Ongoing Center Initiatives

Increasing Diversity in Research

• Financial support for travel to scientific conferences related to increasing diversity in science.
• Formal collaboration with North Carolina Central University through a cooperative agreement funded by NIAAA. This U54 agreement, “Mechanisms of Alcohol Pathology,” develops and exposes students to alcohol research activity and infrastructure at NCCU, a historically black college or university (HBCU). Learn more here.
• Multiple research collaborations with faculty and students at North Carolina A&T University, a historically black college or university (HBCU). NC A&T faculty can apply for research and career development funding through NC TraCS with UNC mentors and collaborators. 
• Increased inclusivity and breadth of seminar speakers by including BCAS trainees and BCAS Diversity Committee in selection of guest speakers and scholars to BCAS.

Education and Awareness

The BCAS has hosted presentations and discussions about the need to increase diversity in science:

• Dr. Nicholas Gilpin from Louisiana State University Health Science Center presented “Racial Inequities in Federal Funding for Biomedical Research.” Dr. Gilpin co-authored the paper “Racial inequity in grant funding from the US National Institutes of Health” (Taffe and Gilpin 2021, Elife)
• The BCAS Journal Club discussed the article “Increased Structure and Active Learning Reduce the Achievement Gap in Introductory Biology” (Haak et al. 2011, Science)

Departmental Trainings

• Presentations and discussions led by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & the BBSP Program
  • Implicit Bias 101 
  • Challenges Facing Diverse Teams
  • Recognizing Signs of Distress: An Intro to Mental Health for Researchers
• Roundtable discussions focused on interpersonal relationships in academia