Mission Statement

CELL, the Committee for Engagement, Leadership and Learning, is a group of Physiology trainees, faculty, and staff. We are committed to implementing new practices to continually improve representation of people from all backgrounds of life and to advocate for equal opportunities, resources, and support for the next generation of scientists.

We strive to cultivate teaching, training, mentorship, collaborations, and academic exchange within the Physiology department, across the University, and the broader scientific community.

In pursuit of our mission, CELL has launched several key initiatives, including

• Wednesday Coffee Chats, to encourage inter-lab comradery and collaboration
• At The Leading Edge (ATLE) seminar series—in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Muscle Institute—which showcases innovative research conducted by exceptional early career scientists with a wide range of experiences and perspectives
• Partnerships with Penn centers that engage undergraduates and high-school students in hands-on research experiences with Department scientists.

We have an evolving program of career-development panels to help trainees understand and prepare for a wide range of careers that build on their time at Penn. We also sponsor department-wide off-campus social events that foster community among students, postdocs, faculty, and staff.

Through these initiatives we develop a community where all feel welcomed and can thrive. We are committed to the ideal that a supportive environment fuels innovation and excellence in research.