AWIS
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ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Washington Wire

 Edited by: Trudy Jackson Bosilovic 

October 2012
  Issue I  

Greetings!

 

On Tuesday, October 23, AWIS will be hosting a virtual symposium that will focus on the future of Technology Transfer and its importance to America's innovation economy...but more importantly, its relevance to you and your career.  Whether you are still in training or retired, you will get some great "take-aways" from our panel of experts.


AWIS STEMiNARs benefit you and our nation-wide network of members by providing a free platform for information, education, and community.


To register and learn more, please visit the AWIS Calendar of Events.  

 

Best regards,  

 

Janet
____________
Janet Bandows Koster
AWIS Executive Director & CEO
In This Issue
Careers
Education
Health
Science and Technology
Work Life Satisfaction
Events
Opportunities
Careers

Contributed by Meghan Mott  

 

New Career Tool for Science PhDs
Science Careers has developed an online assessment tool to help science graduate students and post docs define and pursue career goals. Given the current grim job prospects in academia, creating an individual development plan is crucial to investigate alternatives to the academic research track. The first step is using the "myIDP" self-assessment scale to take an inventory of your skills and compare them to those necessary for various scientific careers.

Scientists stocking skills  

 

5 Ways to Network More Effectively Online
Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are great for professional networking, but making the right connections can be difficult. Identifying people of influence in your field, mastering the keyword search, and joining the conversation are just the beginning of learning how to leverage social media for networking.

Professional sifting  

Education

Contributed by Jacqueline Akech  

 

STEM Visa Reform Bill
A plan to allow U.S. educated, foreign born STEM graduates with advanced degrees to obtain visas recently failed to pass in the US House of Representatives.  Moreover, biosciences graduates would be excluded from the proposed employment-based visa category for up to 55,000 STEM graduates yearly. With record high U.S. unemployment in biosciences, lawmakers favored this exclusion since the job market for newly trained Ph.D.s in the biomedical sciences remains dismal.

No visas for STEM  

 

After-School Activities Linked to Academic Achievement
A recent study suggests that students engaged in after-school activities show an improvement in overall academic performance.  In particular, the Boys and Girls Clubs and other similar programs where students are provided with activities including homework support contributed to greater academic achievement. Other factors benefitted by students in such programs included improvement in social skills, motivation, classroom behavior and self-esteem.

Extracurricular activities  

Health
Contributed by Lara Kallal

Revisiting the Use of Laughing Gas for Women in Labor
Many women in labor are given epidurals or spinal anesthesia, which are invasive procedures, to help relieve the pain associated with giving birth. In a new Cochrane review, study co-author Trudy Klomp assessed 26 reports on the use of nitrous oxide, an inhaled analgesic, in managing pain during labor. The results indicated that the gas is safe and provides relief, but implementation in U.S. labor wards would require proper equipment installation and ventilation.  

Easing labor pain

10 Studies that Challenge Our Perceptions of Health
Many seemingly innocuous habits or practices that we take for granted as contributing to good health come with caveats, as these collections of scientific studies show. For example, we all expect that exercising will help control weight gain or that taking a vitamin once a day will improve overall health. In fact, evidence suggests that exercise decreases basal metabolic rates and that eating less promotes greater weight loss. Further, taking vitamins contributes to a feeling of "invulnerability" that leads to more harmful health practices.

Science sheds light
Science and Technology
Contributed by Demetra Farley

Stem Cells as Fertility Treatment?
Scientists from Kyoto University in Japan have reportedly generated healthy mice from the stem cells of skin. The authors, who recently published their work in the journal Science, first reprogrammed the skin cells into eggs, and then matured them in "reconstituted ovaries" in a cell culture dish. The fertilized "eggs" were implanted in female surrogates, ultimately producing viable mice offspring. Researchers hope to eventually apply similar techniques to human stem cells, providing a possible solution to female infertility.

Turning back the (biological) clock

Scientific Misconduct Causes Journal Retractions
The "publish or perish" model for success in academia has apparently come at quite a cost. A review of more than 2,000 papers retracted from scientific literature uncovered a disturbing rise in the instances of ethical misconduct.  Nearly two-thirds of all retractions were linked to author fraud, paper duplication, or plagiarism. Dr. Arturo Casadevall, a professor at Albert Einstein College, cites an increasing desire for recognition, funding, and job stability amongst scientists as the cause of this growing trend.

Lying on the science
Work Life Satisfaction
Contributed by Catherine Moorwood

How to Manage Flexible Workers
A more mobile and flexible workforce creates new challenges for keeping employees productive. One solution is to implement results based expectations in place of counting hours in the office.

On the move

Has Marissa Mayer Made Pregnancy a Selling Point?
The new CEO of Yahoo gave birth to her first child a few months after taking the job. Her high profile pregnancy and minimal time off has sparked debate: is she in denial about the importance of maternity leave or living proof that women can have it all?

Yahoo for Yahoo?
AWIS News and Events
AWIS and St. John's University
Event: Strategies for Success in the STEM Disciplines: Creating Your Career Mosaic
Date: October 15
Time: 1:50PM - 3:15PM     
Register Now

AWIS Palo Alto Chapter
Event: Let Your Leadership Reign
Date: October 16
Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Register Now

AWIS University of Michigan Chapter
Event: Essential Communication Skills for Scientists
Date: October 18
Time: 3:00PM - 5:30PM
Register Now

AWIS Chicago Chapter
Event: AWIS Chicago Networking Event
Date: October 18
Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Register Now

AWIS St. Louis Chapter
Event: Picnic and guided tour at Laumeier Sculpture Park
Date: October 21
Time: 12:30PM - 3:00PM
Register Now

AWIS STEMiNAR: Technology Transfer - Why It Should Matter to You
Event: Virtual Webinar
Date: October 23
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Register Now

6th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2012)
Event: Women in Technology and Development
Date: October 24
Time: 4:30PM - 6:00PM
Learn More
Opportunities

Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physical Sciences
The University of Nebraska - Lincoln is bringing together outstanding student researchers in Physics for a three-day conference, from October 18 to October 20, 2012. Attendees will be given the opportunity to expand upon current research experiences, interact with physics students from other universities, and attend scientific talks given by scientists who are leaders in their field. The theme of this year's conference is "The nanoworld is not enough." Undergraduate students with research in all areas of physics, astronomy, or related disciplines are encouraged to attend.

2013 Alan T. Waterman Award Call for Nominations
The Alan T. Waterman Award is the highest honor awarded by the National Science Foundation. The annual award has been bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional individual achievement in scientific or engineering research of sufficient quality to place them at the forefront of their peers.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 $1,000,000 over a five 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. Nominations will be accepted from August 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 35 years of age or younger, or not more than seven years beyond receipt of their Ph.D. degree by December 31 of the year in which they are nominated.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ti ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity.  The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.  The NSF welcomes applications from all qualified students and strongly encourages under-represented populations, including women, under-represented racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities, to apply for this fellowship. The deadline for applications are designated by field of study and are as follows: Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, and Materials Research applications are due November 13; Mathematical Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy applications are due November 14; Social Sciences, Psychology, and STEM Education and Learning applications are due November 16; and Life Sciences and Geosciences applications are due November 19.

The Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program
The Schlumberger Foundation is accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Faculty for the Future Fellowships. New applications will be accepted from September 10 to November 16, 2012. This program awards fellowships to women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or post-doctoral studies in the physical sciences, engineering and technology at leading universities abroad. The long-term goal of the program is to generate conditions that result in more women pursuing academic careers in scientific disciplines thus contributing to the socio-economic development of their home countries and regions.

Impact of Clean Cooking Solutions on Women Users and Their Families
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is seeking qualified teams of researchers to fill key gaps in the existing evidence on the impact that clean cooking solutions have on women users and their families, as well as data that provides a better understanding of the impact women entrepreneurs working in the cookstove and fuel value chain have on adoption rates. Of particular interest are studies that are based in Alliance priority and potential priority countries/regions[1]. Confirmed priority countries include: Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, Uganda and China. Potential countries/regions include: Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, and India. As much as $250,000 will be available for studies funded under RFA 12-5. The Alliance would like to be able to share results in at least one impact area in the next 6-9 months, and will prioritize applications that reflect this objective. Overall, studies should be completed within a 6 month to 18 month timeframe. The deadline for Letters of Intent (encouraged, but not mandatory) is October 26, 2012. The deadline for submission of proposals is November 19, 2012.

Policy Fellowships with the Society for Research in Child Development
SRCD is seeking applications for upcoming Policy Fellowships for 2013-2014. There are two types of Fellowships: Congressional and Executive Branch. Both provide Fellows with exciting opportunities to come to Washington, DC and use their research skills in child development outside of the academic setting to inform public policy. Fellowships are full-time immersion experiences and run from September 1st through August 31st. The application deadline is December 15, 2012. Applicants must have a doctoral-level degree in any relevant discipline (e.g., Ph.D., M.D.), must demonstrate exceptional competence in an area of child development research, and must be a member of SRCD.

FASEB Stand Up for Science Competition
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) is sponsoring a competition for the most effective demonstration of how research funded by NIH, NSF, and other federal agencies improves the health, quality of life, or economy in local communities.Competitors will create exhibits, events, or web-based outreach that highlight the value of NIH, NSF, or other federally funded research. Documentation of events and outreach efforts should be maintained and can include photos, videos, specific twitter hashtags, webpages, and links to news articles.Submissions will be accepted from September 17, 2012 to December 1, 2012. Voting will open on December 3, 2012 and close December 31, 2012.

Travel Award Program for Early Career Investigators
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology will offer a limited number of travel awards to early career investigators at the Assistant Professor or equivalent industry scientist level. At times researchers find that attending a Keystone Symposia meeting might substantially further a current research project or assist in problem solving around a particular experimental issue. These travel awards are specifically designed to address this situation. The emphasis is on URM scientists who are pursuing research careers. The application process is open for all meetings between now and February 28, 2013. However, the awards will be made upon review, on a first come basis.

Opportunity for Scientists to Collaborate with European Colleagues
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the European Commission (EC) signed an Implementing Arrangement to provide opportunities for NSF-funded early career scientists and engineers to pursue research collaborations with European colleagues supported through the European Research Council (ERC) awards.  The ERC will identify researchers wishing to host NSF funded investigators, and NSF will solicit proposals from its CAREER awardees and Postdoctoral Research Fellows for these potential collaborative opportunities. This agreement will allow US scientists to be incorporated in the ERC-funded teams and will be supported as any other ERC team members. NSF will cover travel costs for the US scientists. NSF will release further details through an upcoming Dear Colleague Letter.

ADVANCE Program Solicitation
NSF ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE) is accepting proposals for projects that develop systemic approaches to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce.

Marie Curie Fellowship
Have you ever wanted to do research in Europe? Apply for a Marie Curie Fellowship. The goal of the Marie Curie Fellowship is to strengthen the human potential in research and technology by stimulating people to enter into the profession of research and attracting researchers from the entire world to Europe. This Fellowship addresses researchers at all stages of their careers, in the public and private sectors, from initial research training, specifically intended for young people, to lifelong learning and career development. Proposals are welcomed from all areas of scientific and technological research and the fellowship covers your salary plus your research expenses. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years' full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate.

Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship
The Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship program aims to encourage creative and highly-trained recipients of doctoral degrees in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematical disciplines to engage in hands-on research projects in their areas of expertise at the kind of small innovative businesses that historically have fueled the nation's economic regime. This fellowship program offers small businesses the opportunity to attract top scientific and technological talent at a fraction of the usual cost, while recruiting postdoctoral fellows to work for at least a year outside an academic setting on cutting-edge research aimed at promoting scientific excellence and strengthening our nation's technological prowess. Each research fellow will receive a stipend of at least $75,000 plus health insurance benefits.

NSF's Career-Life Balance (CLB) Initiative
Scientists now have the opportunity to submit supplemental funding requests to support additional personnel (e.g., research technicians or equivalent). This will help sustain research when the Principal Investigator is on family leave. In FY 2012, up to 3 months of salary support may be requested (for a maximum of $12,000 in salary compensation) by CAREER awardees.
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