Association for Women in Science

AWIS
____________________________________________________________________
ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Washington Wire

November 2007

Issue II

Greetings!

We hope you've enjoyed reading both the AWIS Magazine and the Washington Wire during the past year. We've really worked hard to tailor the contents to your interests and needs.

Nicole Kresge, our current editor-in-chief of the AWIS Magazine, is going to be leaving us in the New Year and we're looking for an AWIS member to take this volunteer position.

If you have some experience with magazine publication, are a good editor, and a good writer, you may be the ideal candidate. The job entails overseeing the publication of four issues of AWIS Magazine per year, including generating content for the magazine, overseeing the editing and revising of articles, and collaborating with the magazine's designer on the magazine layout.

You'll find an in-depth description of the editor's duties here and if you're interested, please send me an e-mail at awis@awis.org

Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director

In This Issue

Education

Government

Science and Health

International

Careers

National and Chapter Announcements

Opportunities

Featured Jobs

Education

More doctors of science in 2005-2006

Doctoral degree production in science and engineering fields rose 6.7% in 2005-2006. Women earned 38.4% of those degrees, up from 37.7% the previous year. Notably, the number of computer sciences doctorates increased 28.5%, the largest change in any S&E field. Mechanical and electrical engineering also saw large jumps.

Research doctorates still on the rise

A different pipeline problem: conservatives in academia

A new study reveals that when applying to graduate schools, conservatives are more concerned with raising a family and having money than liberals, who are more interested in producing original works. This in turn, may lead conservatives away from academia, and liberals toward it.

Government

San Franciscan has plan to turn around innovation in the US

If you ask John Kao, the US needs another "Sputnik moment" to kick-start its drive for technological supremacy. He also details the need for a Department of Innovation that would coordinate 20 regional Innovation Hubs throughout the country, which would take advantage of local industries and universities to produce integrated education and mentoring programs in order to strengthen the workforce in key scientific and technological areas.

A Renaissance man with a plan

Science and Health

Stem cell war begins and ends with the same man?

The University of Wisconsin scientist who was one of the first two to use stem cells from human embryos for research purposes is responsible for recently discovering that human skin cells can be turned into stem cells. How does it feel to be the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end?

Read on

New breast cancer risk factor: urban living

A new study has found that women living in urban areas are 54 percent more likely have dense breasts than their rural and suburban counter parts, putting them at a greater risk for breast cancer. "For every one percent increase in breast density, there is said to be a two percent increase in relative risk of developing breast cancer," said Dr. Nicholas Perry, the study's author.

Urban women at risk

Risk of osteoporosis higher for depressed

Similar to smoking, low calcium intake and lack of exercise, major depression in young women has emerged as a major risk factor for future osteoporosis, a recent study found. Though the bone mineral densities (BMD) of the depressed young women was only 2 percent lower than those of their nondepressed counterparts, the relationship between BMD and fracture rates is exponential, so the risk of postmenopausal fracture is much higher for young women with lower BMDs.

Depression and osteoporosis

Healthiest cities for women include tech/biotech hotspots

SELF Magazine's 8th annual survey, "America's Healthiest Places for Women," puts San Francisco and San Jose, CA, in the top three. The extensive survey crunches 6,000 bits of data in 50 categories to bring you details on the "happiest" city, the cleanest, the best place to have a baby, and others. Is your city a "best" or a "worst?"

Healthy places for women

Racial disparities in breast cancer

A poster being presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research's conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved describes racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes that cannot be ascribed to socioeconomic status, weight, tumor size, or other frequently considered factors. The study's results suggest that African-American women may be better served if they are screened more frequently and with MRIs in addition to the usual mammogram.

Disparities in breast cancer survival rates troubling

International

MIT physicist reaches out to Cambodian women

MIT physicist and author Alan Lightman is the founder and main supporter of a dormitory for Cambodian women attending university in Phnom Penh. The facility, built only a year ago, arose through Lightman's conversations with a Unitarian minister, and his visits to an impoverished village whose residents were desperate for a school.

An unlikely benefactor

An examination of subtle bias and traditional gender roles

A group of European researchers examines the subtle factors that lead to differences in how job applications are interpreted from male and female scientists. Their meta-analysis of 21 studies reveals that European women are 7 percent less likely to receive grants than men. They also noticed that despite its commitment to gender equality, the European Organization for Molecular Biology-the organization under whose aegis the study analysis was conducted-consistently funds fewer women than men.

Still not equal

Careers

Drug safety: now, more than ever, a relevant career

Read two interviews with scientists who make drug safety their business. Whether as a consultant or an in-house pharmaceutical safety officer, scientists of many disciplines can find their niche.

Something for everyone in drug safety

A new paradigm for female executives

This article from the Wall Street Journal's Executive Career site contrasts the female executive's past reputation as a "loner" with the new paradigm of women in high-level positions who help and mentor up-and-coming younger women. With an emphasis on doing their jobs well-but differently than their male counterparts-pioneer female executives are proving they can succeed on their own terms.

Female executives providing that hand up

New AWIS board member a tireless advocate

Sheila Tobias, one of the newest members of AWIS's Executive Board, is featured in this article from the Tucson Citizen. It describes Tobias' history as a scholar and advocate on feminist issues, and as a trailblazer concerned with gender equity in science fields.

More on Sheila Tobias

National and Chapter Announcements

Philadelphia AWIS Chapter

Date:           December 5, 2007
Time: 6-8:15 PM
Location: Eastern Regional Research Center, USDA
                     600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA
Event:         December 2007 meeting, featuring a special talk
                    about the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia,
                    and rising science stars from local high schools

RSVP by November 23 to Dr. Ellie Cantor

Palo Alto AWIS Chapter

Date:           December 13, 2007
Time: 6-9 pm
Location:     PARC Auditorium, 3333 Coyote Hill Rd., Palo Alto
Event:          "Get That Perfect Job!"
                   Speakers: Toby Beth Freedman, Ph.D., author,
                     Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug
                     Development; and Betsy Alberty, owner,
                     BioEquities Recruiting.
For more information and to register

Opportunities

2008 AWIS Fellows

Nominate a worthy woman or man who has promoted the cause of women in science, acted as a mentor, or otherwise supported women in STEM.
Nomination deadline: December 15, 2007
For more information

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

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'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...

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/

2008 NOAA Earnest Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship

Sophomore students majoring in disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, or education, and supportive of the purposes of NOAA's programs and mission, e.g., biological, social and physical sciences; mathematics; engineering; computer and information sciences; and teacher education are encouraged to apply.

The two-year scholarship supplies up to $8,000 per year in tuition assistance and a paid summer internship.
Application deadline: February 8, 2008
For more information

2008 Grants for Women and Mathematics Projects

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) plans to award grants for projects designed to encourage college and university women or high school and middle school girls to study mathematics. The Tensor Foundation, working through the MAA, is soliciting college, university and secondary mathematics faculty (in conjunction with college or university faculty) and their departments and institutions to submit proposals. Projects may replicate existing successful projects, adapt components of such projects, or be innovative.
Application deadline: February 12, 2008
For more information

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.