Penn Trainee Advocacy Alliance Program

Program Description

The Trainee Advocacy Alliance Program (TAA) is a collaborative group of Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) graduate students, the Biomedical Postdoctoral Program (BPP) postdocs, and Penn faculty members from across the University who are committed to creating, nurturing, and maintaining a Penn biomedical research community that embodies inclusivity, diversity, and equity.

With the full support and access to resources within IDEAL Research, TAA will provide trainee support for members of the Penn Medicine research training community especially those from under-resourced backgrounds and identities that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical sciences.

All TAA members complete training in restorative justice, inclusive mentorship, and mental health intervention to ensure that individuals from all identities are embraced and advocated for within biomedical research.

Program Eligibility

TAA is a resource for trainees facing adversity within the biomedical research community – especially those from under-resourced or historically underrepresented backgrounds experiencing racial, gender, disability, or other identity-based discrimination.

Trainee Eligibility

We seek engaged, scientifically-trained individuals from all Penn schools, particularly those with:

• Graduate Students
• PostBacs
• PostDocs
• Medical Students
• Master’s Students
• Research Technicians
• Undergraduate Student Interns
• High School Student Interns
• Any other individuals working under an advisor

Program Services

TAA provides the following services to its members:

• Providing a supportive environment to discuss experiences
• Confidential counseling and guidance
• Role playing conversations
• Email reviews
• Navigation and referral to official Penn resources
• Mediation services
• Direct intervention
• Assistance in filing an official complaint – incident reporting