Fostering a Culture of Inclusion

As an interdisciplinary field with a wide range of specialties, we know our best work comes from collaboration among people with diverse expertise, experiences and perspectives. At the Molecular Engineering Ph.D. Program, we strive to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment in which students of all backgrounds can learn and thrive. Moreover, we seek to nurture well-rounded and socially responsible engineers dedicated to making the world a better place and applying their talents and knowledge to create technologies for the benefit of all people.

The goals of the MolE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee include:

  • Increase program accessibility to students of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
  • Provide inclusive mentorship opportunities to diverse audiences on and off campus.
  • Educate members of our community on issues impacting equity in STEM and empower them to be engaged global citizens and agents of societal change.

HIGHLIGHTS

STEM Grad School 101

At this virtual event, prospective students learned how to apply to graduate school and what to expect as a STEM graduate student. View the recording here.

Undergraduate Mentorship Program

UW undergraduates are invited to participate in molecular engineering research on the UW campus. Check out these resources for undergrad mentees and grad student mentors. Contact the MolE program coordinator to learn more.

Graduate Mentorship Program

MolE students are paired with a faculty member who can provide additional support for the student's professional and personal development. An example mentorship agreement can be found here. Contact the MolE program coordinator to learn more.

Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Molecular Engineering

Students, faculty and staff came together to explain how molecular engineering can address global grand challenges. Read more.

RESOURCES

Comprehensive collections of resources have been compiled by others across the UW:

Inclusive Excellence in the College of Engineering
Inclusion in the Department of Chemistry
Department of Bioengineering JEDI resources

STUDENT GROUPS

Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE)
GSEE provides leadership and advocacy to achieve equitable representation, access and success for graduate students of color at the University of Washington.

Inclusion in Chemical Sciences at UW (InCS-UW)
The mission of InCS-UW is to educate and empower underrepresented groups in science.

UW oSTEM
oSTEM empowers LGBTQ+ people in STEM to succeed personally, academically, and professionally by cultivating environments and communities that nurture innovation, leadership, and advocacy.

Women Engineers Rise (WE Rise)
WE Rise is dedicated to advancing gender equity to foster an environment where all students in the College of Engineering can thrive academically, socially and professionally, and feel a sense of belonging. It is open to students from all backgrounds in the College of Engineering who share an interest in advancing gender equity and inclusive leadership in the field of engineering. 

Women in Chemical Engineering (WChE)
WChE educates, empowers and advocates for women in chemical engineering, and their supporters, by providing a safe and open space for dialogue, mentorship, collaboration, camaraderie, and skill building through professional development, community networking, and outreach to primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions.

Society for Women Engineers (SWE)
SWE UW empowers the next generation of women and nonbinary engineers to find success in their careers.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

All MolE students are invited to participate as members of the committee or in committee events. The committee meets regularly to discuss upcoming plans and events, including outreach activities, educational opportunities, and MolES organizational goals. For more information, reach out to the MolE program coordinator or the Graduate Student Association President.