| Dear ,
Do you like to write? Investigate new ideas and interesting people? AWIS is looking for additional writers for our award-winning magazine. Several of our regular columnists have retired from AWIS due to career changes, babies and other life events. That means we need some new columnists, two in particular: Research Advances and Career Talk. If you are interested in becoming a writer for the AWIS magazine, please contact our assistant editor Allison Martin at allison_meredith2004@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
PS Don't forget to cast your ballot for new members of the AWIS National Board! Vote here. |
| Education |
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Baccalaureate Origins of African-American S&E Doctorates
According to a recent National Science Foundation report, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play a key role in producing future scientists and engineers. In 2006, 33% of the African American students who earned science or engineering doctorates came from HBCUs, as compared with 25% in the early 1990s, according to the report. The top five U.S.-wide baccalaureate-origin institutions for African American S&E doctorates during the period 1997-2006 were: Howard University, Spelman College, Hampton University, Florida A&M, and Morehouse College.
National Science Foundation Report
Who's Finishing Their Doctorate?
The Council of Graduate Schools released a new study which indicates that degree completion rates vary substantially by gender, race/ethnicity, and citizenship. Men and international students complete doctoral degrees at higher rates than women, other U.S. racial/ethnic groups, and domestic students, respectively. Among other analyses, the study finds that men also finish their doctorates earlier than women.
The Ph.D. Completion Project |
| Government |
Where Do the Candidates Stand on Science and Technology
Finally, the answers are in!
Both Obama and McCain campaigns weighed in on the 14 questions posed to
them earlier this year regarding their respective stand on key issues such as
climate change, energy and education.
The Sciencedebate 2008 website has posted their answers as of September 15, 2008.
Science Debate 2008
Making Science "Free" from Special Interests
A new white
paper issued by the Center for Progressive Reform, a non-profit that
focuses on health, safety, and environmental issues, proposes nine essential
reforms to U.S. legal and regulatory policies to ensure that researchers are
"free to develop, share, and debate their work without interference from
special interests whose power or profit might be affected." Recommended
reforms include separating science from policy and requiring disclosure of
sponsor-controlled research.
Saving Science from Politics
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| International |
U.S. Gets Failing Grade for Parental Leave Policies
In the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to recent parents, but because of exemptions, fully 40% of Americans get no guaranteed family leave at all. The study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington D.C. based think tank, focused on assessing the assess the amount of guaranteed leave and the level of support provided for both fathers and mothers in 21 nations. Sweden, Norway, and Germany topped the list for the most generous policies. Parental Leave Policies in 21 Countries: Assessing Generosity and Gender Equality |
| Careers |
Life Science Salaries On the Rise
Are you earning what you're worth? The Scientist's annual salary survey of life scientists in the U.S. reports a 13% increase in median total compensation from $74,000 in 2006 to $85,000. The highest salaries and largest gains were reported by life scientists in publicly traded companies. The survey also provides interesting insights into compensation differences between gender, race, and non-U.S. life scientists. For example, female professors have a starting median salary of $126,000 at 15-19 years experience, while men with the same experience start at a median of $164,000, or 23% higher.
Life Sciences Salary Survey
Medical Students and the Need for Diversity
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds a direct link between the diversity of medical schools and the perceived preparation of white medical students to care for diverse groups of patients. The study of more than 20,000 graduating medical students also found that underrepresented minority students were significantly more likely to plan to practice in areas not well served by medical services than their white colleagues.
Student Body Racial and Ethnic Composition and Diversity-Related Outcomes in US Medical Schools
Testing for Bias in Scientific Peer Review
Economist Andrew Oswald lays out a new way of testing for bias in peer reviewed journals in a recent paper for Cornell University. He theorizes that the hierarchical order of articles reflects their importance as assigned by the editors. Namely, the assumption is that those articles which editors believe to have the most impact will appear at the top of the table of contents. Oswald goes on to suggest that his system could be used for testing other forms of discrimination including gender and race.
Can We Test for Bias in Scientific Peer-Review?
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Science and Health
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Steroids May Prevent Miscarriages
Speaking at the annual Festival of Science hosted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, researchers from the University of Liverpool's School of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine suggested that a steroid treatment called prednisolone might provide needed medical treatment for women who have recurrent miscarriages.
Rich, Good Looking, or Both
St. Mary's University psychology professors, Dr. Patricia Owen and Dr. Greg Pool, are conducting a study to assess the partner preferences of women professionals. If you choose to take the survey, you will be shown several groups of photos, each consisting of 4 male faces. Each face is accompanied by a brief description telling you something about the man pictured. You will be asked to rank the men in order of desirability and to rate each man's desirability as a partner. The survey should only take about 10 to 15 minutes of your time.
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| Chapter News and Events |
AWIS East Bay Chapter
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Event: September Program and Networking Meeting
Dr. Cori Gorman of DNA Bridges Inc.
Dr. Gorman of DNA Bridges Inc discusses her experience working in the science and business arenas of biotechnology.
Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM, Light Dinner and
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Program
Location: Novartis Inc. 4560 Horton St, Emeryville, CA 94608
Cost: Suggested donations: $5 member/ $10 non-members
Scientists, Non-scientists, Men and Women Are All Welcome! If you are not an AWIS member yet - please join us!
Event: Personal Communication Styles Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM - 12Noon,
Continental Breakfast Will Be Served
Location: Novartis Inc. 4560 Horton St, Emeryville, CA
Cost: AWIS Members: $20.00
AWIS San Diego Chapter Event: AWIS San Diego annual Open House: Come learn about AWIS San Diego events, activities and committees, and help celebrate our most active and dedicated volunteers through the AWIS Awards. All are welcome. Date: Thursday October 16, 2008 Time: 5:30 -7:30pm Location: Biogen Idec, 5200 Research Place, San Diego, CA 92122 For more information about the San Diego chapter and to register for this event please visit www.awissd.org |
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| Opportunities |
NAS Workshop on career transition points for women in STEM
The Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (CWSEM) of the National Academies is hosting a workshop on sustaining women through critical transition points in science, engineering, and medicine. The workshop will take place at the Keck Center of the National Academies in Washington, DC on September 18 and 19, 2008. It will include panel discussions on crucial transition points in academic careers, proven strategies for helping women transition in industry, and how the changing nature of science, engineering, and medicine-specifically the growth in interdisciplinary fields-impacts career progression now and in the future. AWIS President Phoebe Leboy will be one of the speakers. Pre-registration is requested.
Sustaining Women through Critical Transition Points in STEMWomen in Technology Workshop
The second annual Women in Technology Workshop is a half-day event created to foster awareness of and communication about critical issues facing women in the technical fields. The workshop on September 23, 2008 at MIT features dynamic keynotes and interactive breakout sessions.
Join Technology Review's high-level audience in this unique setting to:
CONNECT with senior-level men and women in a variety of areas of technology
EXPLORE current issues and common barriers facing women in these fields
INSPIRE dialogue and raise awareness of the issues for women pursuing technical careers
CELEBRATE female technologists and recognize their unique contributions
Register now and save!
For more information
STEM Talent 2008: A Symposium and Career Fair for Postdocs in the Captial Region
Thursday, September 25
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
AAAS Second Floor
Auditorium
1200 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Funderburg Research Scholar Award in Gastric Biology Related to Cancer
The Funderburg Research Scholar Award is awarded to an established investigator working on novel approaches in gastric cancer, including the fields of gastric mucosal regeneration and regulation of cell growth as precancerous lesions; genetics of gastric oncogenes in gastric epithelial malignancies; epidemiology of gastric cancer; etiology of malignancies; or clinical research in the diagnosis or treatment of gastric carcinoma.
The Scholar Award intends to support an active, established investigator in the field of gastric biology who enhances the fundamental understanding of gastric cancer pathobiology in order to ultimately develop a cure for the disease.
Applicants must hold faculty positions at accredited North American institutions and must have established themselves as independent investigators in the field of gastric biology. Women and minority investigators are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be Members of the AGA (visit www.gastro.org for membership information).
The deadline for receipt of applications without exception is September 20, 2008. An electronic copy of the application must be submitted by the deadline to awards@fdhn.org.
If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications must be received by midnight the following Monday. Letters of recommendation may be e-mailed by the signatories to awards@fdhn.org or mailed to the following address, postmarked by the deadline:
Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition
4930 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD
20814
Please email the application packet to awards@fdhn.org and direct questions about this award or the application submission process to the Research Awards Manager, by telephone at 301-222-4012 or email at awards@fdhn.org. For information about other AGA Foundation awards, please click here.
NIH Loan Repayment Plan
NIH is accepting applications for its extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). The LRPs repay up to $35,000 of educational loan debt annually for individuals who commit to conducting at least two years of qualified biomedical or behavioral research at a nonprofit institution of their choice.
Deadline for applications is December 1, 2008
For more information and to apply visit: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/
The National Medal of Science
Help celebrate the contributions of your colleagues by submitting a nomination for The National Medal of Science. The National Medal of Science was established 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." In 1980 Congress expanded this recognition to include the social and behavioral sciences. The National Medal of Science is the highest honor the President bestows on scientists. A Committee of 12 scientists and engineers is appointed by the President to evaluate the nominees for the Award. Since its establishment, the National Medal of Science has been awarded to 441 distinguished scientists and engineers whose careers spanned decades of research and development.
Deadline: December 5, 2008
For more information or To nominate someone
Alan T. Waterman Award for Young Researchers
The National Science Foundation is pleased to accept nominations for the 2009 Alan T. Waterman Award. Each year, the Foundation bestows the Waterman Award to recognize the talent, creativity and influence of a singular young researcher. Established in 1975 in honor of the Foundation's first Director, the Waterman Award is the Foundation's highest honor for researchers under the age of 35.
Nominees are accepted from any field of science or engineering that NSF supports. The award recipient will receive a medal and an invitation to the formal awards ceremony in Washington, DC. In addition, the recipient will receive a grant of $500,000 over a three-year period for scientific research or advanced study in any field of science or engineering supported by the National Science Foundation, at any institution of the recipient's choice.
For detailed nomination information and criteria, please visit https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards
Complete nomination packages, consisting of nominations and four letters of reference, are due by December 5, 2008. The nominations and letters must be received through the FastLane system. Please contact the Program Manager for the Alan T. Waterman Award at waterman@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040 if you have any questions. You may also visit http://www.nsf.gov/od/waterman/waterman.jsp for more information.
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Support AWIS
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Help other women in science! Donate to AWIS for its programs and/or to the Educational Foundation for its fellowships.
Your tax-deductible donation to AWIS supports the wide-ranging advocacy
and career development activities of the National Office and the
Executive Board.
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Learn more
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Member Spotlight
Fay Ajzenberg-Selove, Ph.D. |
2007 National Medal of Science Awarded to Noted Physics Professor
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Fay Ajzenberg-Selove, physics professor at University of Pennsylvania, was the only woman to win a National Medal of Science this year for her contributions in nuclear physics that have advanced research into applications including energy generation from fusion, dating of artifacts, and nuclear medicine.
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