Skip to main content

Diversity Statement
The UNC Neuroscience Center is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and enriching environment for our students, postdoctoral fellows, staff, and faculty. We commit ourselves to welcoming all people of all cultures and identities. We recognize that diversity and inclusion in the workplace enriches our environment, fosters creativity, and builds teamwork. We are also committed to creating true and evident inclusion. We aim to serve the neuroscience community regardless of religion, disability, socioeconomic background, race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.

To further strengthen our commitment to diversity, we aim to:

1) Build a supportive community and network of neuroscience undergraduates, graduate students,
postdocs, faculty and staff that is fully inclusive of underrepresented groups.
2) Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for all faculty, staff and trainees.
3) Require mentors of T32 and Neuroscience Center-supported SOLAR trainees to take DEI training.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence provides coordination, oversight and leadership of the UNC SOM’s diversity and inclusion programs and leads the school efforts to build an inclusive environment that values and respects the contributions of all members of the community.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence develops and maintains the enrichment and equity programs, diversity and equity initiatives, and resources for faculty, students and staff. There are also symposia and workshops.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Support/Resources/Organizations: https://www.med.unc.edu/inclusion/resources/

Find Your Diversity Liaison by Home Department:

College of Arts and Sciences (includes Psychology and Neuroscience)
https://college.unc.edu/diversity/diversity-liaisons/

School of Medicine
https://www.med.unc.edu/inclusion/diversity-liaisons/

School of Public Health
https://sph.unc.edu/adv_profile/trinnette-cooper-mph/

DEI Certificate Program

The Office of Inclusive Excellence offers a training program for both faculty and staff to foster an inclusive environment. A series of workshops required to complete the certificate encompass Unconscious Bias and Respecting All trainings. For more information, visit https://www.med.unc.edu/inclusion/programs-and-initiatives/dei-certificate-program/

Funding Opportunities to Enhance Diversity (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral research)

Neuroscience graduate or postdoctoral mentoring/enrichment/travel award from Society for Neuroscience
https://www.sfn.org/NSP

UNC Neuroscience Center postdoctoral travel award (for prospective fellows interested in UNC)
https://www.med.unc.edu/neuroscience/about-us/unc-neuroscience-diversity-travel-award/

Paid Research opportunities for underrepresented college students or college graduates interested in graduate research careers (summer programs for current undergraduates or a year round program for post baccalaureates) INCLUDES SOLAR, SURE, and PREP program information
https://bbsp.unc.edu/diversity/summer-and-post-baccalaureate-research-programs/