Project-6 The CycloCohort Program

An Early-Career Springboard for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Justice (IDEJ) Focused Leadership in Geoscience & Astronomy

The CycloCohort Program is the central framework that connects all participants and links research Projects 1-5 within The CycloAstro Project.

Brief project summary: This project develops, implements and assesses a new IDEJ-based model for multi-institutional research campaigns, spanning recruitment, training, professional development, successful completion of the key science objectives, and positioning of participants as IDEJ-focused leaders in Geoscience & Astronomy.

The CycloCohort Program has two main goals:

(1) to address known barriers for entry and retention of early-career scientists in Geoscience and Astronomy (ie: be part of the Cohort); and

(2) to be a springboard for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Justice focused leadership.

The CycloCohort Program is being carefully designed, executed and evaluated through an equity lens, with all members of the cohort involved along this process as they join our team. As part of the cohort, you will receive a unique interdisciplinary training, facilitated by a series of activities including but not limited to:

Regular virtual team meetings
Annual team training workshops - caregiving funds available
Professional development stipend
Your own mentoring network
Training opportunities (science, mentoring and more) across the network of six institutions

We are constantly thinking of ways to include the greater geo-astro-community, especially those not funded by the CycloAstro Project. Stay tuned for announcements and check out the

*Watch the recording of Project 6 during our Virtual Open House https://bit.ly/OpenHouseVideos1

Project description: In parallel with research Projects 1-5, The CycloCohort Program is an integrated mentoring and training program that will leverage the interdisciplinary expertise of the research team, across multiple institutions, to provide a unique and powerful career springboard. The project develops, implements and assesses a new IDEJ-based model for multi-institutional research campaigns, spanning recruitment, training, professional development, successful completion of the key science objectives, and positioning of participants as socially-conscious, community-engaged and equity-focused leaders in geoscience and astronomy. A central objective of the cohort program is the training and professional development of a diverse group of graduate students and postdocs, giving special attention to the recruitment and retention of early career scientists from underrepresented groups. The CycloCohort participants will receive a unique interdisciplinary training, which will be facilitated by regular virtual team meetings, annual team training workshops, and a range of mentoring and training opportunities across the network of six institutions. We expect that the CycloCohort program will accelerate the research associated with Projects 1-5, cultivating a team of future leaders/collaborators in the study of Earth and Solar System history, and thought leaders in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and justice.