We aim to build structures to better support graduate students in the Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology (SSQB) PhD program. The working group grew out of a coalition of students who organized and wrote an open letter to the SSQB program in July of 2020, which outlined several actions to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We hope to make SSQB a place where students feel they belong, and where students are encouraged to learn about and engage with DEI and its intersections with science and society.

Current goals

Towards the goal of building support structures for current students, we have organized a peer support program for first year students in SSQB. This program brings together first-year and more advanced students to discuss major challenges of the first year of grad school. Such topics include choosing rotations, choosing a dissertation lab, and succeeding on first-year qualifying exams. We hope this program will provide helpful information for first-year students and contribute to a cohesive & supportive community among the SSQB program.