We in the Cuevas Lab value the diversity of our lab members and research participants. We take seriously our role as allies for Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color and we are committed to learning and understanding, and dismantling systems of oppression, particularly in academia. You are welcome in this lab whatever the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, and your gender identity. Read on for some of the concrete steps we are taking in the lab to address racism and encourage diversity in the 2020 – 2021 academic year.
- Diversity focused lab meetings. These are meeting where we amplify voices of those who have been historically excluded and discuss issues of race and racism in science and academia. Going forward, we are making a commitment to be mindful of the diversity of samples in papers we review and to think about how sample diversity and the questions that were asked influence findings.
- Engaging in more community based participatory research. It is our mission in the Cuevas Lab to make a difference in people’s lives through the work we do. It is hard for our work to make a difference when the community is not actively involved in the research process from start to finish, not as “subjects” or “participants” but as partners. As a concrete step forward in that directions, we commit to including a timeline and dedicated funds to establish a community advisory board for all future community facing grants.
- Reviving and refreshing each new academic year. The world we live in changes rapidly and practices quickly become outdated and superseded. We in the Cuevas Lab are making a commitment to review our diversity statement and practices at the beginning of each semester, checking in with students and staff to see what is working or not working for them and making adjustments when necessary.
Thank you to the Brain and Body Lab at UCLA for the Diversity Statement Template.
Cuevas Lab 