Greetings!

The Art of Informational Interviewing
Job seekers often hear that they should be striving to get informational interviews in their search. However, few people ever talk about what those are supposed to look like and how to do them well.

Take the lead, then listen

New Research Disproves Stereotypes
According to a new study out of Duke University, Black women in power positions in business may sometimes fare better than white women and Black men. Duke researchers found is that when Black females in power roles displayed dominant behavior - whether they're reprimanding or encouraging people - their subordinates were less likely to give them negative approval ratings than white women who displayed the same behavior.

 
Power and perception 

18 Least Common Jobs
Astronomers top the Bureau of Labor Statistics list of the 18 least common jobs.  Also on the list are industrial-organizational psychologists, geographers, and mathematical technicians.   

Uncommon careers

Facebook All-Boy's Clubroom
Despite the outspoken prominence of Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, and the fact that women make up the majority of the social network's user base, the company's seven directors are all men. "It doesn't make sense for a company that claims to be so forward looking to not have any women directors," said Anne Mulcahy, former CEO and chairman of Xerox.

Time for an about-face

A New Kind of Search Engine

Rather than searching the Web, Wolfram Alpha Pro pulls information from its painstakingly curated database of mainly math and science facts.   The new version handles data and images.  Creator Stephen Wolfram explains, "We're starting to have the ability to understand data and images in the way we understand text queries."  This premium version of the search engine costs $4.99 a month or $2.99 for students.

 
Siri, should I subscribe to this service?

Seize the Moment
Studies have suggested that the ancient practice of mindfulness, being fully in the present, helps reduce anxiety and depression, and produces measurable changes in the brain regions involved in memory, learning and emotion.   In a culture that values multi-tasking, mindfulness can be a challenge but offers many potential benefits including prevention of excess weight.

 
Turning off autopilot

Yale Report of Sexual Misconduct
Yale University released a report earlier this month of the allegations of misconduct by students or employees, ranging from harassing remarks to rape during the period from July 1 to the end of 2011.  The release of the report was an effort by University officials to be more transparent after the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation into Yale University in March 2011 under Title IX in response to a complaint of a hostile sexual environment on the college's campus.  Cases involved not only students by misconduct among faculty and staff.

Title IX enforcement

Other Events 

The Department of Energy invites nominations for the Enrico Fermi Award. This is a Presidential award and recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements that are particularly distinguished and demonstrate scientific, technical, management or policy leadership that are related to all basic and applied research, science and technology supported by the DOE and its programs. The Award consists of a citation signed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Energy, a gold medal, and a $50,000 honorarium. A diverse pool of candidates is encouraged. Nominations for the 2012 Fermi Award must be submitted by March 15, 2012.
 
DOE 2012 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards
The Department of Energy invites nominations for the 2012 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards. The Award is awarded to mid-career scientists and engineers in recognition of exceptional scientific, technical, and/or engineering achievements related to the broad missions of the U.S. DOE and its programs. The Award consists of a citation signed by the Secretary of Energy, a gold medal, and a $20,000 honorarium. An award is given in each of the following eight categories: Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Sciences, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Computer, Information, and Knowledge Sciences, Condensed Matter and Materials Sciences, Energy Science and Innovation, Fusion and Plasma Sciences, High Energy and Nuclear Physics, and National Security and Nonproliferation. A diverse pool of candidates is encouraged. Nominations for 2012 Lawrence Awards must be submitted by March 15, 2012.

Undergraduate Summer Research Experience at University of Utah
The NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City  will host a research program from June 4, 2012 through August 10, 2012.  Selected participants will receive a $4500 stipend, housing on campus, and a $600 travel allowance.  The research will focus on the spin effects in organic LEDs and solar cells as well as plasmonic metamaterials.  Application is open to U.S. citizens & permanent residents who will obtain an undergraduate degree after December 2012. The application deadline is March 15, 2012.

Opportunities at Beatrice Bain Research Group at UC Berkeley
2012-2013 Scholars in Residence Program
The BBRG hosts approximately ten competitively selected scholars from the U.S. and abroad for a period of one academic year.  The program is open to senior and junior faculty (tenured and untenured), visiting scholars, postdoctoral scholars and independent scholars, from any country, whose work is centrally on gender and women. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. at least one year prior to the projected beginning of their residency at BBRG.  Applications are due by March 15, 2012.

BBRG Affiliated Scholars Program
The BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program is designed to accommodate scholars who would like to spend a relatively short period of time in residence, ranging from one month to six months. The BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program is open to senior and junior faculty (tenured and untenured), visiting scholars, postdoctoral scholars and independent scholars, from the U.S. and abroad, whose work is centrally on women and gender. Applicants must have the Ph.D. in hand one year prior to the beginning of the appointment. The BBRG accepts applications for the BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program throughout the academic year.

2012 Undergraduate Research & Study Abroad Program in Panama

CATHALAC and University of Alabama is offering an eight-week research & study abroad program in Panama focused on climate change and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Participants will receive professional training, hands-on learning, and experience how climate change influences sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study will take place between June 3-July 28, 2012.  The application deadline is March 26, 2012.

Undergraduate Opportunity at Summer Research Labs
The BCMB Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville will offer a summer program for undergraduates interested in research. The aim of this Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is to provide hands-on research opportunities for students majoring in the sciences, with an introduction to cutting-edge research in the broad area of "Sensing and Signaling". This opportunity is available to Sophomore and Junior undergraduate science majors, with preference for Juniors. Each Fellowship will include a $5,000 stipend as well as an allowance for cost of living, travel, and research supplies. The application deadline is March 30, 2012.  

National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is the Nation's highest honor for American scientists and engineers. It is  awarded to individuals deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding cumulative contributions to knowledge in the chemical, physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or behavioral or social sciences, in combination with exemplary service to the Nation. Nominations are due on March 31, 2012.
 

National Medal of Technology and Innovation
The USPTO is seeking nominations for the 2012 Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI), the nation's highest honor for technological achievement, bestowed by the President of the United States on America's leading innovators.  All completed nominations must be submitted to the USPTO by 5:00 p.m. (ET), March 31, 2012.  

Myelofibrosis Challenge
The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative approaches to reversing fibrosis in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). Applicants for this concept grant program (titled the MF Challenge) may request funding in the amount of up to $100,000 per grant. The grant review will take place in June 2012 in Chicago. The goal of The MF Challenge is to discover the factor(s) that induce(s) fibrosis in bone marrow, and to identify opportunities to arrest and reverse this fibrosis. Proposals are due by April 1, 2012.

Aldo Leopold Leadership Program for Environmental Scientists
The Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University invites midcareer academic environmental scientists are invited to apply to the 2013 Leopold Leadership Fellowships.  Leopold Leadership Fellows receive leadership training that is useful and relevant wherever Fellows choose to work.  The program offers two intensive training sessions a year apart to help Fellows gain the skills, approaches, and theoretical frameworks for translating their knowledge to action and for catalyzing change to address the world's most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges.  The deadline to apply is April 16, 2012.

Research Opportunities for Recent Ph.D. Graduates
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Postdoctoral Research Awards support EERE's mission in energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering recent Ph.D. recipients the opportunity to conduct applied research at universities, national laboratories, and other research facilities.  The award will provide an annual stipend, allowances for health insurance and research-related expenses, and limited reimbursement for relocation expenses. An Annual Research Meeting for participants will be organized and hosted by EERE.  The application deadline is May 1, 2012.

WESH Spring Executive Leadership Summit
WESH, Women Executives in Science and Healthcare (formerly known as SELAM, The Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine) is hosting a Spring Executive Leadership Summit, "Renew and Redirect: A Workshop for Senior Leaders" at the Loews Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, May 4-6, 2012.  For more information email wesh@fernley.com.  
 

2012 BBVA Foundation of Frontiers of Knowledge Awards
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards seek to recognize and encourage world-class research and artistic creation, prizing contributions of lasting impact for their originality, theoretical significance and ability to push back the frontiers of the known world. These international awards span eight categories including Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics), Biomedicine, Ecology and Conservation Biology, Climate Change and more.  The award includes a € 400.000 prize.  The closing date for submissions is June 30, 2012.

AWIS Fellow

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