The STEM Research and Career Symposium April 3-5 is an initiative to strengthen pathways for underrepresented groups into careers in disciplines known as STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is also an opportunity for Emory to build a network of institutions that partner to recruit greater numbers of students from underrepresented groups to Emory for graduate or postdoctoral education.
The symposium is convened and organized by the Laney Graduate School (LGS) in collaboration with Emory College Center for Science Education, the Office of Postdoctoral Education and Emory School of Medicine. Over 100 undergraduate and graduate students from universities across the region will attend, along with 25 of their mentors and program directors. More than 80 percent of the attendees are from underrepresented groups.
The symposium, held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH), will kick off on the evening of April 3 with a welcome reception. April 4 sessions will open with remarks by keynote speaker George Jones, Goodrich C. White Professor of Biology at Emory. From there, students will deliver oral and poster presentations on their research. The day will close with remarks by James Gavin III, Emory alumnus, member of the Emory Board of Trustees and executive vice president and chief medical officer of Healing Our Village.
On April 5, the final day of the symposium, students will participate in professional development breakout sessions that cover topics relevant to students at this stage of their careers. Students will also have opportunities to tour campus facilities and meet with Emory faculty and students.
Proposed by Keith Wilkinson and Pat Marsteller, leaders in the LGS Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences and the Emory College Center for Science Education, respectively, the symposium is co-chaired by Edward Morgan, professor of pharmacology, and James Nagy, professor of mathematics.
LGS Dean Lisa Tedesco notes the importance and value of this symposium for Emory. "Our diversity efforts have been steady and strong, and this program adds to pathways and partnerships for increasing diversity in the STEM workforce. Drs. Wilkinson, Marsteller, Morgan and Nagy deserve great kudos for their leadership, as well as Kathy Smith for her management of the details."
Sponsors include the Laney Graduate School, the Center for Science Education, the Office of Postdoctoral Education, the School of Medicine, and the MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to oral and poster presentations in all sessions on April 4.
Oral presentations: 10-11:20 a.m. and 4-5:20 p.m., ECCH Emory Amphitheatre
Poster session: 11:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m. and 2:45-3:45 p.m., ECCH Salons 1 and 2