AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of February 5, 2010
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. 215th AAS: The Longitudinal Study
2. 215th AAS: The View from Kartik Sheth, CSMA
3. Female teachers may pass on math anxiety to girls, study finds
4. NASA Proposal Writing Workshop
5. Events at February APS Meeting, Washington, DC
6. CSWP/FIAP Networking Breakfast, March 16, 2010
7. IUPAP/UNESCO Grants for Women in Developing Countries
8. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Extragalactic Astronomy
9. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Star Formation
10. Tenure-Track Faculty Position, Boston University
*** FOLLOWING JOB POSTINGS TAKEN FROM WIPHYS ***
11. Physics Chair Search, Georgia Institute of Technology
12. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
13. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. 215th AAS: The Longitudinal Study
From: Hannah
Women in Astronomy Blog, Feb. 3, 2010
At the AAS Meeting, the CSWA hosted a special session on the
Longitudinal Study of graduate students in astronomy. Pat Knezek of NOAO
gave some background about the survey, and Rachel Ivie from the American
Institute of Physics presented some initial results. Although some of
these results were recently reported in Nature
[http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2010/100128/full/nj7280-574a.html]
the presentation at the AAS Meeting gave a more complete description of the
survey. Here are notes on the session compiled by Michele Montgomery and
Rachel Ivie.
1. Of the respondents in the study, 447 are female and 696 are male, and
77% are U.S. citizens.
2. The median age is 27, and the students have been in the program an
average of 3.5 years (because there is a sizable group of older
graduate students who have been in grad school only a short time).
3. 53% of females use observations for research compared to only 40% of men.
4. 54% of women and 62% of men want to eventually teach at a university.
5. Graduate students interact with faculty on research, course
materials, and career opportunities but are less likely to discuss
other graduate students, advisors, or their personal life with
faculty members.
6. Students who are not mentored are less likely to feel welcome in
their department, to feel that they cannot succeed, and to feel that
they are not as smart as their peers.
7. Research Assistants with good lab equipment available to them feel
they will make good researchers someday. Likewise, teaching
assistants feel they will make good teachers someday.
8. Women are more likely than men to say that other people helped them
succeed.
[To read the rest of this article, please see
http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/]
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2. 215th AAS: The View from Kartik Sheth, CSMA
From: HannahWomen in Astronomy Blog, Jan. 27, 2010
The next in the series of posts about the AAS Meeting comes from Kartik
Sheth, member of the AAS's Committee on the Status of Minorities in
Astronomy. Here's Kartik's entry:
The most amazing thing happened at this AAS for me. All of a sudden I
was seeing a lot of diverse faces. A lot of young astronomers of
color. I have been to nearly every AAS in the last decade and this was
the first time I felt that I was witnessing a real sea change. I hope
that this trend continues and we finally see some real change in the
overall numbers of under-represented minorities in our field at all
levels. Our CSMA informal dinner organized by eVite and word of mouth
had over 55 people show up! It was a wonderful evening. The mentoring
workshop organized by Dara Norman was a hit. So overall, I am really
buoyed by all of this -- as a member of the CSMA and as the AAS Liaison
to the national AIP committee on minorities, I feel that lots of little
changes we have all been making are starting to pay off!
[Full post available at http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/]
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3. Female teachers may pass on math anxiety to girls, study finds
From: Meg Urry [meg.urryyale.edu]
It appears girls can acquire math anxiety from their teachers.
"After a year in the classroom with female teachers who say they are
anxious about math, girls are more likely to share that attitude -- and
score lower on tests, researchers say."
The full story is available at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-math26-2010jan26,0,758777.story
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4. NASA Proposal Writing Workshop
From: Susan Niebur on the Women in Planetary Science Blog
[http://womeninplanetaryscience.wordpress.com]
Are you a planetary scientist, a postdoc, or a graduate student? Do you
want to learn how to target your research proposal to NASA's many
R&A programs? Then you'll want to attend this workshop being held
the day before the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
NASA will host a Proposal Writing Workshop on Sunday afternoon, February
28, at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. The workshop is open
to all interested planetary scientists at no cost. The session will
focus on understanding NASA's research programs and will include
information on how to write a research proposal, where to apply for
funding, and pathways for participation on missions. The workshop will
be held at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Convention Center. To
register, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and current
position to curt.nieburnasa.gov.
The workshop will be led by Curt Niebur, NASA's Early Career
Fellowship Program Scientist---I may be biased (I'm totally
biased), but I don't think you'll want to miss this!
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5. Events at February APS Meeting, Washington, DC
From: WIPHYS, Feb. 2, 2010
All events will be held in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Please
check on room assignments at the hotel as they may change nearer the
time! (You do not need to register for the APS meeting to attend the
reception or the luncheon, but you must register to attend invited
sessions).
Saturday, February 13, 1:30-3:18 pm, Invited Session D3: Mentoring
Perspectives of Mentor and Mentee. Sponsored by Committee on the Status
of Women in Physics, the Committee on Minorities, the Forum on Graduate
Student Affairs, and AAPT.
Saturday, February 13, 6:00-8:00 pm, COM/CSWP Reception (Hoover)
Learn about the work of the Committee on Minorities in Physics and the
Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, network with colleagues,
and unwind after a long day of sessions. All are welcome.
Monday, February 15, 12:00-1:30 pm, CSWP/DPF Networking Luncheon
(Coolidge). Buffet luncheon, opportunity for networking with colleagues!
Cost: $20 ($5 for students). All are welcome, both men and women.
Limited space remaining -- please go to APS main registration desk
to register.
Monday, February 15, 1:30-3:18 pm , Invited Session Q6: Perspectives of
Women Physicists As Seen from Academia, National Laboratories, and
Industry. Sponsored by the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics,
the Committee on Minorities, the Forum on Graduate Affairs, and AAPT.
Tuesday, February 16, 10:45-12:33 pm, Invited Session X2: Strategies for
Improving Climate and Diversity in Physics Departments. Co-sponsored by
the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, the Forum on Education,
and AAPT.
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6. CSWP/FIAP Networking Breakfast, March 16, 2010
From: WIPHYS, Feb. 4, 2010
March 16, 2010 from 7:30-9:30 am in the Hilton Downtown Portland Hotel.
Enjoy a full breakfast and hear an informal talk by Juana Rudati,
Xradia. Cost: $15, $5 for physics students, thanks to the generosity
of the Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics. Both men and women are
welcome.
Space is limited for this popular event, so please preregister at
http://www.aps.org/meetings/march/events/receptions/cswp-fiap.cfm by
March 5, 2010. After that you must purchase tickets ON SITE at the
main APS Registration Desk (go to Balances Due) in the Convention
Center, as long as tickets are available. No ticket sales at the door
of the breakfast.
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7. IUPAP/UNESCO Grants for Women in Developing Countries
From: WIPHYS, Feb. 4, 2010
IUPAP Working Group on Women in Physics, which supports women in physics
in developing countries announces that they have received funding to
launch a seventh round of the IUPAP/UNESCO program to fund the
attendance of women from developing and eastern European countries at
regional conferences and schools this fall. They expect to be able to
fund 20 women between $700 and $800 US each at a maximum.
Applications for these grants should be received no later than April 6,
2010. Recipients will be chosen by the IUPAP Working Group on Women in
Physics by mid April, and we will notify everyone by the end of April
2010.
Only women physicists from Eastern Europe or developing countries may
apply. Due to limited funding, those who have received a grant in the
past, under this program, are not eligible for a second grant.
Those interested in applying for a grant should submit the following
information, via e mail as a WORD document only or as text within the
email. PLEASE DO NOT SEND AS A PDF FILE.
1. Complete contact information including name, address, e mail and
phone number.
2. Years since your PhD (or undergraduate degree for graduate students)
was granted.
3. Brief description of the conference or workshop you wish to attend
(including date of conf., place to be held, & website if available) and
if you will be making a presentation.
4. Brief statement of how attending the conference will enhance your career.
5. A breakdown of the amount of money (maximum $700/800 US) required to
attend (Ex: Airfare, registration fee, meals).
6. One Letter of recommendation.
Send all information to Jackie Beamon Kiene at beamonaps.org by April
6, 2010.
Sincerely,
Barbara Sandow, Chair, IUPAP Working Group on Women in Physics
Jackie Beamon-Kiene, Admin., IUPAP Working Group on Women in Physics
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8. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Extragalactic Astronomy
From: Kristine Spekkens [Kristine.Spekkensrmc.ca]
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship in extragalactic
astronomy at the Royal Military College of Canada, to work with
Dr. Kristine Spekkens.
The successful candidate will work with Dr. Spekkens to survey nearby
spirals in order to measure their mass distributions. Expertise in
Fabry-Perot spectroscopy, optical/NIR photometry or HI spectroscopy is
desirable, but any observers or theorists with experience studying
galaxy structure and dynamics are welcome to apply. The appointee will
also be encouraged to pursue independent projects that complement the
research program of Dr. Spekkens, and will have access to Canadian
national facilities such as CFHT, Gemini, and JCMT on a competitive
basis.
The Royal Military College, located in Kingston, Ontario, is one of
Canada's most prestigious small universities and has been ranked as the
top research institution in that category. The successful candidate will
join a small but active astronomy group at RMC, and will have the
opportunity to interact closely with astronomers at nearby Queen's
University. Kingston is a historic, vibrant city located on Lake Ontario
between Toronto and Montreal.
Candidates must hold a PhD at the time of appointment; the target
starting date is September 2010. The position is for two years, with an
extension for a third year possible depending on performance and
funding.
Applicants should email a pdf file containing a CV, list of
publications, and statement of research interests to Dr. Spekkens at
kristine.spekkensrmc.ca. They should also arrange to have 3 letters of
reference sent directly to that email address. Applications from all
qualified candidates, including individuals from all nationalities,
women, aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, and racial
minorities are encouraged.
Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2010, and will continue
until the position is filled.
Submission Address:
Dr. Kristine Spekkens
Department of Physics
Royal Military College of Canada
P.O. Box 17000, Station Forces
Kingston, Ontario, K7K 7B4
Email: Kristine.Spekkensrmc.ca
URL1: http://www.rmc.ca/aca/phy/spe/index-eng.asp
URL2: http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~spekkens/
URL3: http://www.astro.queensu.ca/
Email Submission Address: Kristine.Spekkensrmc.ca
Email Inquiries: Kristine.Spekkensrmc.ca
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9. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Star Formation
From: Grace Wolf-Chase [gwolfchaseadlerplanetarium.org]
The Adler Planetarium is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral
Research Fellowship in Star Formation to carry out research in the
formation of massive stars and clusters. The applicant will work with
the Star Formation group at the Adler, taking a leading role in
developing science projects for "Star Formation Zoo," a citizen science
program utilizing multi-wavelength galactic plane surveys that will be
based on the extremely successful "Galaxy Zoo." Applicants for this
position should have experience with infrared observations, data
reduction and analysis. Additionally, experience modeling properties of
young stellar objects and familiarity with millimeter-wave
interferometry is highly desirable. Adler's affiliation with the
University of Chicago provides access to the CARMA array and the Apache
Point 3.5-m.
The successful applicant will be expected to: 1) lead science projects
for the Star Formation Zoo, 2) develop research projects that supplement
or complement research interests of the Star Formation group. In
addition they will spend 10% time on education and outreach activities
related to their research work. The initial appointment will be for
three years with a possible one-year extension dependent on successful
performance and availability of funding. This position will report to
Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase, with oversight by Director of Citizen Science
Initiatives Dr. Chris Lintott. Experience with education and outreach is
desirable; enthusiasm for engaging the public in science education is
essential. Applications will be accepted until the position is
filled. Start date is flexible and can be as early as July 1, 2010.
Please email a cover letter, resume, statement of research interests and
salary history along with three letters of recommendation to:
Marguerite E. Dawson
Director of Human Resources
Email Address: hr-postdocfellowadlerplanetarium.org
Telephone Number: 312.322.0591
URL Address: www.adlerplanetarium.org
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10. Tenure-Track Faculty Position, Boston University
From: Andrew A. West [aawestbu.edu]
The Department of Astronomy at Boston University invites applicants for
a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in planetary, solar, or
space physics. The successful candidate will be expected to lead a
robust research program and to participate fully in the
department's undergraduate and graduate teaching missions. We
especially encourage applications from scientists whose research focuses
on planetary atmospheres, exoplanets, heliophysics, and space plasma
physics. Details about the department may be found at
www.bu.edu/astronomy.
Applicants should send a curriculum vita, a brief (3 pages or fewer)
summary of research and teaching plans, and the names of three potential
professional referees to Prof. James Jackson, Chair, Boston University
Astronomy Dept., 725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215. Applications
are encouraged to be submitted as soon as possible, but will be accepted
until March 31, 2010. Questions can be directed to Prof. Jackson by
email (jacksonbu.edu) or by telephone (617-353-2625).
Boston University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer;
applications from women and underrepresented minority candidates are
encouraged.
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11. Physics Chair Search, Georgia Institute of Technology
From: WIPHYS, Feb. 3, 2010
The Georgia Institute of Technology invites nominations and applications
for the position of Chair and Professor of Physics. We are seeking a
person with an outstanding record of scholarly and educational
achievement to provide creative leadership in physics and in the
continuous development of education and research.
The School of Physics is one of the strongest components in the College
of Sciences at Georgia Tech, with an excellent and expanding program of
research and teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate
levels. Georgia Tech's commitment to interdisciplinary
collaboration is also a major asset that has led to frequent and
fruitful interactions of faculty in the School with other strong
programs in science and engineering at the Institute.
School strengths include astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics,
biophysics, computational physics, condensed matter physics, nonlinear
dynamics, optical physics, and statistical physics. The School of
Physics has about 130 undergraduate physics majors and 105 graduate
students. Our present faculty stands at 35, and we have a commitment to
increase this number over the next five years. Georgia Tech is situated
on an attractive campus in the heart of Atlanta, a large and vibrant
city with great economic and cultural strengths.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications
should include a curriculum vitae including research, teaching,
administrative experience, and a list of publications. Applications and
nominations should be sent preferably by e-mail to: sciencecos.gatech.edu.
The Georgia Institute of Technology, a unit of the University System of
Georgia, is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.
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13. 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.
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