Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
The University of Illinois Microbial Systems Initiative (MSI) is a cooperative effort supported by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation (OVCRI), Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB), and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI). As a developing initiative, MSI works under the policies of these established units. In addition to following the guidance of the U of I’s Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we operate in partnership with IGB’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, IHSI’s commitment to working toward a community that is open, just, and welcoming for all, and MCB’s recognition of the fact “that diversity within our school drives the innovation that keeps MCB research at the forefront of scientific discovery. However, we recognize that societal, academic, and structural barriers have often kept talented individuals out of our community.”
We hope these values are evident in our efforts to increase faculty diversity through a coordinated campus wide hiring initiative, supporting the development of early career researchers through workshops and mentorship, considering DEI in our event planning, and by providing resources and fostering conversations about diversity and equity in the sciences through our monthly newsletter and on our website.
Resources for Promoting Equity & Inclusion in the Sciences
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The American Society of Microbiology has curated a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) article collection, addressing topics related to inclusive diversity with equity, access, and accountability, from across its wide range of journals. View the collection.
- Resources for learning and taking action to eliminate racism in our society and institutions.
- The IDEA Institute (Institute for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) in the Grainger College of Engineering supports scholarship, innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access at all levels: faculty, staff, students, and K-12 outreach/public engagement.
- Strategies to improve equity and enhance diversity in faculty hiring and retention.
- NIH administrative supplements and programs to promote diversity through support of students (including undergraduates) and postdocs from diverse backgrounds.
- NSF programs aimed at diversifying the STEM workforce:
- Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science
- Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)
- Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)