Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics

Goal
The goal of GRASP is to promote STEM careers to historically marginalized, low-income, first-generation college-bound students. With this outreach program, we aim to increase the DEI conversation within CBS to strengthen our community. This outreach program was started by the BMBB DEI committee in Fall 2021 and is aimed at local middle schools with a high percentage of underrepresented and underserved students. 

Outreach
Twice a year (fall and spring), the GRASP MN program hosts a visit to the UMN St. Paul campus for a group of thirty 8th grade students. During these visits, the students experience hands-on learning activities in CBS research labs (x-ray crystallography lab, origins of life lab, and the Conservatory), interactions with scientists, and ends with a pizza lunch for the students and volunteers. 

Schools
GRASP MN Program has hosted visits with:

• Heritage E-STEM Middle School, St Paul MN (Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023) 
• Washington Technology Magnet High School, St Paul MN (Spring 2023)

To date, we have hosted 4 events over 3 years = 120 middle school students since 2021!

GRASP visit with middle school students (Nov 2023) 

GRASP visit with middle school students (Nov 2023) 

GRASP visit with middle school students in the Seelig lab (Nov 2022) 

GRASP visit with middle school students 

Goal
The goal of this effort is to provide funds to support undergraduate research in BMBB research labs, with a focus on students from underrepresented groups. 

How to Apply

We aim to support one undergraduate student for a summer research opportunity per year with the aid of the BMBB department. Please send your application materials to bmbbdei@umn.edu

Criteria:

• Must be a University of Minnesota undergraduate student.
• Must have an interest in biochemistry research.
• Must identify a BMBB-affiliated faculty member to host you as an undergraduate student.

To apply, please send your:

• Resume
• Name of BMBB faculty that has agreed to host you in their lab.
•  A short paragraph (300-350 words) describing a barrier that you have faced while trying to get started in undergraduate research.
  
  

Typically, applications open in March, with a due date of mid-April. Award notifications will be sent by mid-May.

Past Recipients

• Fatima Garza (Summer 2023, PI: Douglas Mashek)
• Valerie Barrera Estrada (Summer 2022, PI: Stefani Thomas)

Undergraduate student (Valerie Barrera Estrada, Stefani Thomas Lab) presenting her summer research project supported by DEI BMBB (Summer 2022) 

Goal
The goal of “Enhancing Our Culture” seminars is to augment our existing BMBB departmental seminar series by broadening the spectrum of speakers and topics discussed to create opportunities for additional learning and growth. 

Seminars

• “Enhancing Our Culture - CoCo Cafe” - November 2021

“Cultural Humility-Health-Wealth and an Asset-based of Culture in Our Scientific Community” - March 2023

Goal
The goal of CoCo Cafe is to diversity voices throughout our system change process toward STEMM DEI. This is a community-based approach to bring together those with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and opinions together by specifically recruiting undergraduate and graduate students who identify as having a marginalized voice. 

Meetings
CoCo Cafe participants meet to discuss and work towards recognizing their identities, personal narratives, and perspectives in meeting our needs in STEMM from an antiracist and cultural wellness approach. 

Goal
The goal of this initiative is to develop a CBS service-learning course designed to:

• Teach undergraduate students skill sets for effective and inclusive mentorship.
• Connect high school students in underserved communities to resources that enable post-secondary education
• Encourage STEM career paths for high school students, especially those from underserved backgrounds.

Outreach
UMN undergraduate students direct on-site hands-on biology experiments performed by high school students at local schools. These workshops are designed to promote near-peer mentorship between UMN undergraduates and high school students, with the goal of making post-secondary education more attainable and accessible for underrepresented groups. 

Schools
BMBB DEI committee has hosted workshops at:

• Washington Technology Magnet High School (St Paul, MN)

• Contributed to graduate student recruitment by sending welcome “UMN Spirit” packages to candidates in advance of their visits to the UMN Campus (2020-2021)
• Helped mandate inclusion of DEI contributions in annual reports of faculty (2020-2021)
• Created an “Our Life, Our Sciences” video series to share stories about members of the BMBB community.

Special thanks to our past and current funding sources for supporting our efforts. 

• BMBB Departmental Support
• CBS DEIJ Micro Grant - awarded in 2023 to support the transition to sustainability of all three previous projects

• CBS DEIJ Micro Grant - awarded in 2022 to support expansion of the GRASP MN Program to three additional local middle schools. 
• CBS DEIJ Micro Grant - awarded in 2022 to support CBS Service-Learning Course development. 
• CBS DEIJ Micro Grant - awarded in 2022 to support CoCo Cafe