As a first-generation immigrant woman of color in science, I know the importance of education as a pathway to empowerment and social mobility. Gender parity, encouraging students from underrepresented and socioeconomic backgrounds, and being an LGBTQ ally are the causes I care very deeply. In biology, organisms maximize their fitness by diversifying their assets to hedge their bets. For example, diversity in the packaging of an indispensable viral protein enhances the fitness of Cytomegalovirus- a leading cause of congenital disability and solid organ transplant failure (Chaturvedi et al. PNAS 2020). Another example is of developmental bet-hedging in annual winter plants, where the author suggests that diversity at the population level can maximize the fitness of a population in an unpredictable environment (Cohen. J Theor Biol 1966). Academia can learn the importance of diversity from nature. To survive, it needs to hedge its bets by having a diverse population of scientists, irrespective of gender, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or nationality. In a recent report (Lerchenmueller & Sorenson. Research Policy 2018), in life sciences, the ratio of females: males from terminal degree (1:1) reduces drastically (2:8) by the time they reach full professor title.
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Throughout my journey as a scientist and the only person in my family to have ever left India, I believe that implementing DEI can be a very empowering and enriching experience for women, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ, people coming from disadvantaged background, refuges and other minority communities in STEM. I feel empowered from the support of peers and mentors to excel as a scientist. This has taught me how to lead and give back to society and uplift people who can excel in science, provided they receive the initial catalyst of acknowledgment, fair opportunities, empathy, and support.
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The Chaturvedi Lab is deeply committed to DEI. We believe that diverse backgrounds fuel innovation, and we strive to create an environment where all differences are celebrated. Our goals include treating everyone fairly, ensuring opportunities for all, and fostering a space where every voice is heard. To uphold these values, we actively recruit diverse talent, mentor underrepresented groups, maintain an equity committee to oversee lab practices, align our research objectives with the broad spectrum of human experiences, and routinely undergo DEI training. In our lab, every individual's perspective is valued, and we continuously work towards a truly inclusive research community.