About | Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

The Advisory Group comprises IGB community members spanning the breadth of IGB, including theme leaders, faculty, staff and postdoctoral researchers. The DEI Task Force was formed to gather more individuals to take action on the Advisory Group’s ideas and bring new initiatives to light. Under the guidance of the DEI Advisory Group, the Task Force has accelerated initiatives meant to increase dialogue and work towards a more inclusive environment.

Although many efforts are underway, the IGB realizes that more measures need to be taken to diminish racism, other inequities, and where they intersect.

DEI Advisory Group

Jessica Brinkworth, Chair

Director’s Faculty Fellow, Professor of Anthropology
GNDP | IGOH

Brinkworth’s efforts for STEM inclusion include redesigning lab training and helping establish accountability measures and procedures for the American Association of Biological Anthropologists. She leads the DEI advisory committee in assessing, developing and recommending structures for a positive workplace climate.

Her research focuses on how evolutionary and social environments shape susceptibility to and progression of severe infections and sepsis.

Hee Jung Chung

Associate Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
M-CELS

Chung would like to create a diverse and inclusive environment at the IGB where everyone feels equally supported and respected. She is interested in organizing DEI seminars and workshops, and implementing strategies to address IGB climate issues.

She conducts active research on epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease with the specific focus on channelopathy and neural plasticity.

Aleks Ksiazkiewicz

Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Graduate Studies
GSP

Ksiazkiewicz’s primary DEI goal is to institutionalize new lines of communication within the IGB so that it is clear where our community members can find resources and assistance.

His research expands on core theories of American politics and political psychology by integrating insights drawn from behavioral genetic, implicit social cognition, and chronobiological research.

Sierra Raglin

Postdoctoral Fellow
IGOH

Raglin hopes to take a One Health approach to understand the adverse outcomes of anthropogenic activity on environmental microbiomes and health in urban environments.

Melissa Flores

Graduate Student
GNDP | IGOH

Flores is passionate about creating spaces at IGB where graduate students use their unique experiences to reimagine STEM spaces that are accessible, equitable, and supportive of their growth as scholars.

As a PhD student in Gene Robinson’s lab, she uses the western honey bee to study how early-life experiences alter adult social behaviors and drive changes in adult brain gene expression.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Since its inception in 2018, the DEI Advisory Group and the DEI Task Force has been dedicated to creating a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment within the IGB community.