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December 17, 2020

DPC Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 3

Diversity Program Consortium December 2020 Newsletter

NIH DPC Newsletter

Consortium News

DPC LinkedIn network BUILDs to support fall conference student attendees

As COVID-19 continues to impact the nation, 2020 fall conferences such as SACNAS and ABRCMS pivoted to online platforms. To celebrate the perseverance of student researchers and the biomedical research community, the Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) launched a social media campaign highlighting BUILD trainees and promoting participating partners like the National Research Mentoring Network and National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

For more information click here.

DPC introduces #FaceOfScience trailer on National STEM Day

The #FaceOfScience is a social media campaign created by the DPC Coordination and Evaluation Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. The goal of the campaign is to visualize inclusive excellence in the biomedical sciences and the STEM fields in general.

For more information click here.

CSUN BUILD PODER alumna publishes as first author

During the past year, Janelle Talavera, a recent graduate of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and alumna of BUILD PODER, accomplished the nearly impossible feat of publishing as first author on her research regarding speciation.

For more information click here.

MSU ASCEND scholar wins poster award at 2020 ABRCMS

Morgan State University ASCEND Scholar Rolling Zebaze won an award for his poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) titled "Effects of Wealth on COVID-19 Mortality and Morbidity" in the Social, Behavioral Science, and Public Health category.

For more information click here.

XULA BUILD students at ABRCMS 2020

Four XULA BUILD Project Pathway Trainees submitted research and presentations. Technicians Caryn Butler, Kayla Strong and Ly Tran had their work featured during the conference alongside current Xavier student Breyanah Graham.

For more information click here.

10 UMBC STEM BUILD Trainees attend virtual ABRCMS, explore new ways to connect

Forming a network of mentors and peers who can open doors to opportunities, offer support and encouragement, and create a sense of community is an important part of any emerging scientist’s journey. One of the best ways for young scholars to start making connections beyond their own institution is at academic conferences.

For more information click here.

iPhone ecology in the Brooks Range: UAF BLaST students' month-long trek researching the landscape

“It’s not just hiking. It’s not just recreating, it has a focus,” APU Professor Roman Dial said of their data-collecting method, which the group called “pixel-walking.” During a four-week expedition, Dial’s students collected 3,000 data points along a 375-mile route to compare against satellite imagery.

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Finding inspiration from the organisms that learned to survive in Alaska’s icy environments

Eufemio’s research focuses on investigating the presence and accumulation of microplastics in Littleneck Clams, a growing concern in Alaska because many Alaskan Natives and rural people collect their own clams in subsistence gathering.

For more information click here.

UTEP BUILDing SCHOLARS holds 2020 Annual Symposium in a virtual format

For the past five years, BUILDing SCHOLARS at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has held a research symposium in the fall to provide trainees the opportunity to present the research they conducted over the summer. Event organizers around the world have had to adapt to quarantine conditions under the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic by holding remote events online this year, and BUILD was no exception.

For more information click here.

MyMentor: Go beyond your bubble

While it can be great to have a mentoring partner in proximity for your day-to-day tasks and activities, seeking a virtual mentoring partner outside of your bubble creates the opportunity for personal growth and new perspectives, for mentees and mentors alike.

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XULA BUILD Project Pathways trainees present research virtually

Three Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) BUILD Project Pathways Trainees recently participated in virtual presentations of their research during online conferences.

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CSUN BUILD PODER Scholar recognized by Drexel University and American Heart Association

Lorena Melendez, a senior at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and BUILD PODER Scholar, was recognized this year for her work in nutrition by both Drexel University and the American Heart Association.

For more information click here.

UAF BLaST scientists of the month: October, November, December 2020

Spotlights on three UAF BLaST community members: Faculty pilot project awardee Maegan Weltzin, BLaST Senior director Michael Castellini, and BLaST Scholar Brianna Lu.

For more information click here.

SF State faculty awarded funding by tobacco-related research program

SF State Faculty, Zena Mello, Ph.D., who has a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies, was awarded funding by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program to study the relationship between racism and tobacco use in adolescents as influenced by time perspective

For more information click here.

A letter from the new editor of the NRMN newsletter

NRMN Digital Communication Strategist Brady Burns introduces himself in his letter to the consortium.

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The value of mentoring: Spotlight on Mark Burke, Ph.D., for NRMN SETH

Mentors give back from a place of understanding, love, and compassion, and benefit from an important development and learning experience. NRMN SETH is celebrating Mark Burke, Ph.D., as a mentor who exemplifies these values.

For more information click here.

Xavier University of Louisiana professor receives award for excellence

Recently, Sunda-Meya was awarded the American Physical Society’s 2021 Excellence in Physics Education honor on behalf of the American Physical Society. The award generally recognizes a team or group of individuals or, in exceptional cases, a single individual who has exhibited a sustained commitment to excellence in physics education—this year, Sunda-Meya received this honor.

For more information click here.

MSU ASCEND Scholars participate in summer research experiences at institutions

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic did not slow down Morgan State University’s ASCEND Scholars this summer. The following students were able to continue their summer research with institutions that made the experiences possible and intellectually rewarding.

For more information click here.

MSU opens new Office of Undergraduate Research

In September 2020, Morgan State University (MSU) illustrated their steadfast commitment to undergraduate student success by creating a brand-new office: the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR).

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Obtaining optimism: finding hope in the actions of others

NRMN Virtual Engagement Strategist Katie Stinson writes about the positivity found in helping people across the United States find meaningful mentoring relationships that help them achieve their dreams.

For more information click here.

DPC DaTA awardee Hawai‘i Pacific University receives $750,000 to Develop and Train Students in Biomedical Research

The DPC Dissemination and Translation Awards (DaTA) awardee Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) received $750,000 from the National Institutes of Health for the creation of a student research center. This project draws inspiration from the Student Research Center at Morgan State University, which was developed through the ASCEND program.

For more information click here.

NRMN supports the 2020 National Postdoc Appreciation Week

NRMN supported the 2020 National Postdoc Appreciation Week from September 21-25 hosted by the National Postdoctoral Association. Dr. Christine Pfund (NRMN-CC) delivered a keynote discussing best practices for mentorship

For more information click here.

In The News

American Chemical Society recognizes XULA Project Pathways mentor and university's chemistry department

Recently, the American Chemical Society (ACS) interviewed Maryam Foroozesh, Ph.D., the XULA BUILD Project Pathways Principal Investigator and director of the Administrative and Research Enrichment Cores.

For more information click here.

CSUN BUILD PODER awarded 2020 APLU Innovation & Economic Prosperity University Award

On Nov. 10, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) was named as this year’s IEP Talent Award recipient during the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) annual 2020 Innovation & Economic Prosperity University Awards.

For more information click here.

UCSF SF BUILD mentor Robert Rodriguez to serve on Biden-Harris COVID-19 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board will help guide planning for the President-elect’s federal response to the pandemic.

For more information click here.

Research Digest

NRMN papers published in PLOS ONE

Two new NRMN papers published in Public Library of Science (PLOS)

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NRMN U01 team publishes in Journal of Clinical and Translational Science

A new paper was published in Journal of Clinical and Translational Science by Akshay Sood’s (Ph.D.) NRMN U01 team titled “Measuring organizational mentoring climate: Importance and availability scales”

For more information click here.

BUILD EXITO and NRMN present at 2020 Virtual Fall CTSA Programs meeting

Drs. Cynthia Morris (BUILD EXITO) and Doris Rubio (NRMN) presented DPC efforts in a session titled “Workforce Development: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce”

For more information click here.

Events

Webinar: Race and Racism in our Research by Keith Norris, MD, PhD

Event Date: Fri, Jan 15, 2021

Location: virtual

Stanford Center for Asian Healthcare Research & Education (CARE) Summer Research Immersion 2021

Event Date: Sat, May 01, 2021 to Sun, Aug 01, 2021

Location: Virtual

Call for Undergrad Scholars: Emory Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research

Event Date: Tue, Jun 01, 2021 to Fri, Aug 06, 2021

Location: Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia

About Us

The NIH Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) Newsletter provides updates on activities at DPC sites, shares progress on collaborative efforts within the consortium, and highlights news and recent publications related to diversity and mentoring in the biomedical sciences.

The Diversity Program Consortium Coordination and Evaluation Center at UCLA is supported by Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health / National Institutes of General Medical Sciences under award number U54GM119024.
Need Assistance? Please contact our support team: info@diversityprogramconsortium.org .