Diversity at IGI

Diversity at IGI

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to realizing the promise of genome engineering. We strive to provide a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive, and reflects the diversity of our community, with equal opportunity in hiring, development, and advancement.

We envision a world in which genome-engineering innovations benefit humanity and are accessible to all. We are dedicated to creating genome technologies that benefit historically underserved communities or advance genome-editing technology to meet these ends. Dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders in these communities is crucial to doing this work effectively.

Among our research projects that aim to benefit underserved groups (detailed below), we are particularly proud of our efforts as a partner in the only non-profit group creating a CRISPR therapy for sickle cell disease. This disease affects about 10,000 Black Americans in California alone, and about 8 million people worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. You can learn more about our work on this flagship project here.

For CRISPR technology to truly benefit all, we must create new paradigms for distributing genome-engineering technologies that ensure broad, equitable access. Learn more about the IGI Public Impact program.

A Strategic Plan for DEI at IGI

Inspired by the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement more broadly, a group of IGI members formed a DEI Committee in July 2020. Over the following two years, the committee worked with the UC Berkeley Division of Equity & Inclusion to create a demographics and climate survey for IGI members and wrote a DEI Report and Strategic Plan. Following the completion of these documents in summer 2022, the committee began working with IGI leadership and campus partners to hire a DEI Officer to enact the Strategic Plan.

Learn more about IGI’s ongoing efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Research

Research projects that benefit underserved groups include:
Our Berkeley Ethics and Regulation Group for Innovative Technologies (BERGIT) group meets regularly to discuss research and technology ethics, including the impact of new technologies on non-dominant groups.
We regularly highlight researchers from minoritized groups in press materials & social media.
We have an ongoing Meet an IGI Scientist profile series, which highlights researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds.

COVID-19

We partnered with groups who work with underserved members of our community, including Lifelong Medical Care in Berkeley and Roots Community Health Center in Oakland, to process tests for high-risk community members.
We are funded COVID-19 research projects that benefited underserved groups, including:
Together with our partners at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the IGI and the University of California have developed a non-exclusive, no-fee, royalty-free license to make new technology related to COVID-19 available to any entity working on this disease.

We welcome all applicants for employment and commit to providing all employees with equal opportunity for advancement, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin or ancestry, disability, veteran status, military service, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.