Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

The CCB community is committed to fighting discrimination, racism, and inequality. We affirm our support for and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and putting an end to violence against people of color. We also firmly adhere to the guiding principle that equity, inclusivity, and diversity are central to the progress of science and computational biology. We, as a community, commit to taking a leading role in being actively anti-racist and employing equitable science practices.

Reporting Incidents of Intolerance or Harassment

The CCB community endeavors to be a place where everyone feels safe and included. However, there are times when we find ourselves in need to report something we have observed or experienced. If you have experienced or observed an act of intolerance at UC Berkeley, we encourage you to file a report.

You may file a report anonymously or by name on the UC Systemwide Intolerance Reporting Form. You may also choose to file a report with UCPD in 1 Sproul Hall, 510-642-6760 (non emergency) if you experience or observe a Hate Crime.

UC Berkeley maintains the campusclimate.berkeley.edu website where you will find information about:

  1. Reporting a hate crime
  2. Information and support on reporting sexual violence or harassment
  3. What is a hate crime?
  4. What do I do if I become a target of, or witness, a hate crime or hate-motivated act?
  5. Will the University take action?
  6. On Campus Resources for Education, Advocacy, and Support

The university has a variety of resources to assist you in helping to create and maintain a civil and inclusive campus community.  Some of the other resources for education include:

Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement: Additional reporting, support services, and other information
ASUC Student Advocate Office (SAO)
Student Legal Services

CCB Equity Advisor

Rasmus Nielsen (rasmus_nielsen@berkeley.edu)

The Equity Advisor acts as a liaison between CCB and the campus and interprets and works to implement policies that relate to equity and inclusion. The Equity Advisor has an important role in graduate student admission, fellowship nominations, student retention, programmatic climate for equity and inclusion and faculty searches, advancement and retention

http://diversity.berkeley.edu/programs-services/faculty/faculty-equity-advisors

All graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty and staff who have a question or want to discuss any issue related to program equity and inclusion are encouraged to contact CCB’s equity advisor.

The CCB Head Graduate Advisor, John Huelsenbeck, is also a contact for graduate students.

CCB Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

Faculty representatives:
Rasmus Nielsen (Chair)
Anthony Joseph
Max Staller

Graduate Student representatives:
Fiona Callahan
Rebecca Eliscu

Staff support:
Kate Chase
Francisca Cázares

The CCB DEI Committee first goal is to produce a strategic plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within CCB and ensure its implementation within the the program. The committee will also address any equity issues brought forward on an ad-hoc basis.

Additional Resources

UC Berkeley has a history of embracing diversity. The Center of Computational Biology has taken numerous steps to bolster our diversity recruitment and retention. The CCB PhD Program at UC Berkeley seeks to recruit and train the best computational biologists, including historically underrepresented students. We see a direct connection between diversity and excellence, and make it priority to recruit and meet with students from historically underrepresented backgrounds by participating in annual conferences such as ABRCMS and SACNAS.  Each year we send our current students and staff to table at these diversity outreach events and to meet and talk with prospective students who are interested in the field.