Excellence in RD requires the integration of DEI principles in all facets of our work. As RD practitioners, we interface broadly across our institutions, supporting diverse trainees, faculty, and staff. This provides us with a unique opportunity to promote inclusive practices with all stakeholders involved in the research enterprise. Integrating DEI into grants has become a standard practice of RD practitioners. As our roles and offices expand, however, we can also play important roles in promoting DEI within our
institution’s research workforce beyond grant writing. Therefore, it is important to disseminate the various ways in which RD professionals can
start or expand the incorporation of DEI efforts into their roles.

Over the last 5 years, the RD community at Stanford University has grown rapidly, with more than a dozen distinct offices across our schools and departments. DEI practitioners have seen a similar growth over this time, with every constituency office incorporating professionals and programming. We have increasingly observed and leveraged the overlap of
these distinct efforts as they are both focused on influencing policies and strategies for inclusive excellence.

In a panel format, we will discuss strategies to integrate RD and DEI at the individual practitioner and institutional levels. Our panelists will share how they’ve incorporated DEI into their efforts, including partnering proactively with institutional DEI offices and affinity groups, hiring DEI professionals/practitioners into RD offices, supporting and finding funding
for programs that support minoritized constituents, and grounding team science support in DEI to build diverse teams and empower minoritized voices. The goal of this session is to motivate and equip RD professionals to incorporate DEI into their functions in a new and imaginative way.

Amber R Moore PhD, Associate Director of Research Development and Belonging, Grant Writing Academy and Office of Equity & Strategic Initiatives, Stanford University School of Medicine ([email protected])

Dr. Amber Moore is a trained immunologist turned DEI & belonging practitioner who is passionate about using research, education, and relationship-building to create inclusive spaces. She is the inaugural Associate Director of Research Development and Belonging in Stanford’s Grant Writing Academy and Office of Equity and Strategic Initiatives. She
forms partnerships and creates resources and opportunities that holistically support the advancement of scientists (and budding scientists) at Stanford and beyond. 

Shaila Kotadia PhD, Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Human Resources Group, Stanford University School of Medicine ([email protected])

Dr. Shaila Kotadia provides guidance on building justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into institutional systems and structures. Her experience in higher education has focused on the integration of JEDI activities across all constituencies. In Dr. Kotadia's role, she is charged with implementing JEDI strategic plans for staff. She also facilitates JEDI topics, reviews HR policies and processes, and creates relationships across silos to increase organizational effectiveness. 

Justin Crest PhD, Associate Director of Team Science, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine ([email protected])

Dr. Justin Crest facilitates the building of inclusive research teams focused on advancing child health for competitive research funding. As the Associate Director for Team Science in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University, he works with research teams to develop large program project grants, institutional awards, and training/education grants. This work is driven by his extensive experience in research development and his prior work as a basic scientist.

Adrienne Mueller PhD, Associate Director of Scientific Education and Outreach, Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine ([email protected])

Dr. Adrienne Mueller runs the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute’s education and outreach programs, including several training grants that support students and postdocs from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition, she oversees several of the institute’s initiatives to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She has extensive experience integrating DEI into both funding proposals, and the projects and programs that emerge from successfully funded awards.

Brandi Stephens PhD, Research Development Strategist, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine ([email protected])

Dr. Brandi Stephens is a physiologist by training with expertise in enhancing diversity and health equity in cardiovascular research. She combines her love for science and passion for grant writing to lead Cardiovascular Medicine clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in developing competitive fellowships and career development awards. In addition, she is the JEDI co-officer for Stanford’s Research Development (RD) Community with goals to further JEDI initiatives among the RD community.