Greetings!
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Happy Holiday Shopping!
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
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| Education | |
Contributed by Christine DiRienzo
Businessmen Dominate College and University Boards
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) just released two reports on the composition, policies, and selected practices of college and university governing boards. According to the findings, men outnumbered women by more than two to one on both independent boards (69.8 percent to 30.2 percent) and public boards (71.6 percent to 28.4 percent). In 2010, just 12.5 percent of independent board members were racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 11.9 percent in 2004; 23.1 percent of public board members were minorities, compared to 21.3 percent in 2004.
Who's got the power?
Pre-Test Writing Exercise Can Close Gender Gap in Physics
A recent study sheds light on one of the reasons why fewer women study physics at degree level and why, on average their grades are lower. The findings, published in the November 26th edition of Science, might not be to Larry Summers liking! The study suggests that the sex difference arises predominantly from differential preparation prior to college and psychological factors, rather than differences in ability. Furthermore, the effects of these psychological factors can be largely overcome with a brief, pre-test writing exercise focusing on important values (e.g. friends, family and learning, increasing test scores by a full grade say the researchers. The positive effects of values affirmation are most pronounced among women who tended to believe in the stereotype that men are better than women at physics.
Closing the physics gender gap
International Influx
The number of international students studying engineering biological science and physical science in the US rose by 3% last year. However, the number of international students studying math and computer science slightly fell. These numbers come from the Open Doors Report, released by the Institute of International Education, a New York-based non-profit organization that assessed the number of foreign students pursuing degrees in the US from 2009-2010. This report mainly attributes the increase to an influx in students from China. Together, China, India and South Korea (the top three countries sending students to the States) comprise nearly half (44%) of the total international enrollments in higher education in the States.
Studying in the US
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| Careers | |
Contributed by Beth Rose
How To Ask For A Salary Raise
Ever been in a situation where you felt you deserved a raise but didn't know how or were too scared to ask for one? Here are five easy steps you can take towards securing that raise you deserve. As the article outlines, success lies in doing your research (i.e. knowing how much other people in your position are making) and approaching your boss with quantitative data showing your achievements. After all, it's hard to argue against facts and numbers. Furthermore, the article also outlines when the best time to request a raise may be. Finally, sell yourself and be a tough negotiator - remember, you deserve that raise!
Time for a raise
Don't Let Stereotypes Be A Career Killer
While people tend to think of stereotype in terms of applying them to someone else, it is not uncommon for people to unconsciously stereotype themselves. This can be particularly true for women in science, and may inadvertently hinder their career advancement. However, there are three steps one can take to avoid these unconscious stereotypes. These include educating yourself and others about how stereotypes can unconsciously influence decision making, opening your mind about the ability to grow and change behavior, and networking so that you feel less isolated in your career.
Stereotypes
77 Cents on the Dollar
Women currently earn approximately $0.77 for every dollar a man earns. At first glance, this $0.23 difference may not seem that large. However, what if you view it as $77,000 for every $100,000? Suddenly it's a big difference, right? Recently, the US Senate voted on the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill introduced to strengthen the 1963 Equal Pay Act and enable enforcement of existing laws to close the pay gap between men and women (See AWIS in Action). Although the bill passed in the House of Representatives, it was defeated in the Senate 58-41 (article 1). Though you may not think about it, the decisions of elected officials who represent you in Congress greatly impact various aspects of your career. In order to keep track of law makers who are making those decisions with women in mind, Working Mother has listed the top congressmen and women who support work-life issues. See if your Senator or Representative made the list and learn about current career-related legislation under review (article 2).
Paycheck Unfairness
Your Congress
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| Science and Health | |
Contributed by Anahita Hamidi
Experimental Cholesterol Drug Shows Promise
Under normal physiological conditions, the enzyme cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), works to convert HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) to LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol). Anaceptrapib, a new experimental drug developed by Merck, inhibits CETP and effectively shifts the balance of towards higher levels of HDL and lower levels of LDL. The results, published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, are promising. In a patient population of 1,623 (already on statins), anaceptrapib effectively reduced LDL by 39.8% and increased HDL by 138.1%. While the findings are exciting, Merck acknowledges that it will be at least another four years before the cardiovascular benefits of anacetrapib are elucidated.
Good v bad cholesterol
FDA Says No to Caffeine and Alcohol Cocktails
Four companies, Charge Beverages Corporation, New Century Brewing Company, Phusion Projects and United Brands Company, already had one thing in common; they manufactured beverages that contained a mixture of alcohol and caffeine. Now they have something else in common; a warning letter issued by the FDA. The FDA sent the letter due to public health concerns that the addition of caffeine to alcoholic drinks might "mask" some sensory cues individuals normally rely on to self-monitor intoxication levels. Furthermore, the FDA cited studies that suggest the cocktail may encourage individuals to participate in even more risky behavior than normally results from alcohol consumption.
Caffeine cocktails warning
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| Work-Life Satisfaction | |
Contributed by Janet Bandows Koster
Are Women Really More Eco-Friendly Than Men?
Research suggests women are not only more concerned with the environment, they also consume less energy...although not by much. The average single woman in this country is responsible for 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e); the average single man, 32 tons.
Who leaves a bigger carbon footprint?
Engineer Inspired to Design the Perfect Shoe
Anyi Lu found she was literally a step behind male counterparts in her big corporate jobs as she struggled to keep pace with them while wearing uncomfortable high-heel shoes. So the chemical engineer set out to design a more comfortable shoe. Her high-fashion footwear is now sold in stores nationwide.
If the shoe fits |
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AWIS News and Events
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Date: December 1
Time: 9:30AM - 11:00AM
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: Coffee Club - Early Career
Date: December 2
Time: 7:45AM - 12:00PM
AWIS Los Angeles Ventura County
Event: Holiday Party
Date: December 3
Time: 7:00PM - 10:00PM
AWIS East Bay Chapter
Event: December Networking Social
Date: December 14
Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: Mass AWIS Holiday Party
Date: December 15
Time: 7:00PM - 10:00PM |
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Opportunities
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Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Collaborative Research Travel GrantsDeadline: December 1, 2010 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time This program provides up to $15,000 in support for researchers from degree-granting institutions to travel either domestically or internationally to a laboratory to acquire a new research technique, to facilitate/begin collaboration, or to attend a course. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or are studying for a Ph.D. in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering who are interested in investigating research opportunities in the biological sciences or to biologists interested in working with physical scientists, mathematicians, engineers, chemists, statisticians, or computer scientists to incorporate their ideas and approaches to answering biological questions. For more information, click here.
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards Deadline: January 15, 2011 The Lawrence Awards honor U.S. scientists and engineers at mid-career for exceptional contributions in research and development supporting the Department of Energy and its mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. Eligibility requires that nominees be U.S. citizens in mid-career and show promise for continued exceptional achievements. This announcement includes two new award categories - "Computer, Information, and Knowledge Sciences" and "Energy Science and Innovation" - as well as new category titles and descriptions. The Lawrence Award's webpage (http://www.sc.doe.gov/lawrence) describes the nomination guidelines and process, and all nominations must be made via an electronic submission process at http://www.orau.gov/lawrence.
Research Funding Without the Post-Doc
Deadline: January 21, 2011
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will grant research funding to a select number of new PhD and MD graduates with secured research positions. The NIH Director Early Independence Award (EIA) program consists of approximately $60 million to be distributed over the next five years. The EIA does not require post-doctoral training, and academic institutions can actively recruit talented candidates into these positions. Each institution can apply for up to two awards. Click here for more information.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
This program has a rolling admission.
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. Click here for more 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. 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. Click here for application materials and detailed information.
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AWIS FELLOW
SPOTLIGHT |
AWIS congratulates former national board councilor, Dr. Jane Maienschein for being named the 2010 Arizona Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Dr. Maienschein, a Regents' Professor and President's Professor in ASU's School of Life Sciences, was selected from more than 300 top professors in the United States.
Read more
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| AWIS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT |  | AWIS congratulates long-time member, Dr. Helen M. Free, who was recently recognized with a National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor that the U.S. government can bestow on an American scientist, for "her seminal contributions to diagnostic chemistry, primarily through dip-and-read urinalysis tests, that first enabled diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels on their own."
Read more about about Dr. Free's contributions here. |
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