Building an inclusive and representative genomics community through research training and career exposure across the life course of education pathways

Dr. Audrey Hendricks is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is passionate about increasing inclusion and representation in all areas of science, including who completes the research, what questions are asked, and for whom the research is useful. In this aim, she co-directs two training programs to increase representation in genetics: Pathways in Genomic Data Science (PATH-GDS) and Pathways in Genomic Research Experiences for Undergraduates (PATH-GREU). She also leads the Hendricks Team, which aims to develop and apply statistical and machine learning methods to better understand the complex nature of human health. Current projects include improving the utility and equity of large, publicly available resources, identifying the biological mechanisms of healthy diets, elucidating the genomic underpinnings of conditions and traits, and, most recently, evaluating how estimates of genetic risk vary including by social determinants of health and throughout the lifespan including the menopause transition.

Betzaida is a PhD student in the Human Medical Genetics & Genomics Program at the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus. Betzaida was born in Mexico and lived there until she was 12 years old when her family moved to Colorado. She obtained a B.S. and M.S. in Forensic Science and spent 5 years working as a Forensic DNA Analyst at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Betzaida’s research interests are at the intersection of Population Genetics and Biostatistics. She is in the lab of Dr. Gignoux in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and is currently interested in precision medicine efforts that focus on underrepresented populations. Outside of research, Betzaida is passionate about teaching, mentoring, and supporting students interested in STEM careers.

Kristy L. Duran is the Director of Undergraduate Research and a Professor of Biology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of New Mexico, M.S. in Neurobiology from Colorado State University, and Ph.D. in Evolutionary Ecology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is a Ford Foundation Fellow and the President-Elect of the Society of Senior Ford Fellows. She is passionate about undergraduate research and issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion and is the Co-PI on the NIH Training Grant titled Genomics Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students.

Louisa A. Stark is a Professor of Human Genetics and holds a H.A. and Edna Benning Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She is the Associate Director (formerly director) of the Genetic Science Learning Center, whose mission is “making science and health easy for everyone to understand.” The Center develops educational materials that are freely disseminated world-wide via its Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics websites. It is particularly known for its visually-engaging, scientifically-accurate multimedia educational materials that address all areas of life science. New materials focus on connecting science content with career opportunities.