Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Resources for Faculty

The faculty, trainees, and staff within the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP) are dedicated to efforts that advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our community and in our research and teaching endeavors. Towards this goal, the following resources have been assembled for guidance and educational purposes.

Diversity and Social Justice: A Glossary of Working Definitions

This glossary provides basic working definitions of words and terms used in conversations about diversity and social justice; it is not intended to be an exhaustive list and will continue to evolve. https://www.uml.edu/student-services/multicultural/Documents/Glossary1.pdf

The University of Pittsburgh Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/about/mission-and-vision
The OEDI provides extensive information, guidance, resources and current information on Diversity and Inclusion efforts at the University of Pittsburgh and nationwide. Some of the major topics covered include:
Civil Rights and Title IX
Racial Equity Consciousness
Disability Resources and Services
Sexual Misconduct Prevention
Advancing Institutional Antiracism

The OEDI provides numerous virtual events (https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/events/virtual-events) through its Town Hall Series, Educational Series, Monthly Celebrations (Black History Month Celebration, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, LGBIQIA+ Pride Month) and links to other events happening across the University aimed to furthering diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Groundwater Approach Paper

This landmark paper uses the “Groundwater” metaphor to explain the nature of structural racism and how to approach its resolution. https://www.racialequityinstitute.com/groundwaterapproach

Resources for Inclusive and Supportive Mentoring

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) have developed recommendations and guidelines for establishing and maintaining productive mentor-mentee relationships. These Compacts are intended to initiate discussions at the local and national levels about the mentee-mentor relationship and the commitments necessary for a high-quality graduate or postdoctoral training experience.
Compact Between Biomedical Graduate Students and Their Research Advisors
https://www.aamc.org/what-we-do/mission-areas/medical-research/grad-compact

Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors
https://www.aamc.org/what-we-do/mission-areas/medical-research/post-doc-compact

Faculty seeking to improve their mentoring skills should consider The Mentoring Academy, sponsored by the Center for Mentoring. The Academy offers sessions for developing skills in eight mentoring competency areas.
https://teaching.pitt.edu/center-for-mentoring/academy/#Mentoring-Academy-Fellows

The National Research Mentoring Network is another good resource for information about mentoring, including training.
https://nrmnet.net/

Guidelines for Writing and Reading Reference Letters

This weblink provides a concise list that highlights the do’s and don’ts of reading and writing reference letters. Reference letters are used to evaluate candidates for jobs and promotions; however, there are known biases in how these letters are written for different groups of people. These guidelines will point out common unconscious biases and how to reduce them:
https://www.biology.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/References_FINAL.pdf

Resources for Recruitment of an Excellent and Diverse Faculty

University of Pittsburgh resources:
https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/education/faculty-recruitment
https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/faculty_recruiting_guidelines_and_resources_.pdf

Readings that address hiring strategies:
Review Article: Strategies to improve equity in faculty hiring. PMID: 31609672 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6789160/
eLife – Guidelines for Hiring Scientists: https://www.biology.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/Hiring_FINAL.pdf
“Gender decoder” tool for checking language of job postings: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com

Resources for Mental Health Care and Counseling Services

The University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center (UCC: 412-648-7930) provides high quality services and programs that foster the academic and personal development, as well as the psychological well-being, of Pitt’s diverse student body. From outreach and prevention to crisis intervention, the UCC is dedicated to supporting and empowering undergraduate and graduate students to realize their fullest potential.
Life Solutions (Faculty and Staff)
https://www.hr.pitt.edu/current-employees/work-life-balance/lifesolutions

Phone 1-866-647-3432
Resolve Crisis Services (Non-University entity)
https://www.upmc.com/services/behavioral-health/resolve-crisis-services
Phone 1-888-796-8226
University Counseling Center main page: https://www.counseling.pitt.edu
For undergraduate students: https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/cc/
For graduate and professional students: https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/cc/gradprofstudents/

Disability Resources and Services

Disability is an aspect of diversity. Disability Resources and Services (DRS) is the designated department by the University to determine reasonable accommodations and services. The Office of Disability Resources and Services at the University of Pittsburgh is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education to academically qualified students with disabilities.
https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/disability-access/disability-resources-and-services

Building an Inclusive Laboratory

Diverse labs in science and next steps to grow inclusivity:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05316-5
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02681-y
How to make your research group accessible: https://www.sciencemag.org/features/2020/01/inclusivity-all-how-make-your-research-group-accessible
How to make your lab more inclusive: https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/careers/052220/neurodiversity-how-to-make-your-lab-more-inclusive
An open letter to past, current, and future mentors of Black neuroscientists:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41583-020-00421-9.pdf
Embracing diversity in an academic setting:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811921000197
Places to post job listings and/or offer external mentorship and reach underrepresented groups:
https://www.pathwaystoscience.org/
https://www.cientificolatino.com/

Other Readings Related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

How LGBTQ+ scientists would like to be included: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02949-3
Gender inequity in academia during COVID: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/27/15378
Racism in academia, and why the ‘little things’ matter: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02471-6
Racial Inequality in Academia: Systemic Origins, Modern Challenges, and Policy Recommendations: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2372732220984183