DIAC Events

Previous Events

2023

• Began DIAC Seminar Series
• Hosted 3rd annual Rising Stars in Neuroscience Symposium
• Organized panel for department retreat to discuss ongoing EDI efforts
• Will distribute 3rd department Diversity and Inclusion survey
• Plan for an Open House Outreach event

2022

• Hosted the 2nd Annual Rising Stars in Neuroscience Symposium
• Organized a panel at the department retreat to update the department on the committee's actions and seek input
• Distributed 2nd departmental Diversity and Inclusion  survey and shared results via departmental email list
• Organized a departmental training session with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) in the Fall
• Assisted department Faculty Search Committee in promoting a new faculty position and ensuring the search is equitable

2021

• Hosted the first annual Rising Stars in Neuroscience Symposium.  More information can be found at: https://medicine.utah.edu/neurobiology/training/rising-stars-in-neuroscience.php

The primary mission of this symposium is to provide career development and mentorship for graduate-level neuroscience trainees, with a strong focus on spotlighting and supporting scientists from under-represented groups. 

This competitive symposium will provide senior graduate students the opportunity to present their research to a large, engaged audience and spend a day meeting one-on-one with faculty to discuss their work. We’re also very excited that this symposium will provide a multi-stage science-communication workshop, led by renowned sci-comms expert Dr. Brett Mensh of Optimize Science. In this workshop students will attend a didactic lecture on sci-comms principles. Following the lecture, students will then participate in focused, small group modules where they will present and receive individual feedback on crafting the overall structure and the high-level intros to their research talks. Dr. Mensh has given over 35 science communication workshops at top universities across the US, he serves as academic consultant for many notable scientists across the life sciences disciplines and serves as Scientific Advisor at Janelia Research Campus. The Rising Stars in Neuroscience symposium will also provide long-term mentorship by developing partnerships between invited speakers and specific University of Utah Neurobiology Department faculty. Finally, invited speakers will be eligible to apply for the Univ. of Utah, Department of Neurobiology – Rising Stars in Neuroscience – Postdoctoral Award ($5000), which will be awarded to top ranked invited speakers that commit to doing postdoctoral training within a department lab.

• Created a more detailed departmental EDI plan detailing additional outreach efforts and updates to departmental recruitment and hiring efforts
• Assisted department Faculty Search Committee in promoting a new faculty position and ensuring the search is equitable

2020

• Proposed speakers for departmental seminar series
• Created the frist departmental Diversity and Inclusion Survey, distributed it, and summarized results for department.
• Drafted a departmental Diversity Statement adn Plan to promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
• Department organized training session with Office of Equal Opportunity