Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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WashU Physicists attended the NSBP Conference

On November 5-8, 2020, Chipo Raranje, a senior undergraduate student majoring in Physics, and DEI members Valeria Villegas and Saori Pastore were sponsored by the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences and the Department of Physics to attend the National Society of Black Physicists Conference. Chipo expressed her enthusiasm for being able to participate in this event and said, "The National Society of Black Physicists conference was a unique and eye-opening experience for me. As a black woman in physics, I often do not see many people who look like me in the discipline. Being able to learn about the different innovative research being done in labs across America by physicists of color really reminded me that people who look like me also belong in physics." Valeria and Saori also found it to be a very interesting scientific conference and really hope that more students will participate in the coming years. If you are interested in attending next year, please contact one of the members of the DEI Committee.
 

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Well Attended SafeZones Training!

On August 13, 2020, the Department of Physics hosted a very successful SafeZones training session. Thirty nine faculty, staff and students attended, sixteen of whom were faculty members.

These trainings really change your perspectives and open your eyes to your own biases. This training promotes safer and more secure living, learning and research environments for WashU’s LGBTQIA* students.

If you missed the training, you may schedule a one hour session here.

Congratulations Barry Henaku on the USTAR fellowship!

Barry Henaku was supported for 10 weeks of summer research under Washington University’s USTAR program, aimed at helping rising sophomores break into their first research experiences. Under the direction of Prof. Henriksen, he studied the technique of using defects in diamonds as “quantum sensors”, whereby one uses a green laser to illuminate these nanometer-scale defects and observe the intensity of the re-emitted red light. The intensity will vary depending on the strength of external magnetic fields and so can be used as a sensor. Henaku read a number of original papers, and assembled a parts list for a basic experimental setup. This enabled him to build such an “optically-detected magnetic resonance” (ODMR) capability at home, with which he can learn how to carry out this measurement with the goal of ultimately helping to build a new experimental capability in the Henriksen lab on his return to campus.

A message from our former DEI member and awesome scholar, Katie Randolph - We will miss you, too!

I came to the physics department for a master’s fellowship as a JPP scholar with the ultimate research goal of using biophysics to advance sustainable energy technologies.  While here, I worked on research in cellular biophysics with Shankar Mukherji. I also acted as a graduate student peer mentor, a mentor to undergraduates through the Women in Physics program, as well as a committee member for DEI, outreach, & GradSem. Upon completion of my Master of Physics, I was offered a position as a PhD student in Buz Barstow’s lab at Cornell’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering. This lab focuses on sustainable energy development through a myriad of systems! As part of my offer, I received the Sloan Fellowship, a prestigious award from Cornell Engineering that affords me a competitive base stipend as well as 10k in professional development funds. I am excited to move on to the next phase of my career, but I could not have done it without the wonderful support & intellectual development I gained from this department! I will miss you all!  

International Scholars

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in the department of Physics delivered a letter to WashU administrators on Monday, July 6th, 2020, in support of the international community in the wake of recent immigration restrictions.  

We asked WashU to take a stand with its international community members, to add to the voices of many other institutions and organizations that already have done so; to provide up-to-date, comprehensive, accessible, and consistent information across its web pages and regular communications from the OISS and to provide WashU visa holders appropriate tools to navigate the immigration system.

Letter in support of the WashU international community

The Physics Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee welcomes input from all members of the community on ways the department can better foster an inclusive environment. Individuals are welcome to set up a one-on-one or group meeting with any of the committee members listed above for a private conversation. Alternatively, comments may be submitted anonymously to a chosen member of the committee or the entire committee using the form below.

Please Note: Federal and University policies may require us to forward your feedback to appropriate University administrators. With this important caveat, the recipient of your choice will handle the feedback as privately as possible, and will contact the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, department, or University personnel to address the circumstances that led to the feedback. The committee is unable to investigate interpersonal conflicts or potential policy violations. For guidance on addressing interpersonal conflicts or potential policy violations, the Offices of the Ombuds serve as confidential, independent, and impartial resources. For filing a formal complaint, use the Bias Report and Support System or contact Human Resources. If you are unsure whether you wish to file a formal complaint, you can contact a member of the Physics Department's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for guidance on addressing interpersonal conflicts or potential policy violations.