Lab group

• The lab is a safe space where anyone can share their needs, ask for help, and work collaboratively. 

• The lab takes an active stand to increase diversity in behavioral neuroscience, by actively recruiting students from historically marginalized backgrounds.

• We respectfully address concerns whether they are voiced in the moment or upon reflection at a later date.

• We commit to regularly discuss ideas to be better allies and improve our lab culture. 

• We encourage everyone to participate in shaping the lab environment and policies (amendments to this document can be suggested by anyone!)

• Prof. Gonzalez welcomes every feedback, her door is always open to discuss any issues.

• We dedicate one lab meeting semester to DEI discussions.

Research practices

• We include sex as a biological variable, understanding that research including female rodents is essential to the progress of behavioral neuroscience. 

• We encourage research practices that address equity, consider the socio-ecological context of our work and its potential impact on diverse communities.

• We commit to provide equitable opportunities for all students, encouraging application to different programs that focus on historically marginalized groups (list of programs to be added soon).

• Interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration with other labs is encourage whenever possible. 

Classroom practices

• We commit to anti-discriminatory teaching by implementing inclusive and equitable teaching practices. For instance, we follow the principles suggested by Bell Hooks in her book "Teaching to transgress".

• We make clear our expectations for student performance and participation in the class activities.

• We believe no student is “born bad at” a subject. We want to give all student a fair opportunity to learn, and hopefully fall in love with the content of the class.

• We encourage students to be independent thinkers, debating and expressing their ideas in the classroom.

• We design class activities with multiple pathways for learning and provide varied forms of assessment. 

• We ensure that all students have equitable access to course content and learning (See Division of Student Life)

Broader Community

• Members of the lab and students from any class imparted by Dr. Gonzalez can propose and participate in outreach activities for the local community to make neuroscience more accessible to the public. 

• We are aligning our efforts with those of Reed college and the neuroscience community aimed toward increasing diversity, equity and inclusion and correcting systems of exclusion.