
Our Commitment
The Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology is committed to promoting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for our students, staff, and faculty. We are providing a professional, accepting environment to work irrespective of race, gender identity, age, ethnicity, ability, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation. We seek to make all have a sense of belonging by providing this environment, as well as providing continued education in diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
Inclusion and Equity Leadership

Joseph Petrosino, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology
Inclusion and Equity Ambassadors
If you have questions or would like to get involved with the our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and activities, contact our ambassadors below.

Sashi Ramani, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Ambassador

Buck Samuel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Ambassador
Research, Training and Education
Department Molecular Virology and Microbiology faculty, staff and trainees are involved in the following DEI opportunities.
- Training Workshops (available to departments, centers and schools upon request) include:
- It Stops with Me Workshop (discusses microaggressions and bystander intervention skills)
- AAMC Holistic Review in Recruitment and Selection (for faculty, trainee, students)
- AAMC Foundational Principles of Inclusion Excellence
- Creating Inclusive Work and Learning Environments: Addressing Microaggressions
- Unconscious / Implicit Bias Training
- Request a Training
- Saturday Morning Science A 12-week long program held on Saturdays throughout the year. SMS allows 6th – 12th graders in Houston and surrounding areas to participate in interactive sessions designed to enhance exposure to STEM careers and topics (including basic scientific research, clinical research, medical careers, career development activities, and mentored small group experiences). Saturday Morning Science Fall and Saturday Morning Science Spring
- SMS Summer Research Program - An 8-week long summer program that allows a select number of students who have previously participated in Saturday Morning Science (or are part of the affiliate programs with Texas Southern University or Prairie View A & M) to work in the lab or on a research project with a Baylor College of Medicine researcher.
- SMS Summer Research Reimagined (Virtual) 2022 - A robust, interactive virtual summer research program that will be available to all SMS Students.
- Summer Research Summit – Hosted by the Baylor Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research.
Upcoming DEI Training Opportunities
Hosted by the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education.
Date |
Course |
Registration Link |
---|---|---|
March 20 |
Part 3: Building Belonging in a Time of Othering |
|
April 24 |
Part 4: Reflecting on Biases: From Awareness to Engaging in Action |
|
May 22 |
Part 5: Bystander Intervention and Allyship |
Detailed session descriptions can be found on the NIH training site.
Suggested DEI Reading Material
- Ten simple rules for building an antiracist lab
- Ten simple rules for creating and sustaining antiracist graduate programs
- NRMNet: Building a National Resource for Mentorship, Networking and Professional Development to Enhance Diversity
- The science of effective mentoring in STEMM
- Strategies to improve equity in faculty hiring