Affinity Groups

The University of Minnesota and its broader community contain a multitude of affinity groups that may be of interest to UMN postdocs. Please check out the PDA's list of existing groups and check out any that are of interest to you! Additionally, if you see we have missed one, please email us at pda@umn.edu to have it added.

• Diversity Community of Practice - "The purpose of the DCoP is to develop and leverage personal, professional, and technical expertise, and to share innovative strategies that ensure successful implementation of equity and diversity goals at the University of Minnesota."

• Empowering Women in Science - "The main objective of EWIS is to enable and empower all women-and gender minority identified scientists to fulfill their career goals and reach the highest level of leadership by advocating for gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields."

• CFANS Artemisia Leadership Initiative - "The Artemisia Leadership Initiative inspires and empowers female scientists and strengthens overall capacity to respond to future challenges in food, agriculture and natural resources by addressing gender-based barriers and improving leadership skills."

• Lactation Advocacy Committee - "The Lactation Advocacy Committee (LAC) is a volunteer coalition of University employees and students dedicated to supporting breastfeeding parents at the University of Minnesota."

• Staff Advancing Diversity & Inclusion Committee (SADI) - "The Staff Advancing Diversity and Inclusion (SADI) Committee was created in 2015 as a grassroots effort when a group of Medical School staff recognized a need for DEI opportunities focused on staff, a sometimes-overlooked group between faculty and students. Since 2017, SADI has hosted various workshops and dialogue circles for staff on how to become a better ally, recognize implicit bias and microaggressions, understand privilege and advance racial equity, confront ableism and sexual harassment."

• Center for Women in Medicine and Science - "The Center for Women in Medicine and Science (CWIMS) supports and facilitates leadership and professional development opportunities to achieve gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. We aim to create supportive institutional collaborations and infrastructures to ensure gender equity now and in the future."

• U of M Office for Equity and Diversity Affinity Groups - Including the:

  • Asian American Pacific Islander Desi (AAPID) Staff & Faculty Association

  • American Indian Faculty & Staff Association

  • Black Faculty & Staff Association

  • Disabled Employees at the U

  • Jewish Faculty & Staff Association (JFSA)

  • Latino/a/x Faculty & Staff Association

  • Pride at Work

  • U of M Indigenous Women & Women of Color

  • U of M Veteran and Military Affinity Group

  • Duluth Affinity Groups

• Future PI Slack - "The Future PI Slack group is an informal peer mentoring group for biomedical postdocs who are interested in staying in academia. We also have channels for those exploring non-academic options."

• 500 Women Scientists - "Our mission is to serve society by making science open, inclusive, and acceisble by fighting racism, patriarchy, and oppressive societal norms."

• AAAS STEMM Opportunity Alliance

• Science Green Open Access (decreases author processing charges to minimize financial impact of publishing open access)