The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, Equity, and Justice (DIBEJ) is pleased to sponsor BELONG, a community-driven initiative of Stanford Neuroscience trainees.
BIPOC Emerging Leaders Of the Next Generation (BELONG) is focused on creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for individuals who specifically identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or People of Color within our neuroscience community.
The general goals of BELONG are to:
- Foster community and provide a safe space to share concerns and science
- Inquire about career advancement and opportunities within the field of neuroscience
- Provide mentorship and networking opportunities focused on the needs of early career BIPOC neuroscientists
We would like to make this a safe, supportive, and engaging community that can serve as a microclimate for our scientific lives. This includes developing friendships and collaborations, the opportunity for informal and community-based mentorship, learning about new ideas, technical skills, and people-whatever we need it to be. As much as anything, we would like this to be a place where joy and belonging come easy.
Our events
BELONG is committed to promoting the work of the next generation of BIPOC neuroscience leaders. The BELONG seminar series highlights the scientific work of exceptional postdocs in the field prior to their transition to the job market and facilitates exposure, networking, and mentorship opportunities for Stanford trainees. Stay tuned for future updates on our seminar series.
BELONG also holds biweekly lunches, generally on Tuesdays at 12 pm. Neuroscience trainees of all stages (undergraduates, postbac students, graduate students, technicians, and postdocs) are invited to join us. Food will be provided! To participate in these lunches, join our email list by filling out this interest form.
BELONG Leadership and Organizing Team
2023–2024
Monique Mendes, PhD | Postdoc in Biology
Alex Durango | Graduate Student in Neurosciences
2022–2023
Monique Mendes, PhD | Postdoc in Biology
Mari Sosa, PhD | Postdoc in Neurobiology
Avery Krieger | Graduate Student in Neurosciences
Caroline Arellano-Garcia | Graduate Student in Biology
Alex Durango | Graduate Student in Neurosciences
Christian Cepeda | Undergraduate in Human Biology
2021-2022
Mari Sosa, PhD | Postdoc in Neurobiology
Avery Krieger | Graduate Student in Neurosciences
Caroline Arellano-Garcia | Graduate Student in Biology
Akshay Jagadeesh | Graduate Student in Psychology
Tyler Bonnen | Graduate Student in Psychology
Contact us
For more information, please contact belong-org at stanford.edu.
To request addition to our email list, please fill out our interest form.