🧬 Calling All Genomes: DSxHE Genomics Theme Leads Wanted!

The DSxHE Genomics Theme is looking for new Theme Leads! If you're passionate about equitable genomics and enjoy bringing people together, we'd love to hear from you. Whether your strengths are community-building, partnerships, organising events, or strategic thinking, there's room to shape the role around what you do best.

What is DSxHE?

Data Science for Health Equity (DSxHE) is a global, volunteer-led community that exists to make data science a tool for equity in health, not a force that reinforces inequity. We create welcoming spaces for people from all backgrounds, especially those historically excluded, to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of research.

Our community is organised into a range of Themes - community-led groups focused on areas such as genomics, data diversity, statistical methods, and more. Each Theme brings together people with shared interests to run knowledge-sharing sessions, events, collaborations, and projects that reflect the needs and passions of their community.

The Genomics Theme is one of these communities, and we're now looking for new Theme Leads to help guide its next chapter.

What is the Genomics Theme?

The DSxHE Genomics Theme has been growing steadily, with knowledge-sharing sessions, a community-built Equitable Data Science Toolkit taking shape, and a friendly crew of volunteers. We reject extractive, top-down approaches to genomics and instead work in collaboration with local experts, Indigenous scholars, and historically marginalised communities whose knowledge is vital but undervalued.

We're looking for two or more people to share leadership, however that ends up looking. There's no fixed mould for how the team divides up: some leads might lean into coordinating volunteers and keeping things organised, others into partnerships and big-picture thinking, others a bit of everything.

Why become a Theme Lead?

As a Genomics Theme Lead, you'll have the opportunity to shape one of DSxHE's growing communities, collaborate with inspiring people from around the world, and help ensure genomics becomes a field that serves everyone, not just those already represented.

You'll work with a supportive team of volunteers to turn ideas into action, from webinars and discussion sessions to partnerships and community projects. You don't have to do it all yourself, but you'll help keep the wheels turning and the energy high.

What you'll do

There's no fixed mould for how the leadership team divides responsibilities, but you might:

• Support and coordinate a small group of volunteers

• Set the cadence for the theme, deciding what sessions, webinars, discussions or other communtiy activities happen and when

• Help organise the webinar series and source speakers or guests

• Keep things running smoothly through simple systems like Slack, shared boards, and calendars so volunteers know what's happening and what's needed

• Welcome new volunteers and help them find meaningful ways to contribute

• Build relationships with researchers, community organisations, and potential partners

• Represent the Genomics Theme within DSxHE and champion our community-led approach

• Help shape the direction of the Genomics Theme

Some Leads naturally gravitate towards coordination and organisation, others towards partnerships and strategy, and many enjoy a bit of everything. We'll build the role around the strengths of the team.

Who we're looking for

There's no perfect profile. You might have experience in:

• Genomics, health equity, or community-led research

• Event management or community organising

• Project coordination or team leadership

• Partnership building or outreach

• Creating inclusive, welcoming environments

Mostly, we're looking for people who are excited to make things happen, enjoy working with others, and want to help build a community where everyone belongs.

Time commitment

We know everyone has busy lives, so we're looking for people who can contribute consistently rather than perfectly. The role is flexible and shared across multiple Leads, with the time commitment varying depending on what's happening in the theme.

How to get involved

Sound like your kind of thing? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@datascienceforhealthequity.com with a short intro about yourself and why you're interested. Or, if someone comes to mind who'd be a great fit, feel free to pass this on.

Let's build something lovely together 💚