| Greetings!
Hurry, the polls close Wednesday, October 17th. If you haven't cast your ballot for officers and councilors of the National Board, just click here -- it only takes a minute to vote.
Not sure who to vote for? View the candidate statements online. Thank you, Janet Bandows Koster Executive Director |
| Education |
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STEM environments' gender skew threatening to women
Stanford psychologist Mary Murphy points to the physical environment of STEM fields-male-heavy and female-poor-as having a detrimental effect on women in those fields. Her research indicates that women are less interested in participating in STEM-related situations dominated by men, as well as several other findings.
Identity threat and women in STEM
Video game heightens women's spatial skills
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered that any differences in spatial skills due to sex can be virtually eliminated when both men and women play the same video game for several hours--and those changes are retained five months later. This points to "something dramatic" happening in the brain, says lead researcher Jing Feng, that may eventually lead more women into the mathematical sciences.
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| Government |
Clinton's plan for politics-free science
In a recent speech at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Hillary Clinton laid out her plans to restore funding and impartiality to the pursuit of scientific discovery in the United States. She attacked the Bush administration's positions on stem cell research and climate change, while saying she would ensure that under her administration, agency directors would be required to show that research was being conducted free of "political pressure."
Science without bias?
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| Science and Health |
Summer boom in genetics discoveries
Summer 2007 was a hotbed of activity in the area of genetics research. This "Forbes" article talks about some of the most exciting discoveries-genes related to ALS, breast cancer, and heart disease among them.
Read more
Granny the powerhouse
Far from being a burden, grandma may be an evolutionary necessity. Anthropological research points to the contributions older women make to society, and the survival advantages they may provide to their children and grandchildren. Grandma by design(Ig) Nobel awards for jet-lag-free Viagra hamster and others
Every year Ig Nobel Prizes are awarded for the most originally funny and thought-provoking (and pointless, some would say) research undertaken by legitimate academics and researchers. This year, prizes went to scientists who proved that Viagra-medicated hamsters experience less jet-lag than normal hamsters, and those who created a mathematical model for wrinkled sheets, invented a burglar trap, and provided an overview of the injuries associated with sword-swallowing, among others.
Science as the Marx brothers would have done |
| International |
Vaccination gaps prompt polio outbreak in Nigerian children
In a disturbing turn of events, 69 unvaccinated Nigerian children have become partially paralyzed after becoming infected with the weakened form of polio virus used in vaccines. The outbreak has occurred only in areas where people are refusing to be vaccinated, or there isn't enough vaccine to go around. Officials are afraid this will prompt more Nigerians to wrongly refuse to be vaccinated for fear of contracting polio. Vaccine-derived polio on the move
Washington climate summit high on rhetoric, low on action
Politicos from 17 countries attended a climate summit in convened by the United States government at which they pledged to take action against climate change, but outlined no concrete goals. The meeting was seen by many as a diversion from the UN climate talks on September 25 in New York, which President Bush did not attend.
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| Careers |
Women in science debate still a source of contention
A day-long conference at the conservative American Enterprise Institute brought academics together to debate the reasons for women's underrepresentation in the sciences. The healthy and sometimes heated debates that followed seemed to transcend politics as the academics (scientists, social scientists, and even a lawyer) struggled to convince their audience that the disparity has more to do with nature than nurture, and vice versa. This "Inside Higher Ed" article has more.
Women in science conference sparks debate
A different kind of research
This "Science Careers" article explores the possibilities for scientists interested in an altogether different sort of research-science education research. With the America COMPETES Act getting so much press and NSF funding streams remaining strong for academics in science education research, many scientists are finding themselves taking the road less traveled.
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| National and Chapter Announcements
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Bethesda AWIS Chapter
Date: October 25, 2007
Time: 4:30-6 pm
Location: Visitor Center, National Library of Medicine,
Building 38A, NIH Campus, Bethesda
Event: "NIH: Challenges and Opportunities"
speaker Norka Ruiz Bravo, Deputy Director for
Extramural Research, NIH
For more information, visit the AWIS-Bethesda website or email Dr. Carrie Wolinetz
Philadelphia AWIS Chapter
Date: October 27, 2007
Time: 8:30 am-2 pm
Location: Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall
1020 Locust St., Philadelphia
Event: October Workshop: "Women Don't Ask"
featuring Sara Laschever, co-author of Women
Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide
For more information or to register
East Bay AWIS Chapter
Date: November 29, 2007
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Novartis, room 4.104
4560 Horton St., Emeryville,
Event: "Using science and technologies for environmental
health problems in developing countries"
speaker Christina Galitsky, LBNL inventor.
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Opportunities |
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MentorNet Call for Mentors
E-mentoring
opportunity--just 20 minutes per week. MentorNet seeks science and
engineering professionals in industry and government to mentor
engineering and science community college, undergraduate, and graduate
students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, who are
interested in pursuing a professional future in the fields of
engineering and science. MentorNet also seeks tenured faculty members
to mentor graduate students, postdocs, and untenured faculty pursuing
faculty careers. Mentoring relationships last eight months. Mentors and
students communicate entirely by email.
How can you volunteer to be a mentor?
1) Join the MentorNet community: http://www.mentornet.net/join
2) Follow the One-on-One Mentoring Programs links to create a
mentor profile.
Quality Education for Minorities Opportunity
INFLOW, developed with support from the National Science Foundation
(NSF), is an on-line database containing information on individuals
with Ph.D. degrees who are from groups underrepresented in STEM fields.
It serves as a one-stop source of professional information on doctoral
engineers and computer scientists in academia, industry, and government
that can be regularly updated by participants via QEM's website.
INFLOW will provide NSF with a source of information on potential proposal review panelists, advisory committee members, and rotators. Additionally, the participants will be provided: information on a variety of professional development opportunities; and a mechanism to access limited contact information on other participants to facilitate potential collaborations. Information on financial support, research, career, and other professional opportunities will be provided to registered individuals to encourage and support the completion of their degree programs. For more information: http://qemnetwork.qem.org/cise_eng.htm
NSF-AWM Travel Grants
The Association for Women in
Mathematics travel program supports two types of travel grants for women:
1) Travel Grants in mathematics, for mathematicians attending
mathematics conferences.
2) Travel Grants for mathematicians and mathematics education
researchers: for mathematicians attending a mathematics education
research conference, for mathematics education researchers attending a
mathematics conference.
The next deadline is October 7, 2007.
For more information, visit http://www.awm-math.org/travelgrants.html
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.
AIMBE Opens Galletti Aaward Nominations
AIMBE has opened nominations for
the Galletti Award for 2008. The award
is the highest honor given by AIMBE and is given for recognition of
contributions to public awareness of medical and biological engineering, and to
the promotion of the national interest in science, engineering and
education.
Visit www.aimbe.org/content/index.php?pid=88
for more information and to download a nomination form.
Nominations close October 31, 2007.
L'ORÉAL-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'ORÉAL-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...
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...
Lemelson-MIT Program
LEMELSON-MIT PRIZE
The $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize is awarded to outstanding mid-career
inventors who have developed a patented product or process of
significant value to society, which could be or has been adopted for
practical use. These individuals will receive the Prize mid-career, when
both the recognition and the cash award can be of significant benefit to
their future creativity and productivity.
The deadline for nominations is November 2, 2007.
Nominate a candidate at
http://mit.edu/invent/a-prize.html.
LEMELSON-MIT AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY
The $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability celebrates
individuals whose inventions and innovations enhance economic
opportunity and community wellbeing in developing and/or developed
countries, while protecting and restoring the natural
environment.
The deadline for nominations is November 2, 2007.
Nominate a candidate at http://mit.edu/invent/a-award.html.
National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Postdoctoral Fellowships
THE NSF PICKWICK POSDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
Two-year fellowships are available for basic, applied or clinical research in sleep or sleep disorders. Applicants must have a
sponsor and plan to conduct research in recognized U.S. or Canadian
programs of study or laboratories with strong mentorship in the
appropriate area. Non-US citizens are eligible. Candidates must have received either an MD, DVM, PhD or DO degree by
the time the fellowship begins in July 2008. The degree or subsequent
training must have been completed within the past five years. Pickwick Fellows receive funding based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award (NRSA) schedule, which is based on years of postdoctoral research experience, plus a benefits allowance of $7,000.
Deadline is November 4, 2007.
For more information
The University of Chicago Enrico Fermi Institute
ENRICO FERMI POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP and ROBERT R. MCCORMICK POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
These postdoctoral research fellowships are intended to attract
outstanding early-career scientists to the University of Chicago. We
expect to award two fellowships each year to candidates from a pool of
international applicants.
The initial appointment is for one year, renewable annually, for up to
three years. The appointment carries a salary of $54,000 per annum with
an additional allocation of up to
$6,000 for independent research support. Appointees are given the
freedom of either working independently or associating with EFI faculty
in a research area of common interest. Appointment would be at the
University internal rank of Postdoctoral Scholar. There are no teaching
responsibilities with this position.
Applications submitted prior to November 10, 2007, will be given priority.
For more information, email fshipFMc@ulysses.uchicago.edu
National Leadership Workshop on Mentoring Women in Biomedical Careers
The NIH Office of Research on Women's Health is sponsoring a National Leadership Workshop on Mentoring Women in Biomedical Careers on November 27-28, 2007 that will target biomedical researchers (men and women) at three levels: postdoctoral fellows, junior investigators, and senior investigators. The workshop will consider guidelines for effective mentoring for career advancement, taking into account the special needs of women and individuals from underrepresented groups.
For more information, including registration: http://womensinscience.nih.gov/mentoring
Nominations Open for NSF Awards
NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE
The National Medal of Science
is the Nation's highest honor for scientists and engineers, and is
presented annually by the President of the United States. It was
established by the 86th Congress in 1959 as a Presidential Award to be
given to individuals "deserving of special recognition by reason of
their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical,
biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences."
Nomination deadline: December 7, 2007.
Please go
to www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards/ for detailed nomination information.
ALAN T. WATERMAN AWARD
Congress established the Alan T. Waterman Award in August 1975 to mark
the 25th Anniversary of the National Science Foundation and to honor
its first Director. The annual award recognizes an outstanding young
researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by the
National Science Foundation. In addition to a medal, the awardee
receives a grant of $500,000 over a three year period for scientific
research or advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological,
engineering, social, or other sciences at the institution of the
recipient's choice.
Nomination deadline: December 7, 2007.
Please go
to www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards/ for detailed nomination information.
The Pasteur Foundation
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
Next Generation Bioscience Leaders
Next Generation Bioscience Leaders is an excellent opportunity to advance high potential women leaders. This first-of-its-kind forum will provide high achieving female managers the opportunity to learn from and network with executives from pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies. This distinctive experience will set talented scientists and business professionals no the path toward lasting and strategic contributions to the enterprise. Next Generation Bioscience Leaders is a management development opportunity for women six to twelve years into their careers who are ready to assume higher level management positions. Forum dates: January 13-18, 2008.
Registration is due by December 10, 2007.
For more information: http://www.smith.edu/execed
L'Oréal USA Fellowships
A
national offshoot of the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women In Science program,
the L'Oréal USA Fellowships program is open to women at post-doctorate
level in physical/material sciences, engineering, technology and
mathematics. The L'Oréal 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...
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program
The Fellowships help to establish and nurture
critical links between federal decision-makers
and scientific professionals to support public
policy that benefits the wellbeing of the nation
and the planet. They support the AAAS objectives to
improve public policymaking through the infusion
of science, and to increase public understanding
of science and technology. The application system is now open and accepting applications for the 2008-2009 fellowship year. It will remain open through the application deadline, 20 December 2007.
For more information, see http://fellowships.aaas.org/
Women in Biomedical Research: Best Practices for Sustaining Career Success
The NIH is sponsoring a "Women in Biomedical Research: Best Practices for Sustaining Career Success," workshop on March 4-5, 2008, to highlight practices that are successfully addressing the major barriers in the career development of women in biomedical sciences. The workshop will consider "best practices" from a range of organizatoins, including academic health centers, pharmaceutical companies, and other branches of governments.
For more information: http://womeninscience.nih.gov/bestpractices
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
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.
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...
Outsourcing Preclinical Toxicology Studies Conference to be Held in Costa MesaThis
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...
Protein Discovery & Development Summit Coming to DC in SeptemberOnline
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 AthleticsThe
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 AwardThe
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... |
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