Undergraduate Researchers Engage in Outreach

During Fall Semester 2020 every member of the Larson research group participated in at least one outreach activity as a pilot “experiment” for requiring formal outreach activities of all undergraduate researchers in the Larson research group. Each of the five undergraduate students in the laboratory participated in discussions on outreach and inclusion and engaged in various biology-related outreach activities of their own choosing.

Students volunteered to serve as biology tutors for primary and secondary school students in Charlottesville and Albemarle county public schools through UVA Madison House (https://www.madisonhouse.org/overview-tutoring), while others tutored adults through the Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle (www.literacyforall.org).

At the conclusion of the semester, the undergraduate researchers were enthusiastic about including outreach as a standard requirement for being considered an active member of the Larson laboratory moving forward.

During the pandemic the outreach activities of the undergraduate researchers has been limited to virtual-only programs. The undergraduate researchers are very excited to be able to expand their outreach as soon as in-person activities can commence.

Formation of standing Post-Doc Program Committee

The UVa Biology Department, and specifically the chair of the department with the agreement of faculty, should consider the creation of a standing “Post-Doc Program Committee” that could comprise two faculty members, three or more post-doctoral trainees, and one graduate student (see Top Down Initiative: Representation on Committees). A new post-doc program committee could focus efforts towards building a more diverse and supportive community for post-doctoral trainees within the biology department. The committee could be tasked with developing a “post-doctoral trainee handbook” that would include all policies, programs, and additional access to documentation. These policies and opportunities should be evaluated during drafting using the “Policy Equity Guide” provided by UVa Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (also attached below). The committee could also serve to develop additional programs and opportunities for increasing transparency, inclusivity, equity, and a general feeling of community amongst post-docs.

Policy Equity Guide DDI April 2020.pdf

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Representation on Committees

To increase transparency in the decisions and programs of UVa Biology faculty, Tracy has proposed to our department chair that at least one graduate student and one post-doctoral trainee serve as a representative on every faculty level committee. By having trainee representatives on each committee, faculty can accomplish several positive goals including:

1. Establishing good will through allowing each group to have a voice and increasing transparency in the decisions faculty make.

2. Career training opportunities. Trainees can see how decisions are made, how to successfully execute initiatives, and gain leadership experience for both future academic and non-academic careers.

3. Increased diversity in rank and background on committees. Our grads and post-docs are a diverse group in terms of race, gender, and experience, so bringing in their perspective would be beneficial overall, but especially when having discussions about issues and policies we faculty may not be as well equipped to have.