![]() Wynia-Smith have been extremely supportive of my career goals. That is definitely my experience here,” said Summers. I wanted an environment where it was alright to ask questions. Smith’s lab being open to mentorship and training. “I had not worked in a research lab since I was an undergraduate but heard about Dr. ![]() Steven Summers, another DSHREP alum and research technologist in the Smith Lab, agreed that the collaborative culture was what drew him to work in the lab in the first place. Smith regularly accepts undergraduate students like me from underrepresented backgrounds through MCW’s research programs.” Whenever I have questions, I feel comfortable asking anyone in the lab because everyone is willing to help. “I really enjoy the welcoming and collaborative lab culture and environment in the Smith Lab. Smith’s lab has challenged me and taught me so much about basic science research and mentorship, something that will help me throughout my career,” said Esparza. She originally began working in the Smith Lab because of her interest in clinical medicine, but her experiences have sparked her interest in basic research as well. Guadalupe has also worked in the Smith Lab through the American Heart Association Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) and MCW Program for Undergraduate Research (PURE). Guadalupe Valdivia Esparza, a senior at Marquette University whose family is from Mexico, is one of the students who came to the Smith Lab through DSHREP. “People who grow up differently from you can bring different solutions to those challenges.” Science labs are like families because you rely on each other through shared challenges,” said Dr. “You are only as useful as the trainees in the lab. ![]() This expanded to members of the Smith Lab volunteering to deliver mathematics training sessions, facilitating journal article clubs and hosting pipeline program students in their lab along with several other labs in the department of biochemistry each summer. The Smith Lab first began supporting MCW’s Diversity Summer Health-Related Research Education Program, or DSHREP, with orientation lab session training. When there’s a diverse team, everyone benefits from different perspectives.” We have hired people from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. We have hired people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. We have hosted high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. “We have hired people from different walks, and ultimately, we hire the best person for the job. ![]() “The best person for the job does not necessarily look like you,” said Dr. Smith believed that hiring a diverse team would provide valuable new perspectives, different ways of thinking, and help with changing unconscious biases. He and his wife had a unique opportunity to mentor and train students who were underrepresented in science and medicine. Smith learned about MCW’s pipeline programs to address diversity in science, he was impressed by the quality of student participants. At MCW, there are people from many backgrounds who all have a shared interest in science.” “Sarah and I saw that and wanted to participate in diversity programs where opportunities arose. “It’s hard to live in the Milwaukee area and not see a diversity and disparity problem,” said Dr. He felt an interest in science and research would naturally bring people together from diverse backgrounds and enriches experience for everyone. ![]() Smith said his motivation to build a diverse lab began as a moral conviction over disparities and underrepresentation he observed across the Milwaukee area. Over the past four years, the Smith Lab has worked closely with MCW’s Office of Student Inclusion & Diversity to include students from populations traditionally underrepresented in science and medicine.ĭr. Researchers in the Smith Lab within the Department of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) come from countries across the world, including India, the United Kingdom, Belize, Mexico, Slovakia, Nigeria and Ethiopia. ![]()
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