OUTgrads

OUTgrads

OUTgrads is an LGBTQIA group dedicated to developing community among Washington University graduate and professional students, faculty, and staff of all genders and sexual orientations, promoting awareness of the issues that affect our communities, and facilitating community involvement by our membership. Our organization is open to any member of the Washington University community.

ProSPER

ProSPER

​Washington University in St. Louis Graduate Students Promoting Science Policy, Education, and Research (ProSPER) is a university-wide graduate student group that promotes the use of science in policy-making through science advocacy and literacy, facilitating inter-professional communication, and increasing scientist participation in policy. The group holds a variety of events, including member education events, case studies on how scientists have been involved in science advocacy, and panel discussions.

Sling Health Network

Sling Health Network

Sling Health Network is a bioengineering design and entrepreneurship incubator founded in 2012 at Washington University in St. Louis. Students, faculty, staff, and St. Louis entrepreneurs team up to tackle unmet needs in healthcare delivery and clinical medicine.

Our group's objectives include:

  • To develop a culture of innovation at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
  • To teach engineering and medical students the skills and processes needed to invent and implement new biomedical technologies
  • To develop novel medical devices targeting unmet clinical needs

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) – WashU Chapter

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) – WashU Chapter

​The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Chapter at WUSTL aims to fulfill the SACNAS organization mission of fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. SACNAS chapters are a powerful and inclusive source of community that provides local and regional support for college students and professionals to succeed in STEM. Collectively, our chapters are the on-the-ground ambassadors behind SACNAS’ movement to achieve true diversity in STEM.

The BALSA Group

The BALSA Group

The Biotechnology and Life Science Advising Group (BALSA) Group is a nonprofit organization operated entirely by graduate students, professional students and postdoctoral researchers from Washington University. Its mission is to provide participants with valuable real-world business experience via short-term consulting projects with local companies. These projects are intended to provide our members with a risk-free introduction to alternative career paths, the chance to meet and work with other talented BALSA consultants and leaders of the St. Louis business community, and an opportunity to significantly expand and strengthen our members' skill set. BALSA members comprised of students from the Medical, Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Business and Law Schools. The BALSA Group's client base is diverse and growing, and includes customers such as: DynaLabs, LLC; Eyelten Therapeutics, Inc; Pulse Therapeutics, Inc; Sigma Aldrich and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Contact us at info@balsagroup.org for more information.​

Women in STEM (WiSTEM)

Women in STEM (WiSTEM)

​Women in STEM (WiSTEM)​ is determined to give individuals who identify as women within DBBS and the wider Washington University visibility, a voice, and a place to feel comfortable in science, medicine, and other STEM fields. WiSTEM works to meet the needs of our members through professional development opportunities, campus and community outreach, and inclusive event programming in DBBS. Through these efforts, WiSTEM hopes to create an inclusive environment within DBBS and the wider Washington University community as a forum for the unique challenges that women-identifying trainees face both on a daily basis and on a larger scale.

Young Scientist Program (YSP)

Young Scientist Program (YSP)

The Young Scientist Program (YSP) is dedicated to attracting pre-college students from disadvantaged backgrounds to scientific careers through activities that emphasize hands-on research and individualized contact between young people and active scientists. Each year, YSP programming reaches hundreds of K-12 students attending St. Louis Public Schools and other regional school districts. We are entirely run by volunteers from Washington University. As scientists, we hope to encourage younger individuals to pursue careers in science by sharing our enthusiasm for what we do.

YSP is currently divided into three branches that work in concert to capture K-12 students’ interest in science early in their educational careers:

  • Teaching Teams – Teams introduce K-12 students to various scientific topics through interactive demonstrations and lessons brought directly into their classroom. Teams consist of five to ten volunteers who design and present the curricula in small groups, fostering an atmosphere where students feel comfortable asking questions. Teaching Teams currently cover topics about anatomy & physiology, chemistry, neuroscience, genetics & genomics, ecology & evolution, and physics.
  • Summer Focus – An eight-week funded summer research internship program for high school students. Each student works directly with two Washington University volunteers: a mentor and a tutor. The mentor works one-on-one with the student in a laboratory on a specific project, while the tutor supports the student throughout their research experience. Each high school student meets weekly with their tutor to review materials related to the summer project. Students also take two courses about science communication skills and preparing to apply to colleges.
  • Continuing Mentoring – A four-year mentoring program for high school students. High school freshmen who are interested and enthusiastic about STEM are paired with a mentor. Mentors visit their students twice a month in school over their high school careers. Together, mentors & mentees engage in science-related activities as well as one-on-one professional development about ACT prep, college applications and resume writing. We are currently partnered with Soldan International Studies High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience.