The Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology is committed to fostering a supportive environment for all our faculty, trainees and staff. Our core values of respect, equity and inclusivity are the foundation for our rich intellectual research program and collaborative community. We celebrate the diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion and nationality that are represented by our students, faculty and staff, and are committed to training and advancing underrepresented minorities in science.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology maintains a Community Engagement and Inclusivity committee that supports the department’s mission of being an outstanding working and training environment and promotes engagement with our broader community. The success of our people defines the success of our department, and we strive to cultivate an environment that will help all trainees, faculty and staff to reach their fullest potential. We are always looking for ways to improve our community; please don’t hesitate to reach out with feedback and ideas!
Our Committee for Community Engagement and Inclusivity
Department Events and Initiatives
LEAD Lecture – Leaders in Education, Scientific Achievement & Diversity
The annual Biochemistry and Molecular Biology LEAD Lecture recognizes leaders who have made outstanding contributions to advancing scientific knowledge, education and diversity within STEM. By highlighting cutting-edge research encompassing both pedagogy and bench research, we seek to celebrate these values in our community and inspire the next generation of scientist-educator leaders. See below for past LEAD lectures.
Summer Undergraduate Research Training Program
Faculty in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology hosts undergraduate students through the nationally recognized SMART program. This summer enrichment training program recruits a diverse group of undergraduate trainees each year from national and international educational institutes to provide a unique biomedical research experience along with professional development activities to create new opportunities for college students.
Saturday Morning Science Summer Research Program
Faculty in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology hosts local high school and undergraduate students through the Saturday Morning Science Summer Research program. This summer enrichment training program provides an opportunity for students to gain their first research experiences.
Resources at BCM and Beyond
Understanding the unique challenges faced by different colleagues can help us best support the success of all members of our community. Some educational resources, training programs and support resources are provided below:
- Esther Odekunle, To See a Face Like Mine, Cell 2020
- Kafui Dzirasa, For Black Scientists, the Sorrow Is Also Personal, Cell 2020
- Nikki Forrester, Diversity in science: next steps for research group leaders, Nature 2020
