Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Genomic Research.

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The Broad Institute’s DAP was created in 2003 and has an exceptional record of training members of groups that are historically underrepresented (UR) in STEM, for research careers in genomics and biomedical science. Broad’s training rests on the wealth of research demonstrating that UR students do not have deficits that must be corrected. Instead, we recognize that our historic approach to scientific training and research drives out members of minoritized groups from environments that are not created to support them. We build on documented strategies that contribute to UR persistence in STEM, developing and implementing curriculum to build trainees’ science identity and science self-efficacy and elevate outcome expectations. We will continue to offer summer research experiences to undergraduates, and training to post-baccalaureate scholars, to support their commitment and eventual success, in graduate studies. In these comprehensive programs we incorporate mentored, cutting-edge genomics research, career preparation workshops and rigorous training in communication skills to integrate trainees into the community and practice of research. In addition, our training makes explicit the “unwritten curriculum” that trainees must acquire to navigate the frequently unspoken standards and norms needed to succeed in research. By directly addressing aspects of socialization that pertain to members of marginalized communities, the Broad’s DAP prepares trainees to persist in the face of challenges that arise from aspects of their social identities that are not prevalent in most research environments. The Broad’s multidisciplinary, highly collaborative environment and the support network that includes myriad career trajectories, has proven to be a potent incubator of our trainees’ aspirations. We are also committed to broadening access to genomics training. In collaboration with colleagues at Spelman College we will organize, in Atlanta, the annual AUC-Broad Computational Genomics Workshop. The two-day workshop will draw together faculty and trainees from Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Clark Atlanta University, which comprise the oldest association of historically Black colleges and universities, for scientific presentations and hands-on training with tools, datasets and other resources for research in genomics. Broad scientists will meet with AUCC researchers to discuss potential new approaches and collaboration. The second day will be devoted to integration of genomics concepts into AUC teaching, with input from Broad scientists and as facilitated by Spelman faculty who have trained for this role at the National Academies Summer Institutes in Scientific Teaching. We will evaluate our program and its outcomes, tracking the participants with respect to clear metrics. Our proposal builds on 17 years of success in training UR scientists, as defined by persistence and advancement in science and research careers.