Greetings!
We recently heard from Dr. Liz Newport, AWIS member since 2006, on why
she is renewing her membership. Dr. Newport said:
"I learned so much by
participating in the recent AWIS STEMiNAR © on Strategies and Tactics for Getting Research Grants. My colleagues attended
other similar-type webinars being offered at a rate of $193 or more and
the quality of information provided by AWIS was so much better. I will
put into practice the strategies and tips I learned and value my AWIS
membership and the numerous benefits I receive. Thanks so much for
your hard work."
If you haven't renewed your membership yet, please do so today - it only takes a few minutes and is worth your time and effort. If you have, please excuse the cross posting and thank you for continuing to support AWIS. Questions? Contact us at
membership@awis.org.
Best,
Cindy
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Cindy Simpson, CAE
Director of External Relations and Programs
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| Education | Contributed by: Christine DiRienzo
Fix the Brain Drain in Science
Policy analysts are worried over the sharp decline in patenting and scientific publishing from American scientists when compared with other countries. Many assume there is a lack of scientists in America, but the real reason may be as simple as realizing that the scientific and engineering fields largely ignore an entire segment of adequately-trained and experienced scientists: women. Although women may be leaving science at a higher rate than men in science and engineering when compared that a mentor system, higher pay, better work hours, and promotions may do more to stop the brain drain.
Mentor, pay, and promotion
Ivory Tower for Sale?
Academia was once considered a bastion of intense thought, creative ideas, and innovation. Move into the present time and universities are expected to generate growth, rather than merely sustain or support it. Universities accomplish growth through generating new knowledge, producing graduates, licensing innovations, or spinning off companies. Federal funding of research provides a critical base for most of these activities. Reductions in federal funding have added more pressure on faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to innovate and find other ways of funding. The problem is that most of these innovators lack the knowledge to commercialize their technology or an understanding of how to create their own companies. Lesa Mitchell, Vice President of Advancing Innovation, spoke before a House Committee on Science and Technology to discuss economic growth through technology commercialization and discussed recent findings from the Kauffman Foundation on best practices of technology commercialization.
Bench to market
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| International | Elsevier Foundation Awards Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World
The Elsevier Foundation announced today that it has awarded the 2010 New Scholars grant to the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW), formerly the Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) - for two programs: the National Assessments and Benchmarking of Gender, Science, Technology and Innovation and the OWSDW Awards for Young Women Scientists 2011.
Funding more women, more science
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| Careers | Contributed by: Christiana Fogg
Big Pharma Shedding Scientists
A special report by Reuters highlights issues arising from the shifting landscape of research and development in pharmaceutical companies. One of the most alarming trends includes the widespread layoffs of research scientists by several large pharmaceutical companies in order to cut research budgets. Many of these companies are retooling their business models as they face the challenges of profitable drugs coming off patent and a shortage of viable drug candidates in the development pipeline. Nowadays, research scientists are growing wary of moving into industry because of these trends, and some have returned to academic labs after being laid off.
Exodus from industry
Scientific Fraud-Who Is at the Greatest Risk?
A new book by Caltech physics professor David Goodstein called On Fact and Fraud: Cautionary Tales from the Front Lines of Science addresses causes and cases of scientific misconduct. Dr. Goodstein's term as Vice Provost of Caltech, which involved dealing with scientific misconduct allegations, inspired him to investigate why scientists commit fraud. In his book, he identified factors that lead to fraud including 1) scientists under career pressure, 2) scientists who assumed they knew the answer to a problem without carrying out the actual experiments, and 3) scientists working in fields in which experiments are not expected to be reproduced precisely. The book also serves as a user's guide to preventing and avoiding fraud, which should be useful to scientists of all ages.
Finding fraud
Academic Women Making 40% Less
A study published in Nature found that women in academic fields are making up to 40% less money than their male colleagues. Salary discrepancies between male and female academic scientists in Europe start much earlier than those in North America, but nevertheless this is still happening across the board.
Fair compensation
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| Science and Health | Contributed by: Anahita Hamidi
The Role of Cytokines in Childhood ADHD
A new study published in the journal Behavior and Brain Functions investigated the relationship between cytokines and children with an ADHD diagnosis. In total, there were 35 ADHD children included in the study: 14 on medication and 21 controls. The scientists looked at the relationship between serum levels of 8 cytokines and 5 different tryptophan metabolites with various cognitive behavioral measures that rated such behaviors as inattention, anxiety and opposition. The researchers concluded that there is a quantitative relationship between serum levels of these markers and particular behaviors. For example, pro-inflammatory cytokines correlated more closely with cognitive control while anti-inflammatory cytokines were associated more closely with motor control. Ideally, future studies will include a longitudinal component in order to investigate the stability of these cytokines throughout adulthood.
Cytokines on the brain
Cautionary Tales in 21st Century Medicine
Medicine in the 21st century has advanced in great strides. Technological improvements and an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the basic sciences are allowing us, as a society, to develop creative solutions to the pressing health care problems of today. However, these advances do not preclude us from occasionally blundering. Here's a look at what Forbes magazine named the "Top 10 Medical Flops of the Decade."
Flops at the pharmacy
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| Work-Life Satisfaction | Happy With Children?
The National Opinion Research Center's General Social Survey found that having your first child makes people 5.6% less happy than those people without children. Each child thereafter reduces the likelihood of happiness by 1.3%. American women can expect to have 2.09 children. Women world-wide can expect to have 2.56 children. Does this mean the average American woman with children is about 7% less likely to be happy than those without, but still happier than the average woman world-wide?
Case for having kids
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| AWIS News and Events | AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: Calling All MASS AWIS Members Interested in Event Planning!
Date: July 6, 2010
Time: 6:00PM-8:30PM
AWIS LA/Ventura County Chapter
Event: Downtown Art Walk
Date: July 8, 2010
Time: 6:30PM - 9:30PM
AWIS Palo Alto Chapter
Event: 4th Annual Potluck Picnic
Date: August 14, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
AWIS National and Bethesda Chapter
Event: USA Science and Engineering Festival
Date: October 23 & 24, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM-5:30 PM each day
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Opportunities |
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. Full Proposal Deadline Date: July 20, 2010
Institut Pasteur Offers Fellowship Grants
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants to work at the Institut Pasteur Fellowship package is $70,000 per year for three years for a grand total of $210,000. Deadline September 17, 2010
NIH National Graduate Student Research Festival
An annual two-day
event held on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. This year's Festival,
to be held on October 25 and 26, will introduce 200 advanced graduate
students in the sciences to the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP)
with the aim of recruiting them to do postdoctoral training at the NIH. Learn more
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
This program offers one to three year postdoctoral fellowships designed to increase the involvement of scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy. This program has a rolling admission.
Go to: http://www.asee.org/resources/nrl/ for detailed program information.
The Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP)NREIP is a ten week summer research opportunity for undergraduate Juniors & Seniors, and Graduate students, under the guidance of a mentor, at a participating Navy Laboratory. The stipend amounts for the program are $5,500 for undergraduate students and $6,500 for graduate students. U.S. citizenship required; Permanent residents accepted at certain labs.
Go to: http://www.asee.org/nreip for application deadlines and detailed program information.
Humboldt Research Fellowship
Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers are for postdoctoral scientists and scholars who have completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the application submission date are eligible. This fellowship allows for a stay of 6-24 months in Germany and provides a monthly stipend of 2,250 EUR. Click here for application materials and detailed information.
Fellowships for Experienced Researchers are for scientists and scholars who have completed a doctoral degree within twelve years prior to the application submission date are eligible.
This fellowship allows for a stay of 6-18 months in Germany which may be divided into a maximum of three visits of at least three months each and provides a monthly stipend of 2,450 EUR. Click here for application materials and detailed information. |
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AWIS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Erin Carlson, PhD
| AWIS congratulates Dr. Erin Carlson for being named one of the 2010 Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Carlson is currently researching natural product drug discovery at Indiana University. More about Dr. Carlson |
| NEW MENTORING RESOURCE |
 ALL NEW!
Getting the Most out of Your Mentoring Relationships: A Handbook for Women in STEM
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Provides a quick yet structured guide to mentoring
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Includes a handy resource guide for quick reference
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Is the most comprehensive handbook catered to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
| WHO'S HIRING?
| Interventional Psychiatrist
University of California, San Francisco
Postdoctoral Fellows
University
of Michigan-CILER
Civil Engineer
John A.
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
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SUPPORT AWIS
| Help other women in science! Donate to AWIS for its programs and awards.
Your tax-deductible donation to AWIS supports the wide-ranging advocacy
and career development activities of the National Office and the
Executive Board.
| Learn more
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AWIS Partners with USA Science & Engineering Festival
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More Info Here!
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