Student lead safety initiatives: good for students, good for institutions, good for science
Dr. Anna M. SantaMaria
August 21st, 2024
ACS Fall 2024
Fellows Safety Committee
I am sure you have a few questions like:
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What am I even talking about?
I am Anna SantaMaria
Received my Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2013 from Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA
Earned my PhD in Biochemistry in 2018 under Professor Martin D. Burke at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Completed a Postdoc in 2024 at the NIH in Dr. Tracey Rouault’s Laboratory
Started my industry career as the Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs at Labcorp in March of 2024
Why am I here?
I was a founding member of The Fellows Safety Committee (FSC) at NIH
What am I even talking about?
Lab Safety Teams!
The Future of Lab Safety!
What is the Fellows Safety Committee?
FSC came into existence via a grassroots movement lead by the NIH National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP) fellows in December 2019.
Our mission is to provide a conduit between NIH’s fellow community and DOHS, educate NIH fellows and affiliates of all backgrounds on the basics of safety in the laboratory, field, and healthcare; analyze the safety risks associated with biomedical and basic science research and encourage career opportunities in the discipline.
We became an officially sponsored and recognized NIH activity in June 2022.
The NIH FSC Landscape
There are 27 Institutes and Centers at the NIH. Each with their own specialties and safety concerns
NIH scientists cover a wide range of experience levels. We host highschool students and undergraduates in the summers in addition to postbacs, graduate students, postdocs, clinical fellows, staff scientists and visiting researchers.
How we got started
Recognition of an unmet need
Finding our leaders and our champions!
Captain Derek Newcomer
Deputy Director NIH DOHS
Raluca Semeniuc,
Safety and Health Specialist
Structure of the Fellows Safety Committee
Three Officers
2 co-chairs
Secretary and outreach coordinator
IC Liaisons (1 fellow per IC)
Positives of FSC Participation in IC Safety Committee Meetings
Giving fellows active roles in each IC’s Safety Committee increases engagement and strengthens inter IC safety networks.
The FSC is a powerful tool to leverage towards the common goal of reinforcing NIH as leader in safety.
Fellows are the most vulnerable population on campus regarding laboratory accidents.
FSC needs administration buy-in to be successful and effective.
Fellows Safety�Subcommittees ��
Chemical Safety
Handle chemistry-related safety events/information
Biological Safety
Handle biology-related safety events/information
Green Labs Initiative
Participate and promote events on environment-friendly laboratory practices
Animal Safety
Promote animal safety procedures and resources
Technology Safety
Promote cybersecurity events/promote safe technology use
Safety Communications
Propagate and disseminate FSC announcements, news, and coordinate the FSC network
Past Activities and Safety Topics
Introducing FSC’s Mascot!
Chugs the Bear
Control
Hazards
Using
Good
Safety
ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT LABORATORY ACCIDENTS
7 ICs are represented in our membership
NEI
NHLBI
NHGRI
NIA
NIAAA
NIAMS
NIBIB
NIDCD
NIDDK
NIDA
NIEHS
NIGMS
NIMHD
NINDS
NINR
NLM
CIT
CSR
FIC
NICCH
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The Fellows Safety Committee is Beneficial for Both Fellows and the NIH
Benefits for Fellows:
Leadership Opportunities
Connections with Fellows Across NIH
Preparation for Workforce
Service Opportunities
Increased Safety Awareness
Increased Sense of Broader NIH Community
Benefits for NIH :
Researcher Buy-In
Safety Culture Improvement
More Successful Trainees
Enhanced Reputation
Solidification of NIH as a Leader in Lab Safety
Volunteers for Events
Thank you! �
Fellows Safety Committee