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Greetings!
 As you know, the country is waiting for a stimulus package to jump start the depressed economy. If an agreement can be reached between the Senate and the House, President Obama will likely sign the bill within the next week. Academic researchers are on the verge of receiving a major influx of federal funding as part of this two-year, $825 billon stimulus package. The research and science infrastructure components amounting to roughly $15 billion of new spending spread across several federal research agencies; e.g. NIH-$3.5 billion split between extramural research, extramural facilities and instrumentation, and off-campus buildings; NSF-$1-3 billion in research, education, new facilities, instrumentation, and academic renovation. (For more information, see www.aaas.org/spp/rd/fy09.htm).
The new AAAS President, Dr. Peter Agre, a Nobel Prize recipient and fellow Minnesotan, was science advisor to the Obama campaign and the new president's respect for science-"gives me great confidence," said Dr. Agre.
President Obama has chosen 2006 AAAS President John Holdren as his top scientific advisor and had selected three other distinguished researchers for key positions in his administration. They are: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Jane Lubchenco, President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology-Eric Lander and Harold Varmus, and Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu. Read a profile of Dr. Agre and the presidential advisers here.
GWIS had joined 50 other professional science-based organizations to endorse the new AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition (SHRC) launched January 14-16, 2009 in D.C. Visit the AAAS website to read more about the Science and Human Rights Coalition
SHRC works with scientists to "advance science and serve society" through human rights. The program carries out its mission by engaging individual scientists and scientific associations in human rights efforts; applying scientific tools and technologies to enhance human rights work; bringing human rights standards to the conduct of science; and promoting the human right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress. Dr. Paddy Wiesenfeld, National GWIS Past President, and Dr. Robin Woo, member and past Chair of the National GWIS Board of Directors, have volunteered to be our representatives to the Coalition, and will keep us appraised as to its activities.
This new era of scientific acceptance and transparency in governmental policy is refreshing and we look forward to future endeavors.
United in Friendship through Science,
Dee McManus, Executive Director
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| National News Headlines
The FDA's Investigation into Salmonella typhimurium Outbreak Associated with Commercially-prepared Peanut Butter/Peanut Paste-containing Products. The FDA and the CDC have traced the Salmonella typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste. PCA peanut butter is used by manufacturers in many products, including cookies, cakes, crackers, pet foods, as well as being served in instututions such as nursing homes and cafeterias. Fortunately, PCA peanut butter is not sold in the grocery store, but many products have been recalled. Read more about the product recall. Search the FDA's database of recalled items related to this outbreak.
Why are more and more graduate students turning away from careers at research universities? A large study of the University of California's graduate students revealed that less than half considered major research institutions to be family-friendly workplaces for tenure-track professors.
The Second Shift in Academic Medicine. A study based on a survey at the University of Minnesota Medical School highlights gender split in the senior faculty ranks, in part because female medical school professors are more likely than their male counterparts to leave academe. The study found full-time female professors performed an average of 31 hours a week in family and household duties, while men performed only 19 hours on average. The women were less likely than men to have a partner or spouse, and more likely to have children. Additionally, women were over-represented in citing obstacles to their career or satisfactions. Read this article from "Inside Higher Ed".
Free booklet available from the journal Science Careers Outreach Program called "Career Basics: Advice and Resources for Scientists". The booklet provides advice on preparing CVs and resumes, writing grants and scientific papers, networking and much more. Reach each article in the booklet online or download each chapter or the entire booklet as a PDF. Go to the Science Career Basics Booklet website.
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National GWIS News
URGENT need for fellowship reviewers. This announcement is for all non-student chapters. GWIS has received over 200 applications to our fellowships program. Julie Gros-Loius, Fellowships Coordinator, would like at least 6-9 more reviewers to assist her and her committee to review applications. Each reviewer will take 15-18 applications and find three reviewers or two additional reviewers (as each application must be reviewed by 3 individuals). As a Fellowships committee member, you are not required to review the applications, but to find 3 other reviewers to do so and to manage the process. But if you would like to review applications, you may do so and then find two more reviewers. May 1st is the deadline to return the reviews and then at the National Meeting in June, we'll announce the winners and allocate the awards for receipt in July.
There is an established review process in place using a point system. Applications are reviewed for financial need and scientific merit. Last year GWIS awarded over $75,000 to 14 deserving young women doing scientific research and we hope to award a similar amount of money this year. If you are interested, please contact Julie at julie-gros-louis@uiowa.edu as soon as possible. The deadline was Jan 15th for the applications and so now our work begins!
Save the date! The GWIS National Business meeting will be held on June 19-21st, 2009 in Durham, NC . This will be just a business meeting without a scientific meeting. Jennifer Ingram and Winnell Neuman, who are planning the meeting, have arranged for a wonderful banquet for Saturday night also. More information will follow!
Please note that National GWIS has funds for travel to the National Meeting for chapter members who are interested in attending. There are eight $250 awards available-generally one award per chapter. We encourage the chapters to match this award if possible. Information about the travel award will be on the website shortly or contact Dee McManus for more information.
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MentorNet News
What's New at MentorNet:
January 27 was the launch of MentorNet's 2009 Spring outreach drive: Steps for Change. This campaign will last for 50 days and end on March 18th, the day of the first walk in space. To honor this achievement, the Steps for Change campaign will feature the tag-line: "One small step for you; One giant leap for the future."
During this time, MentorNet is encouraging their partners and sponsors to work with them to engage 500 new participants during the 50 days of the drive. Now is an excellent time to participate in the MentorNet One-on-One Program, establishing mentoring relationships to support students through the Spring, as they consider educational, career, internship, and summer opportunities.
During the 50-day campaign, for each new protege or mentor who participates in MentorNet's One-on-One E-Mentoring program, there will be a $10 reduction in the new renewal membership fee until they reach their goal of 500 new participants. GWIS participation in MentorNet has remained consistent, let's increase the size of our enrollment in MentorNet. The enrollment process is simple, please visit MentorNet, the E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science at http://www.MentorNet.net. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact:
Dr. Kathy Grako, GWIS Liaison to MentorNet (kagrako@san.rr.com)
For any Chapter which would like MentorNet brochures or posters, please contact Kathy and she will arrange to have them mailed directly to you.
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Chapter News
Nu Chapter at Penn State will host their annual Voices Conference on February 28th, 2009. Voices is a networking and professional development workshop organized and run by Nu Chapter. This year's keynote address will be given by Dr. Nina Jablonski, and session topics include Balancing Work and Family; Climate in Academia, Industry, and Government; and Applying for Fellowships.
Please visit Nu's website for this year's schedule, online registration and lodging information. Nu Chapter welcomes everyone to attend. The registration fee is only $10 for students and $15 for non-students, and includes breakfast and snacks/drinks throughout the day, as well as all conference materials.
Nu Chapter held a donation party in January to collect school supplies for the Porteno School in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, which was devastated by Hurricane Felix in 2007. The Nicaragua Project was begun by Professor Kimberly Palombo at American University. The structure was rebuilt in 2008, and now hundreds of students are engaged in lessons this school year. Read more about the Nicaragua Project
Eta Chapter in the Chicago area is still in the state of establishment. An urban chapter in a metro area is not easy to realize as it encompasses several universities and industries at often distant locations. The main targets for recruitment at this time are the universities, foremost U. of Chicago, Northwestern U., U. of Illinois, Loyola, Rush Medical School and De Paul University who all have science faculties and graduate programs. Dr. Elfriede M. Linsmaier-Bednar is heading the chapter establishment efforts. She hopes that the AAAS meeting at Chicago in February 2009 will aid greatly in the recruitment efforts. Dr. Linsmaier-Bednar continues to thank the GWIS National officers for their mentoring support.
If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in joining Eta Chapter, please contact Dr. Linsmaier-Bednar at drebednar@msn.com.
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Member News
Alice S. Huang Chosen To Serve As AAAS President-Elect. Alice S. Huang, a distinguished virologist and lifelong advocate for women in science, has been chosen to serve as president-elect of AAAS beginning 17 February, at the close of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Dr. Huang was named an Honorary GWIS member in 1989. Dr. Huang is a senior faculty associate in biology at the California Institute of Technology, where she was previously a senior councilor for external relations. She comes to the AAAS presidency as past president of the American Society for Microbiology and past dean for science at New York University. A member of several scientific advisory boards, Huang has also consulted on science policy for government agencies in Singapore, Taiwan, and China. View a photo of Dr. Huang.
 Paddy Wiesenfeld Chosen as a AAAS Fellow. Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications. Paddy is currently in her second year as the National GWIS Past President and was National President in 2006-2007. She has been instrumental in establishing the Sister-Up mentoring program at both the local (Omicron) and the National level. Paddy also helped to develop the first Strategic Plan (2007-20012) for GWIS, which is now a touchstone for future efforts. Paddy also began our monthly e-news in 2006 to increase communication with members. Paddy has shown her leadership skills many times over as GWIS and Omicron officer and for that we are greatly appreciative of her service to GWIS. She is now the Acting Branch Chief, Neurotoxicology and In Vitro Toxicology Branch (NIVTB), Division of Toxicology,OARSA, CFSAN, U.S. FDA.
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Websites of Interest
Are you tired of endless voice mail when trying to reach your favorite company? Get through to a real person each time you call by knowing what buttons to press: http://gethuman.com
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Reviews of businesses by real people, such as restaurants, etc: www.yelp.com
A private photographer has used NASA's Mars technology to create a 1,474 megapixel panoramic photo of President Obama's inauguration. The interactive mega-snapshot has become an international sensation, viewed by more than two million people in 186 countries. View the photo and read about how it was created.
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Funding and Job Opportunities
2009 summer research experience for undergraduates. The Women in Engineering Program at the University of Maryland is seeking applications for Computer Security Scholars to become integral members of 4 team-based research projects in computer security coordinated by faculty in the A. James Clark School of Engineering and College of Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences. Students majoring in engineering, computer science, math, and physical science are strongly encouraged to apply.
Teams conduct research from June 1 through August 7, 2009. The program offers multiple tiers of mentorship and training in team skills and project organization, as well as addressing issues of concern to women in science and engineering. Each Scholar receives a $4,000 stipend, $300 food allowance and housing. Funding is available for transportation.
Deadline: March 2, 2009. Visit the Computer Security Scholars program site or contact Dr. Paige Smith
Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 NASA space Radiation Summer School, a three -week course designed to offer graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty an integrated curriculum of radiation biology, radiation chemistry, and physics culminating in hands-on accelerator-based experiments using the synchrotron facility at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory. Up to 15 students will be selected for the course, tentatively scheduled for May 27--June 19, 2009 at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) on Long Island, New York. Topics will include DNA damage and repair, genotoxicity measurements, cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis, the bystander effect, genomic instability. Click here for application instructions.
Deadline: February 28, 2009
Prometheus Laboratories Inc. located in San Diego, CA has an opening for the Senior Director/Director, Research & Development of Gastroenterology, the company's core business focus. The Director, Research & Development Gastroenterology is responsible for the company's G.I. research and development strategies in both diagnostic products and therapeutic strategies. Visit Prometheus Laboratories' website. Contact Kimberly Vaughn who is conducting the search for Prometheus.
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Fellowships and Symposia
The European Science Foundation and US National Science Foundation will host the Women's International Research Engineering Summit (WIRES) to be held in Barcelona, Spain, June 2-4, 2009. Do you do research in one of the following areas, or know women who do?
*Simulation based engineering
*Nano/micro technology
*Energy systems
They are looking for women researchers who are interested in pursuing international collaborative opportunities in these research areas to attend the upcoming first annual WIRES International Summit, which will be held at the Hewlett Packard Research and Development Center in Barcelona, Spain. Because of foundation and corporate support, there will be no conference fee charged for academic women engineers who are chosen to attend the summit. Read more about WIRES.
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