AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of September 25, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. Advice Request: How to be a Good Mentor
2. University of Michigan ADVANCE
3. The GAPP Project
4. AAS Professional Development Workshops
5. Childcare Grants, APS Meeting, Feb. 13-16, 2010
***The following positions were taken from WIPHYS***
6. Postdoctoral Position in Experimental Astrophysics, Syracuse University
7. Astrophysics Faculty Position, Johns Hopkins University
8. Faculty Position in Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Ohio State University
9. Asst. Professor of Physics at Whitworth University: Announcement and Comment
10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
11. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. Advice Request: How to be a Good Mentor
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz
memphis.edu]
AASWOMEN has had an anonymous request for advice on how to be a successful mentor to
undergraduate students:
I would like all the help I can get on being a mentor. While I had good advisors
(in the formal sense of that word) as a student, I've never really had a mentor.
As a tenured professor, I now find myself in a position to mentor undergraduates
with a wide range of experiences, needs, and expectations. As gender issues (problems)
come up in my department, I am often unsure of how to address them in my unofficial
role as a mentor. I want to do more than just tell students how I would have handled
the problem when I was an undergrad. I'm flying by the seat of my pants, as the
saying goes, and would appreciate insight from others.
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2. University of Michigan ADVANCE
From: Ed Deluca [edelucacfa.harvard.edu]
[Several alert readers have pointed us to the website for the University of Michigan
ADVANCE program, one of the best in the nation – Eds.]
The home page is here:
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/advance
There is some interesting material about mentoring and evaluating candidates for
faculty positions, with links to each of the following:
Toolkits for Chairs and Administrative Leaders
STRIDE Committee
CRLT Players
Faculty Career Advising
Candidate Evaluation Tool
Giving and Getting Career Advice Handbook
Handbook for Faculty Searches and Hiring
Assessing the Academic Work Environment
If the administrators at your college or university are not following the practices
described in the “Handbook for Faculty Searches and Hiring,” please investigate ways
of encouraging them to do so. It includes extensive discussions on creating a diverse
applicant pool, a sample candidate evaluation sheet, and an extensive bibliography.
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3. The GAPP Project
From: Kevin Marvel [kevin.marvelaas.org]
I was unaware of this project until reviewing a recent issue of research.eu, a publication
from the European Union. I wanted to share the website of the project with the AASWOMEN
readers:
http://www.gendergapp.eu/
Description form the website: It is well known that in Europe young people are losing
contact with science and the number of science students in universities has decreased.
At the same time, in this context a gender difference does exist: girls appear less
interested in science and technology than boys and a gender disparity emerges from
university matriculations in “hard science” faculties, such as mathematics, physics,
chemistry, or technological faculties, such as information science or engineering.
The GAPP project will act on both these levels by establishing an integrated process
of qualitative research and by developing new practices in science communication and
education. The aim is to understand the reasons for this lack of interest young
people – girls in particular – show in science and technology, to subsequently implement
a social dialogue among the different stakeholders. This implies: firstly, identifying
young people’s issues and expectations; secondly, developing and testing a range of
practical activities to overcome gender differences.
These goals will be achieved through a range of research instruments and participative
procedures. It will take the discussion to a deeper level and will provide the opportunity
to develop creative solutions and “pilot activities” to test the proposed practical
solutions. Each phase will provide results – useful per se – to be also the basis for
the next step in activities. The overall process and outcomes will be assessed and
published for the subsequent dissemination of findings and recommendations to take into
account the gender dimension in science education and in career guidance. A final conference
is scheduled in order to spread the results to policymakers and experts all over Europe.
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4. AAS Professional Development Workshops
From: Kelle Cruz [kellecruzgmail.com]
As mentioned in the most recent AAS Electronic Announcement, the professional development
offerings at the AAS meeting have been expanded. In particular, workshops on leadership,
negotiating, and writing productivity are being offered this January for $50 each. You can
sign up for them on the meeting registration page at http://members.aas.org. The intention
is that these types of workshops become a regular part of the meeting.
Emerging Leadership: Development of leadership skills in problem-solving and leading change
Tues morning (8:30am - 12pm)
Intended Audience: Early-career scientists who are or wish to be in a leadership position
(Post-Docs, Junior Faculty, and Staff). Limited to 25 participants.
Do you guide other people's research projects? Do you plan to be or are you currently the
Principal Investigator on projects with several collaborators? Are you frequently in
committee meetings, and sometimes chairing them? Do you want to eventually be a team lead,
department chair or dean? This workshop will focus on some of the leadership skills that
are necessary to perform effectively in these roles. Participants will increase their
leadership skills by understanding effective and ineffective leadership characteristics,
personal leadership strengths and development needs, leadership negotiation and
problem-solving, how to lead change, among other topics. Attendees will select a case
to practice in a role-play exercise. Participants will practice leadership skills; get
feedback from coaches; and discuss best techniques for leading successfully.
Basic Negotiations, Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution
[Note: this workshop will be very similar to the one offered at WIA III in Oct.]
Tues Afternoon (2 - 6pm)
Intended Audience: Graduate students and Post-Docs. Limited to 25 participants.
This seminar is designed to build understanding of mutual interest based negotiations or
solution finding by developing understanding of the parties’ interests and developing
alternatives that enhance the possibility of reaching agreement. Participants will evaluate
their personal conflict resolution styles. Case studies will reinforce the use of effective
styles in negotiating and problem-solving. Case practice will include a competitive job
offer, committee service, salary increase and assuring research resources. These cases
help define patterns of negotiations when choice and stress are factors. Development of
supporting data, options and packaging solutions are examined relative to these cases.
Several methods of responding to difficult tactics will be demonstrated and discussed.
Not Another Scientific Presentation: How to maximize your productivity on long-term writing
projects
Wed afternoon (2 - 4pm)
Intended Audience: Anyone who would like to increase their writing productivity.
Do you have research that has gone unpublished because you can’t make yourself finish the
manuscript? Do you sometimes suffer from writer’s block? Do you wait for that elusive free
morning in order to concentrate on your writing, but find that the time is never available?
Or do you just plain procrastinate on writing? This seminar will present simple, doable
action steps that you can take to increase and maintain your writing productivity over the
course of a long-term writing project. If you’ve been unhappy with your writing output, the
strategies presented here can help you turn around your writing habits, while dispelling
common myths about writing that impede productivity.
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5. Childcare Grants, APS Meeting, Feb. 13-16, 2010
From: WIPHYS Sep 24, 2009
Small grants of up to $400 are available to assist APS meeting attendees who are bringing
small children or who incur extra expenses in leaving them at home. Information is available
at
http://www.aps.org/meetings/april/services/childcare.cfm
Applications for must be received by December 15, 2009 to be considered by a subcommittee of
the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP). In the event that the number of
requests for grants exceeds the funding available, preference will be given to applicants
in the early stages of their careers.
Similar grants will be available in connection with the March 15-19, 2010 APS meeting in
Portland, Oregon. Information will be posted on the Meetings website in October.
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6. Postdoctoral Position in Experimental Astrophysics, Syracuse University
From: WIPHYS Sep 23, 2009
A postdoctoral position in experimental astrophysics is available in the group of Professor
Gianfranco Vidali at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (USA). The candidate will work on a
new project to study the formation of molecules on surfaces of interstellar dust analogues.
The position begins in early 2010 and is for one year renewable for a second year.
The successful candidate should hold a PhD in physics or related field and have a strong
experience in ultra-high vacuum and surface science techniques. Additional experience in
atomic/molecular beams and low temperature techniques is a plus. Review of materials will
begin immediately and applications will be considered until the position is filled. Qualified
candidates should send to Professor Gianfranco Vidali gvidalisyr.edu their curriculum
vitae, list of publications, a statement describing their qualifications, and the email
addresses/phone numbers of three references. Electronic application materials are preferred
(please include them as an email attachment). For further information about the research in
Prof. Vidali's group see the Web-site
http://physics.syr.edu/astro
Syracuse University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Members of
minority groups and women are especially encouraged to apply.
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7. Astrophysics Faculty Position, Johns Hopkins University
From: WIPHYS Sep 23, 2009
Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Johns Hopkins University invites applications
for a faculty position in astrophysics. We will consider applicants in all subfields of
astrophysics. We expect that this appointment will be made at the level of assistant
professor, but appointments at a higher level may be possible in exceptional cases.
Current faculty members are active in theory, developing astronomical instrumentation
(particularly for space-based and sub-orbital platforms), observational astronomy across a
wide range of wavelengths, and data intensive science. Research interests of the current
faculty members include planetary science, extra-solar planets, the interstellar medium,
stellar populations, high-energy astrophysics, active galaxies, galaxy formation and
evolution, and cosmology.
Johns Hopkins is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III and Pan-STARRS 1 projects,
owns a share of the Apache Point Observatory 3.5m telescope, is the lead institution on
WMAP and an institutional member of the GALEX mission. We are playing a leading role in
the National Virtual Observatory. We cooperate closely with the adjacent Space Telescope
Science Institute (which runs the science program of the newly refurbished Hubble Space
Telescope and will do the same for the James Webb Space Telescope), the JHU Applied Physics
Laboratory, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
Applicants should submit curriculum vitae, list of publications, and short description of
research plans as PDF attachments to astrosearchpha.jhu.edu and also arrange to have
three letters of reference e-mailed by reviewers to the same address. Mail may be
addressed to: Astrophysics Search Committee, c/o Ms. Pam Carmen, Department of Physics and
Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218 USA.
Consideration of applications will begin on December 1, and will continue until the position
is filled. Hopkins is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and welcomes
applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.
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8. Faculty Position in Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Ohio State University
From: WIPHYS Sep 24, 2009
Department of Physics at The Ohio State University anticipates a tenure track faculty
appointment effective Fall Quarter 2010. Highly qualified candidates in all areas of
particle astrophysics and cosmology are invited to apply. While we are primarily
searching for a junior experimentalist, exceptionally well-qualified candidates at all
levels in either theory or experiment will be considered.
The position is affiliated with the Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics, a
joint venture between the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, and a joint appointment
in the Department of Astronomy is possible. Additional information about CCAPP can be
found at
http://ccapp.osu.edu.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. and an outstanding research record. A commitment to
excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is essential.
The Department currently has 55 faculty and approximately 60 postdoctoral researchers
and research scientists, 160 graduate students, and 250 undergraduate majors. Our expanding
research operation is located in the new Physics Research Building, which contains
state-of-the-art office, meeting, and laboratory space. Additional information about the
department may be found at
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu.
All applications should be submitted electronically at
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/jobs/facultyapp/
Candidates should submit a letter of application, a complete curriculum vitae including a
list of publications, a brief description of research plans, and a teaching statement.
Senior applicants should provide contact information for at least four people from whom
letters of reference may be requested. Junior applicants should arrange for at least four
letters of reference to be sent to:
Astrophysics Search Committee
Department of Physics
The Ohio State University
191 West Woodruff Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210.
Applications received by 1 December 2009 are assured of full consideration. Job application
assistance is available for dual career situations. To build a diverse workforce, Ohio State
encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Flexible work options are available. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE Institution.
EEO/AA Employer.
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9. Asst. Professor of Physics at Whitworth University: Announcement and Comment
From: WIPHYS Sep 22, 2009
[This anonymous response was sent to WIPHYS after the following job announcement appeared.
We checked the original posting, and it does appear to be a legitimate opening. Although we
do share come concerns, we feel that AASWOMEN should not be censoring job ads based on
religion, and it should be up to the reader to decide if he/she wants to apply for
such a job – Eds.]
I am dismayed to see Whitworth University's ad for physics faculty, for which it is clear
that only Christians need apply. The accompanying statement that "Whitworth University does
not discriminate ...on the basis of...religion" looks obviously false. Is this kind of
advertisement legal? I've read about the challenge of applying federal anti-discrimination
laws to religious-affiliated institutions. It seems like a murky area of the law.
Founded in 1890, Whitworth has been consistently ranked among the top regional colleges and
universities in the West. In its strong liberal arts undergraduate education and graduate
programs, Whitworth combines the Christian heritage of the University, its commitment to
academic rigor and its long-standing orientation toward human service. A community of
Christian scholars carries out the University's mission "to provide its diverse student
body an education of the mind and heart." Whitworth is located in Spokane, Washington.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a clear commitment to Whitworth's mission, strong
teaching skills, an emerging record of publications, and a commitment to institutional
service. Teaching responsibilities for this position span the entire physics curriculum,
from courses for non-science majors, to introductory physics courses for majors, to
upper-division courses in various areas of physics.
The typical teaching load is two courses and two associated laboratories per semester, and
a January term course. This position comes with a generous starting package to start a
student-faculty research program. Candidates should demonstrate the initiative necessary
to leverage this to receive external funding. Participation in departmental activities,
academic advising, faculty assemblies, development days, retreats, committees and other
forms of faculty governance is expected.
Qualifications, Skills and Abilities: Ph.D. or ABD by July 2010 in Physics or a related
discipline, such as Astronomy, Applied Physics or a relevant branch of engineering;
Demonstrated potential for effective college-level teaching; A personal commitment to the
Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning; The ability and desire to
establish a positive relationship with persons regardless of race, gender, physical
limitation or religious belief; A commitment to equal opportunity for all persons; A
commitment to the educational mission of Whitworth as a Christian liberal-arts university
affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Background check required.
Application review will begin on October 1, 2009. The position remains open and applications
will be reviewed until filled. Please visit our website at http://www.whitworth.edu/jobs
for a link to the position announcement and information on Whitworth's faculty application
process. With our commitment to building a diverse community, we encourage applications
from women, persons with disabilities, and members of under-represented ethnic groups.
Whitworth University does not discriminate in its educational programs on the basis of race,
color, age, religion, sex, national origin or physical disability.
JoAnn Fox, Assistant Director, Human Resource Services Whitworth University
509.777.4413
jobswhitworth.edu
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10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
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11. 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.