Graduate Research Safety Recognition Pathway
A Department of Chemistry professional development pathway for graduate researchers
Recognizing Safety as a Professional Skill
Safe research requires more than knowing the rules. Strong researchers learn to recognize hazards, assess risk, communicate effectively, support their colleagues, and improve the systems in which research takes place.
The Graduate Research Safety Recognition Pathway recognizes graduate students who develop these skills throughout their time in the Department of Chemistry.
The pathway is designed to complement required safety training while providing opportunities for students to demonstrate engagement, contribution, and leadership.
The Three Levels
Level 1 — Research Safety Certificate
Build the foundation
The Research Safety Certificate recognizes graduate students who complete foundational research safety education.
Students develop knowledge and skills related to:
- Hazard identification
- Risk assessment
- Chemical and laboratory safety
- Chemical management
- Emergency response
- Safety communication
- Responsible research practices
How it is earned:
Completion of the designated graduate research safety curriculum and associated requirements.
Recognition:
Research Safety Certificate
Level 2 — Research Safety Advocate
Engage and support others
Research Safety Advocates demonstrate that they are taking safety beyond their own research practices and contributing positively to the safety of those around them.
Examples include:
- Helping peers understand or practice safe research
- Mentoring newer researchers
- Sharing safety information or resources
- Participating in safety initiatives or events
- Identifying and helping address safety concerns
- Developing safety communication or educational materials
- Modeling strong safety practices and encouraging others
How it is earned:
A graduate student may be nominated by a faculty member, staff member, or other member of the research community. The nomination should describe meaningful safety engagement beyond required training.
Recognition:
Research Safety Advocate Certificate
Want to recognize a student?
Nominate a Research Safety Advocate
Level 3 — Research Safety Leader
Improve and lead
Research Safety Leaders demonstrate sustained leadership in strengthening research safety culture, systems, or practices within the Department of Chemistry.
Examples include:
- Active participation in the Chemistry Safety Team
- Leading a safety improvement initiative
- Developing or improving safety procedures or resources
- Identifying systemic safety challenges and helping develop solutions
- Leading safety education or outreach
- Mentoring others in research safety
- Contributing to continuous improvement of departmental safety practices
Recognition:
Research Safety Leadership Certificate
Not every student needs to pursue every level.
Level 1 provides the foundation, while Levels 2 and 3 provide opportunities for students who choose to take on additional safety engagement and leadership.
Inaugural Graduate Safety Leaders — 2026
Celebrating the students who helped establish the pathway
The inaugural cohort of Research Safety Leaders consists of graduate researchers who have served on the Chemistry Safety Team and demonstrated leadership in advancing safe, responsible, and collaborative research practices.
Inaugural Graduate Cohort — 2026
Sooriyage Salika Dulanjali
Alexandra Outka
Atul Ojha
Emmanuel Quartey
Emmanuella Sangber-Dery
Lifei Wang
These students represent the beginning of the Graduate Research Safety Recognition Pathway and helped establish the foundation for future graduate safety leadership in the department.
For Graduate Students
How can I participate?
All graduate students begin with foundational safety education. From there, students may choose to pursue additional recognition through safety engagement and leadership. You do not need to be a member of the Safety Team to become a Research Safety Advocate. Students interested in developing safety leadership skills are encouraged to:
- Participate in departmental safety activities
- Look for opportunities to support their peers
- Participate in Safety Team activities
- Identify opportunities to improve safety
- Talk with their PI or Safety Coordinator about safety leadership opportunities
CV & LinkedIn Guide
How to document your Research Safety credential and leadership experience
For Faculty & Staff
See Safety Leadership? Recognize It.
Faculty and staff are often the people who see graduate student safety leadership happening in real time. If a graduate researcher has gone beyond required training to help others, improve safety practices, or contribute to a stronger research environment, nominate them as a Research Safety Advocate.
What makes a good nomination?
A nomination should describe a specific contribution or behavior, such as:
“Olivia noticed that new students in our lab were having difficulty understanding our waste procedures. She created a simple guide and worked with our group to incorporate it into onboarding.”
or:
“Alex consistently helps newer students understand appropriate PPE and risk assessment practices and recently identified an issue with our chemical storage that led to an improvement.”
The goal isn't to recognize perfection. It is to recognize meaningful contributions to safety culture.
Why Safety Leadership?
Safety is part of scientific excellence. Graduate researchers who develop safety leadership skills are better prepared to:
- Conduct responsible research
- Recognize and manage risk
- Communicate effectively about hazards
- Mentor other researchers
- Improve research systems
- Lead laboratories and research teams
- Carry strong safety practices into their future careers
Our goal is not simply to train researchers to follow safety rules. It is to develop scientists who can help create safer research environments.
Questions
For questions about the Graduate Research Safety Recognition Pathway or opportunities for graduate safety leadership:
Kali Levsen
Safety Coordinator
Department of Chemistry
University of New Mexico
