The field of biological sciences has a persistent lack of diversity. When science lacks the equal participation of all members in society, it limits the opportunities available for individuals from all backgrounds, and the field of biological sciences suffers from the lack of inclusion of different perspectives that would enhance our knowledge of the living world (Berhe et al. 2021).
DEI Resources at UCD
Visit this link to see DEI resources available at UC Davis.
The Genome Center’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force aims to monitor and improve the workplace climate at the Genome Center by diminishing the barriers to equity in the center. The Genome Center’s DEI Task Force will promote historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented in omics. The DEI Task Force will also work to improve the accessibility of the center.
The UC Davis Genome Center’s DEI Task Force began with an inquiry into the experiences and interests of Genome Center members. The creation of a DEI Task Force was fully supported, includes individuals from all positions, and held its first meeting on October 20, 2021.
Co-chairs: Nicole Coggins (Postdoc) and Laura Fejerman (Faculty).
| Name | Position |
| Quorum Members: | |
| Jeannette Martins | Staff (Fiehn) |
| Beth Rowan | Assoc Proj Sci (Michelmore) |
| Nicole Coggins | Post-doc (Carvajal) |
| Laura Fejerman | Faculty |
| Arpana Vaniya | Staff (Fiehn) |
| Justin Myrick | Field Mgr (Henn) |
| Dave Segal | Faculty |
| Charlotte Acharya | SRA (Michelmore and Covid-19) |
| John McPherson | Faculty |
| Mohan Prem Anand Marimuthu | Specialist |
| Gulhan Kaya | Lab Manager, Associate Specialist |
| Volunteer Members: | |
| Concepcion Manzano | Assistant project scientist |
| Janine M LaSalle | Faculty |
| Michelle Belden | Staff (GC) |
| Gabriela Grigorean | Assoc Proj. Sci (Proteomics) |
| Valentina Andrea Zavala Cordero | Post-doc |
| Ian Korf | Faculty |
| Daniel Fernandez | Junior Specialist |
| Christina Kim | Assistant Professor |
| Past DEI Committee Members: | |
| Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar | Faculty |
| Eesha Gupte | Staff |
| Jannie Xu | Student research assistant |
| Elizabeth Marie Georgian | Editor (GC) |
| Siobhan Brady | Faculty |
| Aarthi Sekar | Grad Student (Dennis) |
| Megan Dennis | Faculty |
| Caidon Ijeoma Iwuagwu | RA (Facciotti) |
| Mary Aina | 4th Year Undergraduate |
Previous Co-Chairs:
- Dave Segal (Faculty) | Inagural Co-Chair, 10/2021 - 02/2024
- Caidon Ijeoma Iwuagwu (RA) | Inagural Co-Chair, 11/2021 - 03/2022
- Arpana Vaniya (Staff) | 03/2022 - 02/2024
Please reach out to the GC's DEI Task Force to learn more or share ideas to make the GC more inclusive.