Student Groups

BGchessA

Monthly meeting for learning and playing chess. Very relaxed atmosphere - BGS students of all skill levels are encouraged to come! Equipment, snacks and drinks provided by BGSA.

Contact: dkal@upenn.edu

BGS Book Club

The BGS Book Club meets every other month to discuss a book chosen by the members in a stress-free environment. Our reads include any work of fiction: literary, fantasy, historical, thrillers, sci-fi, etc. During the meeting, we provide refreshments and have giveaways for a chance to win the book to be discussed on the following meeting. To receive our meeting announcements, join our email list by filling out this form. You can also find us on GoodReads and join our group: Penn BGS Book Club. If you have questions or want more information, you can email us at bgsbookclub.upenn@gmail.com.

BGS Social Gaming

BGS Social Gaming hosts monthly game nights where everyone is welcome, and board and card games of all sorts are played. If you have a game you want to play, feel free to bring your copy, or just choose from the variety brought by the hosts! Pizza and drinks are provided, and it's a great way to have some fun, use your brain (or turn it off), and make friends (or frenemies) with people from all over BGS. Sign up for the listserv/google group to get reminders about when and where Game Night will be hosted! If you don't want to sign up with your Google account, just open the link in a private window to enter your e-mail address of choice.

Contact: cpai@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

BGS Tennis Club

BGS Tennis Club is a non-competitive, friendly community of tennis players focused on serving the biomedical graduate student community. We play tennis and serve as a group of friends whom support each other through our graduate school endeavors. We do not have a skill level requirement, and have both an organized indoor season and an outdoor season. For more information, please email Darwin Ye.

Book Club

Contact: bgsbookclub.upenn@gmail.com

Ernest E. Just Biomedical Society (E.E. Just)

The Ernest E. Just Biomedical Society at the University of Pennsylvania aims to serve the general academic, social and professional needs of the biomedical community, with an emphasis on the retention of underrepresented PhD students.

Contact: eejustupenn@gmail.com

Knitting Club

Contact: hegarty@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

LTBGS+

LGBTQIA Students in Biomedical Graduate Studies (LTBGS+) seeks to foster the formation of an inclusive community for LGBTQ+ graduate students in the Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) program. They strive to provide access to seminars from LGBTQ+ biomedical professionals who will discuss their experiences as LGBTQ+ in scientific careers. They also hope to sponsor seminars based around LGBTQ+ health issues (such as transgender health, HIV/AIDs education, and PrEP) from professionals with experience in working in these areas. If you're interested in learning more, email ltbgs.penn@gmail.com.

Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group

Most students in science receive little to no training in how to communicate science to non-scientists, how to advocate for the continued role of science in policymaking, or how science contributes to global diplomacy. To address this gap in knowledge, we explore the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues that arise from scientific and technical progress. The Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group creates and provides opportunities for students and other science trainees at the University of Pennsylvania to get hands-on training and experience in the fields of science communication, policy, and diplomacy. To learn more and sign up for various subgroups and listservs, check out the PSPDG website or email penn.science.policy@gmail.com.

PMSO

Contact: david.zhang@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Penn Graduate Women in Science & Engineering (PGWISE)

Penn Graduate Women in Science & Engineering (PGWISE) was founded to foster an environment at Penn and nationally where women are given the opportunities to be successful in their chosen fields, facilitating the growth and innovation in our country as a whole.

Contact: pgwise.upenn@gmail.com

Soccer Club

Contact: jared.collina@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

SACNAS is an inclusive and national organization dedicated to fostering the success of underrepresented trainees in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. As a Penn SACNAS Chapter our mission is to provide support, as well as academic and professional development opportunities, for students in the biomedical sciences. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter for more information.

Contact: upenn.sacnas@gmail.com

Students Confronting Racism and White Privilege

SCRWP exists to enhance the quality of life and provide a community for students wishing to promote racial diversity and advocate against racial injustice at the University of Pennsylvania. The group was founded by white students with the purpose of confronting their own white privilege. Today, SCRWP is a multiracial coalition of students examining race-related issues in ourselves, our schools, and our society.

Contact: scrwp.gse@gmail.com