AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of August 21, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. IAU Resolution on Women in Astronomy
2. Career Breaks Survey
3. Role Models
4. ALMA Scientists
5. NRAO Postdoc
6. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
7. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. IAU Resolution on Women in Astronomy
From: Kevin Marvel [kevin.marvel
aas.org]
The IAU General Assembly this past week passed its first-ever resolution
on Women in Astronomy. The resolution is included below in its entirety
and can be found in the online version of the General Assembly Newspaper
at the following link (Resolution B4):
http://www.astronomy2009.com.br/08.pdf
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2. Career Breaks Survey
From: WIPHYS August 19, 2009
Do you know a woman in science or engineering who has taken a career
break from her academic position?
In an effort to understand the pipeline of women professors in science and
engineering we are conducting a NSF-sponsored survey on women in career
breaks, whether voluntary or not. We are interested in women who have
completed their PhD or DSc, have been employed in an academic setting
and were, or have been, in a career break for less than five years. We
are seeking to interview such women to help us determine better ways
for individuals who have been in career breaks to be reintegrated into
the academic pipeline.
If you are someone who fits this profile or know of someone who does,
please contact Dean Rachelle Heller at shellergwu.edu to set up
an interview.
Elizabeth D. Freeland
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3. Role Models
From: Kris Sellgren [sellgrenastronomy.ohio-state.edu]
Margaret Burbidge is an amazing role model for me. I grew up in the 60s
and 70s in San Diego. She was a professor at UC San Diego, and there
was a lot of local newspaper coverage about her research. She was the
only woman scientist that I knew of, other than Marie Curie. I turned
down Stanford to go to UC San Diego as an undergraduate, because of
the growing astrophysics research group she was part of, and because it
would be so cool to be at the same institution as Margaret. And it was
cool! I was able to take classes from her; I was able to see her working
as a scientist down the hall from the lab where I was doing undergrad
research. When I went to grad school at Caltech, her breaking down of
barriers to women observing at Mt. Wilson was legendary (as were Judy
Cohen's contributions!). I will be forever grateful to her (I hope you
are reading this, Margaret!).
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4. ALMA Scientists
From: Dee Boyd [dlboydnrao.edu]
The North American ALMA Science Center (the NAASC) has openings for three
scientists to work in the area of advanced user support. The NAASC is
headquartered at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory headquarters
in Charlottesville, VA. ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter
Array, when inaugurated in 2012, will be the most powerful (sub)millimeter
interferometer ever constructed, and will transform our understanding
of topics ranging from the formation of nearby protoplanetary disks to
the first galaxies at the earliest epochs of the Universe. Commissioning
of the first ALMA antennas in Chile has commenced, in preparation for
early science in 2011. The NAASC is currently under rapid expansion in
preparation for its role in support of North American users through all
stages of their ALMA research, from observing time application through
data publication. These positions will be filled at the assistant,
associate, or scientist level, depending on experience.
The successful candidates will be members of the NAASC team of scientists,
and will provide advanced scientific and technical support to members
of the North American ALMA user community. In addition, the successful
candidates will have the opportunity to pursue a vigorous and independent
research program. Each NAASC team member will provide support in some or
all of the following areas: user support & training; workshop & tutorial
planning; user documentation; and community outreach. The successful
candidates will be expected to become proficient in the use of the ALMA
end-user tools, and take the lead on one or more tools and/or area of
ALMA expertise. There will be opportunities for moderate travel to Chile,
including taking brief "turns" as Astronomer-on-Duty at the ALMA
Observing Support Facility in northern Chile.
The successful candidates will have a demonstrated record of independent
research in an area related to the goals of ALMA. A superior ability to
communicate with the ALMA users, from novice to expert, is required,
including direct assistance for visiting observers, on-line help, and
teaching at workshops and tutorials.
Requirements include a PhD in astronomy, physics or a related field,
and two years post graduate experience in astronomical observing and data
processing. A strong background in observational astronomy, astrophysical
processes, and data reduction techniques is preferred, particularly in
radio/mm/submm interferometric observing techniques. Proficiency with one
or more radio interferometric data processing languages such as CASA,
AIPS, MIRIAD and GILDAS, would be advantageous, particularly CASA,
which is the adopted environment for ALMA.
Interested applicants may apply online at
https://careers.nrao.edu
and should include a curriculum vitae, bibliography, cover letter, and
statement of research interests with ALMA. Please direct any inquires to
clonsdalnrao.edu.
Initial review of applicants will begin December 1, 2009; however,
applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
NRAO is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
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5. NRAO Postdoc
From: Dee Boyd [dlboydnrao.edu]
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is playing a
leading role in the construction and operations of the Atacama Large
Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). When inaugurated in 2012,
ALMA will be the most powerful (sub)millimeter interferometer ever
constructed, and will transform our understanding of topics ranging from
the formation of nearby protoplanetary disks to the earliest epochs
of galaxy formation. The North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC)
located at NRAO headquarters in Charlottesville, VA (on the campus of
the University of Virginia) invites applications for a Postdoctoral
Fellow to work with the NAASC scientific staff as it gears up to support
the needs of the community when ALMA early science begins in 2011. The
initial appointment beginning in spring 2010, will be for two years,
with the possibility of extending for a third year.
This position is aimed primarily at independent research, but with
an emphasis on exercising ALMA end-to-end software and databases
from a scientific perspective. The successful candidate will have
the opportunity to work with NAASC scientists and to participate in
the organization of ALMA scientific workshops, ALMA commissioning,
and various other user support projects. The successful candidate is
encouraged to assist in the development and maintenance of Splatalogue -
the Database for Astronomical Spectroscopy ( http://www.splatalogue.net )
and will work with NAASC scientists to update and enhance the current
capabilities and data available in the database. The position will be
based at the NAASC in Charlottesville, VA and will offer an excellent
opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the tools needed to make
the most of ALMA's scientific promise.
To be considered, applicants must have an advanced degree in
astronomy, chemistry, physics or a related field. Experience in any
area of astronomical research is welcome. Skills in either molecular
spectroscopy or automated line identification are also desirable but
not required. Scientific programming capabilities are also desirable.
Interested applicants may apply online at
https://careers.nrao.edu
and should include a curriculum vitae, bibliography, cover letter, and
statement of research interests with ALMA as well as past and planned
independent scientific research. Applicants should also arrange to
have three reference letters sent directly to NRAO by the deadline
below. Please direct any inquires to Anthony Remijan at
aremijannrao.edu.
Initial review of applicants will begin on January 5, 2010; however,
applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
NRAO is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
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7. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
Past issues of AASWOMEN are available at
http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html
Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.