COGS was formed in 2023 by graduate students, postdocs, and research scientist engineers at UW Genome Sciences.

The primary purpose of COGS is to foster an atmosphere of inclusivity in the Department of Genome Sciences. COGS aims to empower a diverse community in our department and to ensure it is an accepting and supportive place for all, especially for people from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds. We aim to provide support, mentorship, and guidance to aid individuals as they transition and navigate through their graduate and professional careers. We achieve this purpose by providing access to diverse speakers across an array of fields and career trajectories, developing mentorship and outreach opportunities, assisting with career advancement and work-life balance, and providing opportunities for discussions about the culture, practice, and impacts of scientific research. We provide opportunities for community engagement in events that foster inclusive and intersectional dialogue.

To learn more about our predecessor organizations, GSAIMS and WiGS, you can read about our history.