —; which can be increased through gender equity.

Over the past year, we’;ve experimented with ways to eliminate unconscious bias in the programs we influence. The following is a case study that shows how.

How Living with Cerebral Palsy Motivates My Research

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

After grad school, I was looking for a PhD opportunity where I could make a difference in my community and contribute meaningfully to the literature. However, none of the projects I discussed with supervisors appealed to me. I was getting pretty discouraged. ; ;

Then, I remembered something I’;d read in passing, about non-invasive brain stimulation and strength training in improving motor function in children with cerebral palsy. I wondered if a similar approach could be used in adults. I actually live with cerebral palsy and have seen how adults with cerebral palsy are underrepresented in medical research. It all clicked, and I became even more motivated to pursue this goal. But I still needed to find a supportive supervisory team. ;

One Academic Administrator's Hopes for Equipping the Future Generation of Neuroscientists

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 11:47:00 GMT

Kelley Remole directs scientific and educational programming at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, a state-of-the-art facility bringing together researchers from across the University and career spectrum to study the brain. Central to the work of the Institute is a commitment to developing diverse research talent, across career levels. Her contributions to this effort and the Institute as a whole are informed by her conviction that academic administrators have a role to play in training the next generation of scientific thought. By valuing diversity —; of people and of thought —; a dynamic range of ideas will drive transformative science. In this interview she encourages academic administrators and faculty to anticipate how science may change, and to not only adapt but also be that force for change.

This interview is a complement to SfN's podcast series, History of SfN: 50th Anniversary. Guests on the podcast were asked to nominate individuals whose careers are making positive cultural or scientific impacts that will shape the next 50 years of neuroscience. Kelley Remole was nominated by Michael Goldberg, a professor in the neuroscience program at Columbia.

The Global Scientific Community Needs to Promote Diversity in Research Together

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 12:58:00 GMT

This resource was featured in the NeuroJobs Career Center. Visit today to search the world’;s largest source of neuroscience opportunities.

Diversity in the scientific community is necessary in order for science to have a profound impact on global society. We all need to proactively continue working to offer and implement new solutions in academia and societies for a more equal world.

A coordinated international effort will be central to effectively promoting diversity in science. The ALBA Network aims to promote equality and diversity in the brain sciences by sharing best practices and providing better visibility and networking opportunities to scientists from underrepresented groups.

In this article, five members of the ALBA Network Steering Committee explain why this kind of global network has never been more important than it is today.

Improving Promotion and Tenure Practices: Interactive Scenarios

Creating a Favorable Work Climate: Overview

Creating a Favorable Work Climate: Lessons Learned

Recruiting a Diverse Faculty: Success Stories

Recruiting a Diverse Faculty: Interactive Scenarios

Improving Promotion and Tenure Practices: Lessons Learned

Creating a Favorable Work Climate: Interactive Scenarios

Recruiting a Diverse Faculty: Overview

Recruiting a Diverse Faculty: Lessons Learned

Improving Promotion and Tenure Practices: Success Stories

Improving Promotion and Tenure Practices: Overview

A Black Perspective: How Mentors Can Contribute to Success in Grad School

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:37:00 GMT

Starting grad school brought me from the most poverty-stricken county in the country to Portland, Oregon. And yet, much of the advice I’;ve received about surviving in grad school assumes I have the same background as other students. That I have the same fears and priorities they do.

I started talking to my mentors about my background and the challenges I faced. From those discussions, my mentors came to understand my needs are different than other students’;.