Inaugural Symposium
The inaugural Intersections Science Fellows Symposium was held virtually on January 6-8, 2021. The Symposium was envisioned as a postdoc-designed and led, faculty-advised, multi-institutional collaboration. In its first iteration, the Symposium received >400 applications and featured the contributions of >190 volunteers from 26 collaborating hiring institutions. Over 1,700 people attended the event.A total of 26 fellows were selected through a process that reviewed the applicants’ scientific promise and excellence, as well as their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, 25 Associates were recognized through the Symposium’s website.
The program included exciting keynotes by inspirational scientists like Drs. Kafui Dzirasa, Kizzmekia Corbett and Holden Thorp, networking opportunities with Deans, Chairs and Institute Directors of participating institutions, and professional development sessions on NIH funding, stereotype threat, navigating the job search, acing the faculty interview, negotiating salaries, building community, and balancing research and diversity goals. In addition, fellows were matched to volunteer faculty mentors in their research field and a post-symposium program was developed to continue building a community of support and professional development.
A majority of institutional and departmental leaders who participated indicated that the event was a good way of identifying potential candidates for faculty positions and that the quality of science presented was outstanding and with a potential for high impact.
Learn more about the inaugural Intersections Science Fellows Symposium