UW Allies

Welcome to UW Allies

The UW Allies program serves graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in basic science labs at UW. Allies are faculty volunteers who provide trainees with support during conflict with mentors and lab mates, assistance in navigating institutional barriers to success, and connection with institutional and community services. Allies stand in solidarity with trainees, so they don’t have to face challenges alone.

For trainees that would like to request support from the Allies: Graduate student and postdoctoral trainees can send an email to uwallies@proton.me to be matched with an Allies team. Please include a short description of the situation and indicate if there are any members of the Leadership group that you do not want involved so we can keep your information confidential. Click here for more information.

For faculty and staff: if you are interested in learning more about the UW Allies please fill out this form and we will be in contact with you shortly. All faculty and staff are welcome to join the Allies. 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS – subscribe to the Allies calendar for up-to-date info!

Spread the word! Download the 2025 student info flyer here

 

Raising a Resilient Scientist Watch Party and Discussion – cancelled/postponed due to government shut-down

This is a 5-part lecture series offered by the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) that is designed to support faculty and administrators develop skills that promote the mental health and well-being of the academic research community (find details – link to NIH page). We will meet to watch each webinar session, which will be followed by a moderated discussion. Each session will be  at 9:00-10:30 am, in HSB room G-328. Coffee and cookies will be provided.

This event is open to all faculty and staff. This course satisfies RME criteria for UW Medicine Office of Research and Graduate Education. 

Session 1 (Sept 30, 2025): Communication Skills to Build Trainee Resilience.
Session 2 (Oct 7, 2025): Promoting Trainee Resilience
Session 3 (Oct 14, 2025): Building a Welcoming and Collegial Research Group
Session 4 (Oct 21, 2025): Difficult Conversations, Conflict, and Feedback
Session 5 (Oct 28, 2025): The Mental Health and Well-being of your trainees.

We would like to thank the UW Depts of Biochemistry and Neurobiology and Biophysics for co-sponsoring this event, and the Research Mentor Education group in the UW SOM Office of Research and Graduate Education for their support.

 

Mentoring for Lunch – open to all faculty and staff – currently on hiatus

This is a monthly peer-support mentorship training session based on the CIMER Entering Mentoring curriculum. We will begin with a short, moderated discussion of a case study, and then the rest of the session is devoted to issues/examples that attendees bring from their own experience.  Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month at 12:00 – 1:00 pm. This event is open to all faculty and staff. 

Meeting locations
Fall quarter meetings: MCB office conference room – HSB T-wing, right where the 4th floor bridge enters
Winter quarter meetings: TBA
Spring quarter meetings: TBA

Trauma-informed peer support training – scheduled on request, please email DLM16@uw.edu for more information. 

This training will be in the format of a peacemaking circle, adapted from curriculum of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Participants will gain skills to relate to trainees (and colleagues) in culturally appropriate ways that foster deeper understanding and more rewarding relationships.

Modern psychology recognizes that trauma, an experience that overwhelms one’s ability to cope, is universal. When trainees seek out faculty support, they bring with them the totality of their life experiences, including experiences of trauma. One challenge of trauma is that it leaves people feeling disempowered and sometimes makes it difficult to form trusting relationships with people who hold power. Feeling heard and seen is a first, critical step in the building of trust. Instead of making assumptions, a trauma-informed approach involves asking questions and listening intently. This training supports faculty in the practice of trauma-informed listening. Assuming that our trainees are the experts in their own lives, a trauma-informed approach contributes to healing by empowering trainees to identify and implement solutions to career challenges.
 
This event is open to all faculty and staff, but space is limited so please fill out this form to register if you would like to attend. This training is required before Allies can serve on a trainee support team.