AWIS
____________________________________________________________________
ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Washington Wire
August 2007
Issue I
Greetings!
    
One of the greatest benefits of joining AWIS is the opportunity to broaden your network.  With 50 chapters around the U.S., AWIS members can connect and communicate with like-minded professional women from  a host of different disciplines and career environments. 
   
No chapter where you are?  Log-in to the "Members Only" section of the AWIS web site, www.awis.org, and search for other AWIS members in your area.  The new function allows you to search by discipline, geographic area, or employment sector.

Take advantage of your AWIS membership and broaden your network today!

Best regards,

Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
In This Issue
Education
Government
Science and Health
International
Careers
National and Chapter Announcements
Opportunities
Conference Spotlight
Featured Jobs
Education
 
Research Institutes Slow to Change Their Academic Ways
 
A report cited in The Chronicle of Higher Education finds that research universities tend to be reluctant to change teaching methodology and curriculum to improve science instruction. Even when proven methods are presented to faculty and administration, they tend to become bogged down for a variety of reasons including lack of funding, entrenched teaching styles, and an emphasis on research productivity over teaching.

Read the Chronicle article...

iPhone:   The Next In-Classroom Must-Have Technology

Apple's new iPhone may still be a bit pricey for the masses but educators are already assessing its value as an educational tool.  Jeff VanDrimmelen, an academic computing expert at the University of North Carolina and author of the EduTechie blog, says the iPhone's multi-touch display, widgets, and easily browsable internet service could be the three features that make it compatible with education. 
Government
 
Postdocs to Recieve Professional Development Through Enhanced Mentoring
 
On Thursday, August 9, 2007 the President signed into law H.R. 2272, the "America COMPETES Act" or the "America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act," which authorizes $43.3 billion in various new programs at the National Science Foundation and the Departments of Energy, Commerce, and Education intended to strengthen education and research in the United States related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Included in the legislation is a provision requiring the enhanced mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

More on Mentoring for Postdocs...
 
Science and Health

Exercise May Be More Beneficial to Women Than to Men When It Comes to Heart Disease
 
We all know that exercise is an important factor in preventing cardiovascular disease but a new study, entitled "Voluntary Exercise Induces Sex-Specific Physiological Cardiac Remodeling," suggests the benefits may be greater for women than for men.  The findings could eventually lead to improved treatment for both men and women with heart disease.

Exercise and Heart Disease...

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
 
French researchers have found that older women who drink three or more cups of the coffee or tea a day have less of decline in verbal skills than their non-caffeine consuming counterparts.  And while caffeine may help maintain mental sharpness in women, it seems to have no effect on men.

Caffeine and Mental Abilities...

International

Vinegar Shows Potential As New, Inexpensive Screening for Cervical Cancer in Developing Countries

Women in developing countries have the highest rate of cervical cancer worldwide.  A new study just released suggests that a new technique of visual inspection of the cervix using vinegar (acetic acid) could be an effective, low cost option.  Almost 50,000 women in Tamil Nadu, India were screened and a  35 %  reduction in deaths realized.

Read the Full Paper Published in the Lancet...

"The Life of Marietta Blau - Austrian Physicist and Pioneer of Particle Physics"

Marietta Blau was a three-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in Physics, yet she was nearly forgotten in her home country of Austria. The recently published book "Marietta Blau - Stars of Disintegration" by Robert Rosner finally pays tribute to her groundbreaking development of the photographic method for the detection of elementary particles.
 
Careers

Social Constructs Continue to Define Wage Gap

A new study by a team of researchers at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government confirms that the social environment often has more to do with salary discrepancies between men and women than a woman's willingness to negotiate. 

Salary and Gender...

Wages for Techies On the Rise

Wages for highly-skilled technology professionals in 2007 continue to surpass pay rates from 2006, and remain strong this year, according to the latest Yoh Index of Technology Wages. 

 

Anger is Not a Good Job Attribute for Women

In research conducted by Yale post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Victoria Brescoll, society's bias against women who project anger is deep-seated.  In one study, female CEOs who reacted mad rather than sad were rated significantly less competent than angry male executives.

Don't Get Mad, Get Even...

 
National and Chapter Announcements

East Bay AWIS Chapter

All meetings take place Thursday 6:30 PM-8:00 PM, with networking and a light dinner followed by a talk.  Meetings are FREE and open to the public.  See www.ebawis.org for more information and directions.

Date:          September 27, 2007
Time:          6:30 PM
Location:    University of California, Berkley
Event:         Mina Bissell, Distinguished Scientist, LBNL. She is a   pioneering breast cancer researcher and former head of LBNL Life Sciences Division.

Date:           November 29, 2007
Time:           6:30 PM
Location:     Novartis
Event:         Christina Galitsky, LBNL inventor.
She is helping women in Darfur and water quality in India and China, and was named one of MIT Review's 35 top inventors under 35 in 2006.

 
 
Opportunities
 
Call for Researcher Applications
 
APPLY NOW TO PARTICIPATE AS A 2008/2009 POLARTREC RESEARCHER
 
PolarTREC is currently accepting applications from researchers for the second year of teacher research experiences. Researchers are invited to submit an application to host a PolarTREC teacher in the Arctic or Antarctic during the 2008 and/or 2008/2009 field seasons. More information and application forms are available at: http://www.polartrec.com
 
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Researcher Application Deadline: 27 August 2007

The Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research
 
The Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University hosts around 7 leading scholars each year. Generally, they will be tenured or tenure-track faculty, but we are also open to considering postdoctoral fellows and high fliers from industry and business.  Faculty would be expected to join us for one, two or three academic quarters. Each Research Fellow will be offered a stipend of up to $60,000 depending on status, plus office space, library access and so on.  All the practical details of our Fellowship Program, and more about the Clayman Institute, are at: http://gender.stanford.edu. The closing date for the current round of applications is October 29, 2007.

Call for Nominations for Women to be Honored at C-WIN Luncheon at Neuroscience 2007
 
The Committee on Women in Neuroscience (C-WIN) will be accepting nominations, and encourages self-nomination, for women who have achieved full professor or equivalent rank, to be included in a presentation recognizing the accomplishments of women in neuroscience.  The presentation will be made at C-WIN's luncheon at this year's annual meeting in San Diego. Please go to www.sfn.org/cwinprofessorsform to complete and submit a nomination form.  Nominations are due by Saturday, Sept. 1.  For more information, contact [email protected].
 
The Pasteur Foundation

CALL FOR APPLICANTS
2007 POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN PARIS

These three-year fellowship positions are open to American post-doctoral scientists wishing to pursue research at the Institut Pasteur.  With 2500 people of 60 nationalities, the 130 research labs of the Institut Pasteur are devoted to the basic science of improving global public health with particular emphasis on infectious diseases.  *Packages are $70,000* per year for three years. For a list of labs and further application information, visit our website. This is a Semi-Annual Call held every February and September.  Next Deadline: September 7, 2007.

UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER 2008 INTERNSHIPS IN PARIS

These 10-week internships at the Institut Pasteur, one of the world's leading private, nonprofit centers for infectious disease research, offer hands-on laboratory experience to undergraduates contemplating a scientific career.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens. *Living allowance is $400 per week*. See our website for information and downloads.  Deadline: December 14, 2007.

Application and deadline information for both programs may be found at: www.pasteurfoundation.org

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
seeks qualified candidates for the following positions:

#07--142 - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW -  (Washington, DC)  Working with the Research Fellow and Senior Scientist leading the Global Change research theme of IFPRI, the successful candidate will conduct research and analysis on land use patterns and shifts under alternative scenarios of global environmental and economic change.

#07-144 - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW- (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) - successful candidate will work with other senior researchers to meet the Division's research and capacity strengthening objectives, and will engage in activities including research, capacity strengthening, fundraising, scholarly publication, and communications in collaboration with national and regional agricultural research organizations and systems.

#07-148 - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW - (Washington DC)   - the successful candidate will conduct cross-country analysis on development strategy for higher agricultural and rural growth, cutting hunger and malnutrition, and reducing vulnerability of poor, and develop typology to target donor and national investment across different countries and sub-national regions to achieve greater poverty reduction.

FOR FULL DESCRIPTION & TO APPLY:
Go to www.ifpri.org .  Click on "Careers" and "Research" to link you to the above positions.  Please complete on-line application, including a complete resume and cover letter.

L'Or�al USA Fellowships    

 A national offshoot of the L'OR�AL-UNESCO For Women In Science program, the L'Or�al USA Fellowships program is open to women at post-doctorate level in physical/material sciences, engineering, technology and mathematics. The L'Or�al USA Fellowships For Women in Science enable young scientists to continue working toward breakthroughs in their research.
   
Applications available:     Aug. 1-Dec. 15, 2007
Application deadline:         December 15, 2007
Grant year:                        July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009

For More Information About This Fellowship...

AAUW Career Development Grants

Career Development Grants support women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the work force. Special consideration is given to AAUW members, women of color, and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields.

Grants provide support for course work beyond a bachelor's degree, including a master's degree, second bachelor's degree, or specialized training in technical or professional fields. Funds are available for distance learning. Course work must be taken at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or at a technical school that is fully licensed or accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Funds are not available for doctoral-level work.

For More on This Grant...

ACS Award in Pure Chemistry     

The ACS Award in Pure Chemistry is intended to recognize and encourage fundamental research in pure chemistry carried out in North America by young men and women.  The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Up to $1,000 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed. A nominee must have been born after April 30, 1973 and must have accomplished research of unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of her or his career. Special consideration is given to independence of thought and originality in the research, which must have been carried out in North America.

Due Date: November 1, 2007

More on This Award in Chemistry...

Outsourcing Preclinical Toxicology Studies Conference to be Held in Costa Mesa

This course is ideal for those in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who are involved in or support outsourcing preclinical toxicology studies. Toxicologists (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies), Outsourcing professionals, Senior and operational management, Clinical veterinarians, and CRO management and scientists should attend.

Attendees will learn how to evaluate their outsourcing needs and how to develop a cost-effective strategy that will lead to a successful outsourcing experience. Participants will also receive detailed instruction on how to inspect, select, and build relationships with a CRO.

For More Information on This Conference...

L'OR�AL-UNESCO AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE  

The Laureates, who work across the spectrum of the Material Sciences, are chosen based on their groundbreaking achievements and potential contributions to scientific progress. The L'OR�AL-UNESCO Awards Laureates are selected by an international jury of 14 eminent members of the scientific community. Chosen in recognition of her exceptional achievements, one Award Laureate is named from each of five continents: Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. The Laureates receive individual awards of $100,000. Material Sciences and Life Sciences are recognized in alternating years.

Deadline: October 31, 2007

For More On This Award...

Protein Discovery & Development Summit Coming to DC in September

Online submission for abstracts is now open for GTCbio's Protein Discovery & Development Summit. This event will feature 4 full conferences aimed at discussing the progress and promise of:

Protein Design, Modeling and Bioinformatics
Protein Array, Interaction, and Proteomics
Protein Therapeutics
Protein Expression, Formulation and Production

The protein therapeutics market has more than doubled in the last five years- jumping from $25 billion to $51 billion. According to a recent survey, the protein therapeutics market should reach $87 billion by 2010. Protein therapeutics have revolutionized modern medicine. If you are involved in Protein Discovery or Development, we invite you to submit a 250 word abstract.

For More Information on This Conference...

Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics

The Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics programs were developed by the NCA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.

The NCAA awards 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 scholarships to female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or related program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or other career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics.

For More Information On This Scholarship...

American Physiological Society Research Enhancement Award

The APS Research Career Enhancement Award is designed to enhance the career potential of its regular members. The award can be used to support short-term visits to other laboratories to acquire new specific skills and to support attendance at special courses devoted primarily to methodologies appropriate for both a new investigator and a more senior investigator entering a new field of research. The award of up to $4,000 allows an individual in the early phases of his/her career to obtain special training; the award also allows an individual in the later phases of his/her career to develop new skills and to retrain in areas of developing interests. The award does not include any indirect cost reimbursement.

For More Information on This Award...

Travel Fellowships: Integrative Physiology - May 14-16, 2008, The New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is proud to offer travel fellowships to their international symposium "Integrative Physiology." This 2.5-day conference has been designed to explore the genetic basis of the known functions of many organs, the identification of novel physiological functions for various organs and the definition of genetic cascades leading to frequent degenerative diseases such as metabolic syndrome, heart failure and osteoporosis.

Individuals applying for a fellowship will be expected to author a poster presentation (sole or first authorship is not required). Please refer to our site for further information.

*Deadline: March 14, 2008*

"Boost the Budget" to come to DC September 10-11

The AIMBE Council of Societies' 2nd Annual Federal Symposium, Boost the Budget: Invest in Medical and Biological Engineering, will be September 10-11, 2007, in Washington, DC, at the Executive Conference Center, 440 First Street, NW. Attendees will meet with strategic leaders in Washington to discuss the immediate impact of current federal initiatives, including budget, programmatic priorities, funding opportunities and more. Most importantly, participants will learn effective advocacy techniques and how to communicate the importance and impact of federal programs on personal research initiatives and business ventures to legislators.

For More Information on This Event...

MIT

Women in Technology Workshop
September 25, 2007
Workshop Overview
Quick Links
Featured Jobs

Astrophysicist
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Computer Network Systems Manager
University of Northern Iowa


Dean, College of Science and Mathematics
University of Fresno

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