A science for all is better science.
As a hard-of-hearing scientist, I owe a lot of my persistence and success in STEM to my community that invested in me. Community building is a major component of my teaching philosophy, as community gives us roots to grow.
I cofounded and run BioBUDS (Building Up Developing Scientists) with a cohort of other incredibly talented graduate students interested in improving grad student pedagogy, illuminating the hidden curriculum of academia, and establishing a space where generations of scientists (undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and faculty) connect in meaningful ways.
Over 11 quarters, bioBUDS has served:
-120 undergraduate students
-151 graduate students and postdocs
From our students:
“I think the way the course is run is done uniquely in a way that allows students to really take action and charge of their own scientific journey.”
“I always left the room knowing something new whether it was research or just being a college student in general.”
“I feel more connected with STEM in general because of the guidance I've received and the kindness I've been shown. Above the science, I feel connected to the people.”
To explore our work more, visit our biobuds website.
Exposure to scientists sharing my identities gave me clarity that a career in science was not only possible, but was now inevitable.
Second, I learned I must use science to advocate for social change.
In addition to BioBUDS, I established a partnership with the California School for the Deaf (CSD) science department, where I currently volunteer with their science department. We reconstructed the school’s curriculum to include updated scientific topics and experiments, such as in-class gel electrophoresis and synthetic cell biology.