Fostering Accessible and Inclusive Research Environments Within Academia to Recruit, Support, And Retain Marginalized And Minoritized Communities

This panel Q&A special session hosted by the BMES Diversity Committee will feature panelists encompassing a breadth of scientific perspectives, axes of diversity, professional trajectories, and career stages with the goal of discussing best practices for expanding access to research opportunities and implementing institutional and/or structural mechanisms to help diversify the BME profession. We will feature three to four invited panelists/speakers with established track records of uplifting historically marginalized and minoritized groups throughout their career. Specifically, we will discuss different levels of engagement, including (1) institutional and national efforts to maximize access to research careers for trainees from historically marginalized and minoritized groups; (2) departmental efforts to support a sense of belonging among staff, trainees, and faculty; and (3) individual steps for cultivating an inclusive research laboratory (e.g., accessibility and accommodations for disabled researchers, advocating for trainees, crafting genuine mentoring philosophies and inclusivity statements). The structure of the special session will consist of a 10-15 minute presentation by each panelist followed by a general Q&A forum and small group table discussions moderated by volunteers from the BMES Diversity Committee.