A Letter From the Vice President for Research

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the DEI in Research Digest! This Digest is a component of our DEI in Research Initiative here at the University of Cincinnati. This initiative is a key component of our Research2030 strategic plan that is aligned with Next Lives Here and our core values of Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact.

The DEI in Research Initiative involves not only this Digest, but also our DEI in Research Fellowship, currently held by Professor Tai Collins in CECH, and the DEI in Research Advisory Council.

The initiative is a partnership between the Office of Research and the Graduate School with the following goals:

Gaining a baseline understanding of the current culture of research at UC (Fellowship)
Advancing an inclusive culture of research at UC through the establishment of equitable and inclusive procedures and practices (Fellowship)
Elevating the impact and outcomes of research for all at UC (Advisory Council)
Growing collective awareness of and increasing the number of diverse investigators submitting proposals to major funding opportunities (Digest)
Celebrating, supporting, developing, and nurturing our diverse talent by seeking out and nominating more differently abled faculty, underrepresented minority faculty, trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming faculty, and faculty who self-identify as female, for nationally competitive awards and fellowships (Fellowship, Advisory, Digest).

I want to thank all those who are serving on the Advisory Council and the leaders of this initiative: James Mack (Grad School), Teri Reed (CEAS/Research), Jennifer Krivickas (Research), and especially Josie Evans-Phillips (CECH) who chairs the Advisory Council and serves as editor of this Digest.

I want to invite you to become involved in our DEI in Research activities – feel free to reach out to Josie or me for more information or details on how you can help make a difference.

Pat Limbach

Vice President for Research

In the Headlines

Highlighting new and exciting news regarding DEI at the University of Cincinnati

Alisha Davis-Kent on Wednesday speaks about her experience as a GE industrial engineer. GE announced it will invest $5 million in a new college-preparedness program to introduce Cincinnati-area students to careers in engineering. Photo/GE

GE to invest $5M on the next generation of Cincinnati engineers

Next Engineers aims to increase diversity in engineering by reaching 3,500 local students

Whitney Gaskins, assistant dean of inclusive excellence and community engagement for UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, said both UC and GE recognize the challenges underrepresented students face in pursuing STEM careers. “Underrepresented groups have the talent but continuously lack the access to opportunity,” Gaskins said. “The GE Next Engineers program will help us connect and provide the necessary access. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to continue our outreach initiatives that will undoubtedly have a profound impact in the Cincinnati community.”

Funding Organizations and Opportunities in the DEI Space in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences & STEMM

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in STEMM Research

Learn More

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in AHSS Research

Learn More

DEI Research in Action

Tai Collins' Fellowship gets ready to take action

University of Cincinnati associate professor Tai Collins has been appointed as the 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow in UC's Office of Research. The first part is the fellowship involves research to learn more about the disparities in research across the entire campus and where loopholes exist so to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in research.

Learn More