Core Values

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

In the Crane lab we strive to create a research space that cultivates a safe, inclusive, fair environment, where our members can thrive to advance scientific frontiers. We are committed to fostering a respectful and positive workplace culture. Our laboratory seeks to recruit and support individuals of all genders, ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities, ages, beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and groups that have historically been underrepresented in science.

We are committed to fostering the scientific curiosities of the Cornell and greater Ithaca community through engagement in various outreach programs.

CHAMPS

The Cornell-HHMI Accelerating Medical Progress through Scholarship (CHAMPS) program, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), provides opportunities for high caliber students from groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical careers to engage in scholarship and research. Increasing the participation from these cohorts is critical to draw from the Nation’s full potential of scientific talent and to foster a sustainable pool of biomedical researchers for the future.

CHAMPS students are selected from early stage Cornell students who demonstrate high levels of academic promise. The students participate in advanced chemistry preparation and conduct independent research in a mentored environment. In many cases, the students produce impactful advances to cutting-edge research in a variety of scientific disciplines. As a group, the students also receive instruction in work practice, professional development, responsible conduct, and hone their writing and presentation skills. Additionally, the students lead scientific outreach efforts to K-12 schools and serve as mentors to less experienced students. Seeing as Dr. Crane was the founder of this program, this initiative is one that our lab cares particularly deeply about. Several of our current and former lab members have been mentors for the undergraduate scholars in CHAMPS.

New York State Science Olympiad

The New York State Science Olympiad is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to engage and challenge students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through various levels of team-based, collaborative, and competitive tournaments throughout New York State. Cristina, Jess, and Rebecca have volunteered at various Division B and Division C tournaments leading events such as “Crime Busters” and “Geographical Mapping”.
We are so proud to be playing our part in 1) increasing the interest and success in STEM education of Middle School and High School students; 2) improving community perception of STEM education; and 3) recognizing both talented students and dedicated educators in STEM education through teamwork, cooperation, and respectful competition.

Cornell EYH

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a 1-day conference aimed at getting 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls interested in STEM. Our enthusiastic graduate students and post docs create and lead hour long STEM workshops filled hands-on activities.

This past year, our lab created a virtual lab tour to introduce EYH student participants to the variety of questions that can be addressed through different protein structure and function analysis. Aside from the lab tour, our lab chose to design an interactive virtual workshop explaining how to make a homemade pH indicator and using it to test the acidity and basicity of everyday household products. You can watch the video here: Crane Lab EYH

Cornell GRASSHOPR

The Graduate Student School Outreach Program (GRASSHOPR) is a grad student-run organization under the umbrella of the Public Service Center that allows you to teach 3-5 mini-lessons to K-12 students in the local area on topics related to your research. This year Cristina, Maithili, and Rebecca designed a course catered for 3rd and 4th graders about the basic biomolecules all around us: carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. We are so excited to see them in action teaching at South Hill Elementary this upcoming Spring.

The Elves Program

The Elves Program was founded in 1989 to benefit underprivileged children in Tompkins County and the surrounding area.  Each year our lab works together to sponsor a child for whom we shop everything on their holiday wish list including new socks, undergarments, pajamas, an outfit with matching shoes, and a few toys.  Our hope is that by providing new clothes children will be more confident in the classroom, and by providing STEM games children will be more open to exploring STEM subjects and careers later in life! Increasing access to STEM-education themed learning games and toys is just one way of instilling in young minds that math and science are conquerable subjects that anyone can learn.