AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of September 14, 2007
eds. Joan Schmelz, Hannah Jang-Condell & Caroline Simpson
This week's issues:
1. AASWOMEN - Spread the Word!
2. The 2-Body Problem: Individual Experiences
3. Submillimeter Array Postdoctoral Fellowships
4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
5. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. AASWOMEN - Spread the Word!
From: Editors of AASWOMEN [aaswomen
.aas.org]
The fall semester is beginning and new students, faculty, and staff are
arriving on college campuses. Many other institutions also experience an
influx of new employees around this time of year. The CSWA would like to
encourage you to spread the word about the AASWOMEN weekly electronic
newsletter to new students and/or staff. Signing up is easy and FREE
(see the directions in item #4 below, and at the end of every edition of
the newsletter). It's a great way to find out about issues of interest
to ALL scientists, with an emphasis on those that impact women.
Submissions are welcome, as are suggestions for topics to explore.
Please alert your colleagues to this opportunity!
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2. The 2-Body Problem: Individual Experiences
From: Anonymous
[A few weeks ago we asked for your help in putting together some new
advice for the 2-body problem. Here is the latest contribution. We are
also interested in how different institutions/departments may use this
'problem' to their advantage in, for example, recruiting and retaining
qualified employees. -- Eds.]
We're a two-astronomer couple in the Washington area, and being in one
of the high-density regions hasn't helped as much as we'd thought (and I
know at least 3 other couples that have had the same experience). I
think this is, in part, due to the fact that most places don't feel any
pressure to hire a spouse knowing there are lots of other supposed
opportunities out there. Plus, if one has a tenured position, it is also
assumed that the couple won't relocate, so the spouse is often relegated
to endless short-term positions.
We have found that when we are both applying, mentioning it up front is
a must. Places that can afford to bring in two people or offer split
positions prefer the honesty and can help you work out something, even
if it's only a postdoc for the spouse. Smaller departments need to know,
because if this is a complete deal-breaker, you might as well let them
know that immediately so they can decide what, if any, accommodations
can be made. Why waste everyone's time, including your own, if you can't
accept a single position?
As for the illegal/improper questions, you're better off having a
response ready, even if it is to say that it's an inappropriate
question. You *will* get these questions at one point or another.
My last piece of advice echoes part of Heidi Hammel's advice [August 24,
2007 issue of AASWOMEN - Eds.]: either spouse being able to support
themself on soft money, even partially, affords you a lot more
flexibility, but it also makes you more attractive to universities and
other places. I've noticed that one of the most common questions or
judging criteria these days is how much money you can bring in with you.
Good luck to everyone facing this!
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3. Submillimeter Array Postdoctoral Fellowships
From: David Wilner [dwilnercfa.harvard.edu]
The Submillimeter Array (SMA), a collaborative project of the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Academia Sinica Institute
of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Taiwan), consists of eight movable 6
meter diameter antennas that together combine to make uniquely detailed
images in the submillimeter part of the spectrum, through atmospheric
windows that open up on the high, dry summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. With
collecting area comparable to the largest single dish submillimeter
telescopes and baselines up to 500 meters, the SMA is used to study a
wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including Solar System bodies,
protoplanetary disks, star forming regions, evolved star envelopes,
supermassive black holes, nearby galaxies, and starbursts at
cosmological distances. Detailed information about the SMA is available
at the SMA Observer Center,
http://sma1.sma.hawaii.edu
Applications are invited for SMA Postdoctoral Fellowships starting in
fall 2008. These positions are aimed chiefly at research in
submillimeter astronomy, and the successful candidates will propose and
participate in science observations with the SMA. Applicants must have a
recent Ph.D. in astronomy or a related field. Practical experience in
millimeter or submillimeter wavelength astronomy, radio interferometry,
instrumentation, or experience in any applicable branch of astrophysical
theory is desirable.
It is expected that the SMA Fellows will be based at the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA. However,
candidates with a desire to be based at the SMA facility at the
University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI, are also encouraged to apply. More
information and instructions for submitting applications can be found at
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/opportunities/fellowships/sma/
Please direct questions to smapostdoccfa.harvard.edu. Online
applications are due December 15, 2007.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer where all qualified applicants
receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed,
color, sex or national origin.
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4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
[Please remember to replace "" in the below e-mail addresses.]
To submit to AASWOMEN:
send email to aaswomen.aas.org
All material sent to that address will be posted unless you tell us
otherwise (including your email address).
To subscribe or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
go to http://lists.aas.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aaswomen
and fill out the form.
If you experience any problems, please email itdeptaas.org
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5. 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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