Trainees Recognizing Excellence & Diversity in Science (TREaDS)

NIDDK's Trainees Recognizing Excellence and Diversity in Science (TREaDS) seminars are a unique leadership and networking opportunity for NIDDK fellows. Organized by and for NIDDK fellows, TREaDS seminars invite exceptional scientists and clinicians who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to share their experiences with small groups of NIDDK fellows each month. The seminars are open to current NIH Division of Intramural Research fellows and closed to the public.

Led by NIDDK Fellows

TREaDS seminars are led by a steering committee of NIDDK fellows with support from senior staff and the Fellows Career Development and Recruitment Office.

Meet NIDDK’s Diverse Community

TREaDS seminars offer NIDDK fellows the opportunity to network with members of the institute’s diverse and vibrant community. The seminars bring together fellows of different genders, sexual orientations, and racial and ethnic communities with a range of scientific interests.

This series is the first of its kind at NIH, and from the beginning, it has been empowered and backed by the NIDDK Fellows Career Development and Recruitment Office, leadership, and investigators. NIDDK has shown it believes its trainees, and most importantly, it has given its trainees a platform and a voice to help create change.

Past Speakers

Champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion from leading universities and institutions across the U.S. and NIH are invited to discuss the experiences of underrepresented groups in biomedical research. Past speakers include

Dr. Enrique M. de la Cruz, Ph.D.

Dr. Enrique M. de la Cruz, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Head of Branford College at Yale University, researches the actin cytoskeleton, molecular motor proteins, and nucleotide signaling enzymes. Dr. de la Cruz led the inaugural TREaDS seminar.

Dr. Elina I. Zuniga, Ph.D.

Dr. Elina I. Zuniga, Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego, is an expert on the immune response to acute and chronic viral infections using a holistic approach that considers the infected host as a whole. Dr. Zuniga discussed the multi-system response to viral infection.

Seminar Activities

Seminars cover a wide range of activities, including

• discussions on leading-edge research topics from obesity prevention among minorities to protein signaling mechanisms
• conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• lunch and “teatime,” where fellows can network with guest speakers after each seminar

Are you a fellow at NIDDK? For more information and to register for the seminars, access the Fellows Career Development and Recruitment Office Intranet site (NIH login required)