Washington Wire
Edited by Rachel Britt, PhD
|
|
 |
Greetings!,
Your AWIS team has been very busy this October. AWIS board and staff members just returned from presenting two sessions at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Annual Conference where we were thrilled to see that long-time AWIS member, Eve Sprunt (see member spotlight), received the annual Achievement Award from the society.
To further the interests of women in STEM this month, our Public Policy Fellow attended brainstorming meetings with the Business and Higher Education communities at the White House and the National Academy of Sciences. AWIS also participated in dialogues about the myth of the STEM crisis at the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes and the National Press Club. For more details and information on other AWIS advocacy efforts, check out the latest issue of AWIS in Action!
In New York, AWIS weighed in at a conference on Strategies for Recruitment, Retention, Monitoring Women in STEM sponsored by the German Center for Research and Innovation.
AWIS was at the Society for Advancing Hispanic/Chicano and Native American Scientists (SACNAS) Annual Meeting in San Antonio, where we gave a presentation and served as a panelist.
Next month, we will be in St. Louis for a meeting of our national governing board. Included is a special event with the AWIS St. Louis Chapter. If you are in town, I hope you will join us on Saturday evening, November 9, at Vino Gallery. Click here for details.
Best Regards,
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director & CEO
|
|
 |
|
 Careers |
|
Contributed by Ramya Natarajan, PhD
Internships are Resume-Boosting Experiences for Postdocs
For postdoctoral fellows who are eyeing careers beyond the bench, doing an internship outside of academia might be the ticket to realizing their career goals. Internships not only allow you to explore career options, they also broaden your skills and experience, increase your marketability, expand your professional network, and most importantly, they give you an advantage over other job applicants. Anecdotes from current and former postdocs provide examples of how to find such internship opportunities and how to get your PI's approval.
Intern your way to a new career
Too Much Mentoring is Risky for Women's Careers
This Wall Street Journal article explores the sacrifices that top female managers make in their own careers when they take on too many junior mentees. The downside of mentoring occurs when women mentors halt their own networking needs to attend to the needs of their protégés, thereby risking their own upward climb. To ensure their own career success as well as that of their mentees, women managers must be measured in how they approach mentoring and in how many mentees they take on at a time.
Balanced mentoring
10 Interview Tips for Academic Jobs
Job searches are tedious, time consuming, exhausting and especially onerous for academic positions where the competition is fierce. So, when you finally receive that coveted invitation to interview, don't lose the opportunity by being ill-prepared. Instead, follow these helpful hints to successfully navigate the academic interview.
Don't blow your interview
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed by Rachel Britt, PhD
"S" is for Science; That's Good Enough for Me
"Little Discoverers" is a website recently launched by the educational arm of the TV series Sesame Street to teach young children and parents STEM concepts in fun and engaging ways. Sesame Street characters encourage children to explore complex concepts made accessible through games, videos and hands-on experiments. STEM content from Sesame Street is nothing new, but this is the first time it has been collected online in an interactive fashion, with accompanying educator guides and parent newsletters.
Sesame Street STEM
When Mobile Devices and Campus IT Collide
Now that 76% of undergraduates own a smartphone, and 58% own at least 3 mobile devices, it's clear why the wireless networks of college campuses are feeling the strain. Use of wireless technologies for social purposes and their integration into teaching techniques contribute to high wireless traffic in lecture halls, common areas and sports venues. Campuses IT staffs are scrambling to provide wireless network access while simultaneously safeguarding data integrity.
Gazillions of gadgets
In Math, Hard Work > Talent
A recent article discusses the concept that success in math depends just as much, or even more, on determination and preparation than it does on inborn ability. The authors argue that the American perception that math is difficult and can only be mastered by those with inate intelligence predisposes American students to underperform. Studies show that students who are told intelligence is malleable, and can be increased though persistence and dedication, tend to work harder and get better grades. Yes, even in math.
Myth of the math people
|
|
|
|
______________
AWIS Fall Webinar Series
_____________________
|
|
Member Spotlight
Eve Sprunt, PhD
Advisor, Geological Research and Development, Chevron Corporation.
AWIS would like to congratulate Eve on receiving the Achievement Award from The Society of Women Engineers this month! The Achievement Award is the highest award given out by SWE and is bestowed for an outstanding contribution over a significant period of time in a field of engineering.
|
|
|
|
 Science and Technology |
|
Contributed by Shabnum Patel
The World's Deadliest Substance
Known as the world's deadliest substance, the new Type H botulinum toxin was found in the feces of a child with symptoms of botulism. Due to the deadly nature of this novel strain and the need to develop a stronger antibody to counter the bacterium, the findings were published without the gene sequence for the toxin. Editors of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the researchers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) agreed that publishing the sequence without an antibody would pose a security risk.
Novel strain of botulinum toxin
Can a Breast Milk Protein Prevent HIV Transmission?
Researchers at Duke Medicine found that the protein Tenascin-C (TNC) in breast milk binds to the HIV virus and neutralizes it, preventing the infection of babies who are continuously exposed to HIV via breast milk. It is estimated that globally in 2011, 330,000 children were infected with HIV from their mothers. If TNC is developed into an HIV-prevention therapy, it could help prevent further infection of babies both through neutralization of HIV and through inducing antibody production.
Protective proteins
Search Engine Reveals Sexism
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women released a new online ad campaign for UN Women that revealed both discrimination and sexism against women in the search engine Google. When certain key words were typed in, the search engine suggested negative and sexist phrases to complete the search. This ad campaign has gone viral, and the UN hopes it will create dialogue on women's issues globally, including how women are perceived by society.
What will your search engine suggest?
|
|
|
|
 Work-Life Satisfaction |
| |
Contributed by Becky Mercer, PhD
Making Tough Decisions
We all make difficult decisions in our personal and professional lives. Should I ask for a promotion? Should I have a child? Should I pursue an advanced degree? In the Harvard Business Review, Melinda Merino interviews leading CEO consultant Ram Charan on making tough decisions. His advice for corporate CEOs, is readily applicable to the modern scientist. Tips for making successful choices include: looking forward, not back; listening for information; considering consequences without letting them hinder clarity; and having the fortitude to deal with unpleasant surprises.
Stop wimping out and make the call
Why Failure is Key to Success
Scott Adams writes in the Wall Street Journal that failure is an integral part of becoming a success. He writes that having passion, or a specific goal is important, but that things may not go according to plan, and being prepared to change direction is also important. His tips reveal the mental flexibility and perseverance it takes to make it in this modern world.
Making the grade
Five Life Lessons from Bootcamp
Writing in a recent blog for Working Mother online magazine, Karen Steele describes being pushed to her limits by a bootcamp fitness trainer. She provides five key insights that can boost your physical strength, but that also provide muscle for your career and personal life. She advises: just sign up and try something new, don't focus on the pounds, step forward and be visible, stick with it, and remember you're never too old.
How to be "at attention" in work and life
|
|
|
|
 Health |
| |
Contributed by Jaime Smith, PhD
Study Shows Breast Milk Purchased Online is Often Contaminated
A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that breast milk supplied via two websites was often contaminated with high levels of bacteria and, including Salmonella. "Milk-sharing" web sites have recently become popular among parents who adopted, had mastectomies, or have a low milk supply. Researchers found that 64 percent of the milk-sharing samples were contaminated with Staphylococcus and 36 percent with Streptococcal.
Got milk?
Scientists Discover Genetic "Biological Clock"
UCLA researchers discovered a set of biomarkers that changes as a person ages which are linked to a chemical process called methylation. Generally, when the researchers compared a tissue's biological age-based on DNA methylation profile, to its actual age, they matched. However, one of the biggest differences was in breast tissue-healthy tissue was a close age match whereas tumor tissue was on average 36 years older than its healthy counterpart. This could provide insight into breast cancer.
Tick, tock
Mothers' Favoritism of Children Persists Into Old Age
A recent study funded by the National Institute on Aging and published in the Journal of Marriage and Family shows mothers have favorites among children and those preferences continue into older age. The researchers surveyed women between 65 and 75 years old and found that two-thirds said they felt emotionally closer to a particular child-a feeling that continued seven years later when they were surveyed again.
The favorite child
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Events |
|
|
|
 Opportunities |
| |
2014-15 Postdoc Funding Opportunity in Women's Health and Sex Differences
The American Fund for Alternatives to Animal Research (AFAAR) and the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) are offering a $40,000 one year postdoctoral grant for 2014-15 (with possible renewal) to a woman committed to developing, validating, or using alternatives to animal methods in the investigation of women's health or sex differences. * In response to inquiries, NEAVS is extending the application deadline for our 2014-15 Fellowship Grant for Alternatives to Animal Research in Women's Health and Sex Differences. Applications are now being accepted until December 15th, 2013.
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 15 participating DOE laboratories. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission. Application deadline: January 10, 2014 at 5:00 pm EST.
The Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars Program
The DOE Scholars Program introduces students or recent college graduates to DOE's mission and operations. As a participant in the DOE Scholars Program, you will earn a competitive edge by familiarizing yourself with DOE functions while showcasing your education, talent and skills. Closes January 12, 2014.
2014 Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups
The Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and skills that will complement your academic pursuits. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate tomorrow's leaders, strengthen their understanding of the transportation industry and prepare them for future public service opportunities. Application Deadline: Selections may be made as applications are received, but typically do not occur until the application closes: December 31, 2013.
Getting the Most out of Your Mentoring Relationships - Webinar
The relationship between a mentor and mentee can define careers. Join Dr. Donna Dean as she covers critical aspects of mentoring from the perspective of both the mentee and the mentor. The presentation will address the responsibilities, perils, and pitfalls that mentors and mentees must consider in assuring that the mentee's needs are effectively addressed. FREE. Thursday, November 7th, 2-3pm.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
