Chen Institute Diversity and Inclusion Award

The Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience at Caltech is offering up to four $500 awards per academic year to support Caltech neuroscience graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are actively working to achieve diversity and inclusion at Caltech, and/or the wider community and STEM education. These awards are intended to recognize active individuals for the time and energy they are dedicating to these efforts. Awards will be presented to persons that bring awareness to diversity and inclusion, and who promote equal opportunity in race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, and marital and family status. Examples of efforts include, but are not limited to, education through shared experience, outreach to local communities, creating and participating in programs and organizations working to bring change and enhance diversity and inclusion.

To make a nomination or apply for the award, please submit the following information, 1 page max, 12-point font, by Monday, April 5, 2021, 8:00am PDT.
Nominations will be accepted from members of the Caltech community. Neuroscience students and postdocs may also self-nominate.

Nominator Name and Email

Name of nominee

Option (if applicable)

Lab/Group

Description of work promoting diversity and inclusion at Caltech, and/or the wider community and STEM education.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Chen Institute affiliated faculty for efforts in the following areas:

Leadership – taking on leadership roles within Caltech and/or the wider community and ensuring the organization has policies and systems that focus on the importance and benefits of managing diversity, equality and promoting a culture of inclusion.
Examples: creating and implementing programs within an organization that promote change, support the needs of diverse organization members, fostering an environment that celebrates differences.

Commitment – showing a clear and ongoing commitment to raising and deepening awareness of equality and diversity issues at Caltech and/or the wider community.
Examples: investing time and effort into bringing change by regularly being involved in activities and programs that promote diversity and inclusion.

Education – educating the Caltech and/or the wider community about the importance of diversity and inclusion, including how it can be improved, introduced and supported.
Examples: taking part in town hall meetings and educating through shared experience, outreach to local schools, being a role model to school age and undergraduate students by sharing different routes to science careers.

Collaboration – participating in programs and organizations working to bring change and enhance diversity and inclusion at Caltech and/or the wider community.
Examples: supporting and working with internal and external organizations to spread awareness about diversity and inclusion.

Please submit your nomination by attaching it as a PDF file to the following email:
2021_Di.w721222lo6t439n1@u.box.com

Name your attached PDF file as follows: Nominee/Applicant First Name_Nominee/Applicant Last Name_Chen Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Your nomination/application will be uploaded to Box and you will receive a confirmation email from Box within a few hours of submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email after 24 hours, please contact us directly at Chen.Inst@caltech.edu

Awards will be announced by Friday, April 16, 2021