SAMIKSHA A. RAUT
Present Position
Associate Professor of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Chapter Affiliation
University of Alabama - Birmingham Chapter
Background Information
Resume
Biography
Statement
As a graduate student in the early 2000, I was aware of Sigma Xi’s mission and was an active seminar attendee for my school’s chapter. I always looked forward to these monthly seminars to hear speakers from different disciplines and most importantly, to learn something new. I have to admit that it never really occurred to me that I should become a member of Sigma Xi. However, after starting as a faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), I again picked up attending these seminars and received a nomination to be a member of Sigma Xi. Through my own teaching and mentoring experiences, I constantly felt the need to broaden the participation of those engaged in science with the public. I felt that these aims were in alignment with those of Sigma Xi. With this intent in mind, I served as a vice-president and thereafter as a president for my chapter. During my tenure as a president of my chapter, I embarked on a membership drive, increased the participation of undergraduate and graduate students in our seminars and fostered diversity in inviting speakers from different ethnicities. Besides, under my leadership, our chapter also secured the very first “Diversity Grant” from Sigma Xi. This grant will now increase “access” to our underrepresented minority students from nearby high schools to participate in research endeavors. This initiative will involve our UAB undergraduate students serving as mentors for the in-coming high school students via summer research opportunities.
I developed an interest in running for the associate director position after attending the annual Sigma Xi conference in 2019. The best part of this experience was attending the business meetings as a delegate and gaining a deeper insight into the governance of Sigma Xi at all levels. I then understood the national impact of Sigma Xi’s mission on institutions of higher education. Besides, it was just an awe-inspiring experience to see budding scientists of tomorrow including high school, undergraduate and graduate students presenting their research at this conference. If elected as an associate director, I will work with the constituency director to fulfill my assigned duties. Additionally, I will focus on intensifying efforts to recruit and sustain Sigma Xi memberships by connecting with other organizations/conferences, promote the relevance and importance of regional chapters with an aim to increase institutional buy-in and increase the participation of students at the annual Sigma Xi conference. To accomplish the latter, I will brainstorm ideas on securing funding to promote student travel grants and finally help intensify regional outreach events to enhance the understanding of science among the public to help fight misinformation.
I strongly believe that with my academic experiences and above all, with my firm passion, commitment and dedication towards science, it will only be my honor to serve Sigma Xi.