Neuro DEI Happenings
Upcoming Events
SACNAS Special Seminar
Julaiana Soto, PhD, Translational Bioinformatics Lead
Solarea Bio
April 10, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Jaharis 508
Dr. Soto will discuss her research and tips and strategies for transitioning directly to industry following completion of the PhD.
ActualiTea - Presented by Micro-DEI
Special Workshop - Budgeting Basicis
A'tonia Benson, Financial Coach & Outreach Coordinator, Office of the Mayor of Boston
The ActualiTEA will focus on "Budgeting Basics." This workshop reviews the basics of setting up a weekly and monthly budget, covers how to identify revenue and expenses, how to best track cash flow, and how to identify wasteful spending and additional savings strategies.
The DEI committee recognizes that personal finances can be a major source of stress, and being mindful of student/staff/employee's socioeconomic status is vital. In many cases, a person's socioeconomic status and discrepancies between ethnic groups result from a lack of education in finance and how our society is designed. No educational institution teaches individuals about personal finance; instead, the knowledge is gate-kept, and we must figure it out ourselves. Not having Financial Literacy results in debt, limits options, and affects a person's ability to overcome stressful or toxic situations. Financial Literacy gives individuals options and the confidence to advocate for themselves and their worth.
We hope this "Budgeting workshop" can begin the discussion on Financial Literacy and that we become encouraged to contribute to the conversation, ask questions, exchange advice, and discuss financial needs/burdens. While the event is tailored to the budget of graduate students, anyone is welcome (technicians, postdocs, staff, faculty, etc). We want to continue the conversation by doing a series of workshops where we bring financial coaches and experts to provide options for personal financial goals. But first, we will start with the basics!
Food will be provided during the event. Please RSVP for the Budgeting Basics Event here.
Achievements and Awards
Najah Walton, a PhD student in the Neuroscience graduate program, has been awarded a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship. Najah is completing her PhD studies in the laboratory of Jamie Maguire, PhD, Kenneth and JoAnn G. Wellner Professor.
Faith Karhanja Ranji, who completed the Postbaccalaureate Internship in 2015 was the first author of a Commentary published in Cell titled “Starting Conversations toward Inclusion"
Najah Walton received the Hope Scholarship from the Biomedical Science Careers Program.
Najah Walton, a former PhD student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences PhD program and now a postdoctoral fellow was named to the Neuroscience Scholars Program of the Society for Neuroscience. Najah is completing her PhD research under the direction of Jamie Maguire in our department.
Leeanne Vázquez Ramírez, a summer undergraduate intern in the Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences program, has received an ABRCMS Outstanding Presentation Award in Neuroscience. Leeanne studied with Michele Jacob in our department.