STEM for Development

On August 22, STEM for Development held “Getting Started with Quantitative Analysis for Researchers,” with over 800 students registered.

Habibah Olajumoke Tijani and Ruchir Raman led the two-hour workshop, covering sampling, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression. The session also explored how to interpret findings responsibly – including the limits of p-values, the risks of p-hacking, and the distinction between association and causation.

In their feedback, participants highlighted the connections between statistical concepts and research practice. Asked what they found most useful, one participant noted “Answering research questions and knowing what analytical tool to use.” Another wrote: “Demonstrating with real-world examples was the highlight & the most useful aspect of the workshop.”

Participants also asked for more time to work through examples, hands-on practice with real datasets, and further training in R and Python. These suggestions will help inform future sessions.

Thank you to Habibah and Ruchir for preparing and leading the workshop, and to everyone who joined and shared feedback.

To hear about future workshops and other opportunities, join STEM for Development as a member: t.ly/E9r5

Applications remain open for the STEM for Development Expert Community through Saturday, September 19. The Expert Community is a new initiative designed to bring together researchers and professionals who want to contribute their expertise to SFD programs and activities while also being considered for relevant research and professional opportunities.

Members may contribute to mentorship, educational resources, science policy activities, policy-facing concept notes, short-term working groups, and the development of new SFD initiatives. We also want members themselves to help identify priorities and shape what the community works on.

SFD is also beginning to work with recruiters to explore ways of connecting qualified members with relevant professional opportunities. We are particularly interested in early- and mid-career researchers and professionals. The community is open to individuals with a master’s degree or higher, as well as professionals with at least five years of relevant experience in STEM, science policy, education, or a related field.

Apply to the SFD Expert Community by September 19:

t.ly/Eykmu

If you do not yet meet the Expert Community eligibility criteria, you can still join the broader STEM for Development membership:

Join SFD:

t.ly/E9r5

STEM for Development Office Hours are back today!

Are you preparing for graduate school and looking for practical guidance on your application? Join SFD’s Bi-Weekly Office Hours today, Saturday, August 29, from 2:00–3:00 PM GMT.

SFD Education Associates Joe Adabouk Amooli, Hauwa Adedo, and Michael Adu will be available to answer questions about:

• CVs and graduate school applications
• Writing effective cold emails
• Defining research interests
• Application fee waivers
• Professional and research skills

Join: t.ly/Dmfhw

Not yet an SFD member? Join here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share with STEM students who may benefit!

Sign-ups are now open for the STEM for Development Expert Community!

We are looking for researchers and professionals who want to contribute their expertise to concrete SFD activities while also being considered for new research and professional opportunities.

• Contribute: Members may participate in mentorship, develop educational resources, engage in science policy activities, draft policy-facing concept notes, join short-term working groups, and help develop new SFD programs and initiatives. Members will also help identify priorities and shape what the community works on.

• Connect with Opportunities: SFD is developing relationships with recruiters, universities, research institutions, and other partners to connect qualified members with relevant job, research placement, and professional opportunities.

• Who We Are Looking for: We are particularly interested in early- and mid-career researchers and professionals. The community is open to individuals with a master’s degree or higher, as well as professionals with at least five years of relevant experience in STEM, science policy, education, or a related field.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to participate, please sign up here by Saturday, September 19:

t.ly/Eykmu

Please also share this with colleagues who may be a good fit.

How do you begin working with quantitative data when you have little or no prior statistical experience? Join STEM for Development on Saturday, August 22 for a two-hour introductory workshop led by Habibah Olajumoke Tijani and Ruchir Raman.

The session will introduce participants to the foundations of statistics and quantitative analysis, including types of variables, descriptive statistics, and the logic of statistical and hypothesis testing. Participants will also learn how these concepts can be applied to analyse data, interpret statistical results, and communicate quantitative findings more effectively in their research.

‣ Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
‣ Time: 2:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EDT
‣ Format: Online
‣ Register: t.ly/72fN

Not yet an SFD member? Join our global community: t.ly/E9r5

Please share this opportunity with students, early-career researchers, colleagues, and others who may be looking to strengthen their foundations in quantitative research.

This week, seven students from six countries completed the research presentation phase of STEM for Development’s Academic Research Bridge, delivered with support and engagement from the Talent Mobility Fund and The RNA Institute, University at Albany.

After several months of virtual research placements — and five weeks spent refining how they communicated the work — the students presented projects on myotonic dystrophy, viral infection, alternative splicing, genetic modifiers, and comparative transcriptomics to an international audience representing 32 countries.

Congratulations to Sana Aziz Sial (Pakistan), Taye Motunrayo Ilesanmi (Nigeria), Samuel Quaynor (Ghana), Veronica Adhiambo (Kenya), Jimoni Kalita (India), Goodness Umunakwe (Nigeria), and Daniel Angel Linares Terrazas (Bolivia).

Thank you to Asmer Aliyeva, PhD and to the RNA Institute faculty, graduate students, and researchers who mentored the students and supported their projects. The students will now take a short break before beginning the graduate-school application phase of the program.

Follow STEM for Development for updates, or join our community at https://t.ly/E9r5.

For those who mentor emerging researchers: what is one research-presentation skill you wish students learned earlier?

This Tuesday, seven emerging researchers from six countries will present the work they have developed through STEM for Development's Academic Research Bridge, with support and engagement from the Talent Mobility Fund and The RNA Institute, University at Albany.

Over the past several months, the students have completed virtual research placements with laboratories at The RNA Institute, University at Albany. They have also spent the past several weeks turning that work into clear, graduate-level research presentations.

Their projects examine RNA biology, viral infection, myotonic dystrophy, genetic modifiers, alternative splicing, and comparative transcriptomics. The final presentations are open to students, researchers, mentors, and anyone interested in supporting emerging scientific talent.

- Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- 3:00 PM GMT / 11:00 AM ET
- Virtual event
- Register: https://t.ly/72fN

Please join us to hear their research, ask questions, and celebrate how far they have come.

Many early-career researchers understand the formal rules of research ethics. The harder part is knowing what to do when a situation is unclear, power dynamics are uneven, or guidance is limited.

STEM for Development is hosting an interactive session on Navigating Ethical Challenges in Research, focused on practical issues researchers may encounter:

• Bias in research design
• Reproducibility
• Research misconduct
• Fair and appropriate authorship

Date and Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM GMT
Speakers: Gabriel Kwaku Agbeshie, OD and Mr. Nahom Belete
Register: t.ly/72fN

Join us and share this opportunity with a student or early-career researcher who may find it useful.

Join STEM for Development and support our efforts:
• Become a member today: t.ly/E9r5
• Visit our website: t.ly/XfqVi
• Follow us on Instagram: t.ly/ee_v-
• Like our page on Facebook: t.ly/oKi4Q

STEM for Development will hold its next Bi-Weekly Office Hours on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM GMT.

This session will be led by Joe Adabouk Amooli, Hauwa Adedo, and Michael Adu, Education Associates at SFD.

Students are invited to bring questions about graduate school applications, CVs, cold emails, research interests, application fee waivers, and ways to build stronger professional or research skills.

Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Time: 2:00–3:00 PM GMT
Join: t.ly/Dmfhw

Not yet an SFD member? Join here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share with STEM students preparing for graduate school or looking for practical application support.

STEM for Development is pleased to announce the next session in our Workforce Skills Webinar Series: From Graduate School to the Biotech Industry.

This session will be presented by Jay Sharma, Senior Scientist at Novartis in San Diego, California.

After transitioning from graduate school and academic research to the biotech industry, Jay now works in cell and gene therapy research. Drawing on over a decade of experience in stem cell biology, immunology, and cell and gene therapy, he will share key lessons from his own transition to industry.

The session will explore networking, developing an industry mindset, positioning research experience for industry roles, what employers look for in STEM professionals, and will conclude with a live Q&A.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM GMT
Register: t.ly/72fN

Not yet an SFD member? Join here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share with students, early-career researchers, and scientists who are thinking seriously about careers in biotechnology or industry more broadly.