Interesting Features at PWN for 3.16.15

News from the PWN Pipeline:

'We must still refine how to promote gender equality.'

The Guardian online offers an important update on gender disparity in STEM-related fields by examining findings from several research studies on the issue. Importantly, it seems that gender biases may persist in specific fields, such as life sciences (psychology, social sciences), where women are still paid less than men, have trouble gaining tenure, and are less likely to apply for assistant professorships. In other fields, however, such as math-intensive fields (geoscience, economics, mathematics/computer science, chemistry, physics), women's careers are progressing more equally to those of men. Unfortunately, in math-intensive fields, there are simply fewer women who have chosen to pursue careers in these fields. The more women who become successful academics in  math-intensive and life sciences fields, the more girls will be taught by women and thus will perceive of greater options and opportunities for themselves. The article also summarizes several key policy interventions that were proposed in a recent research article that could promote gender equality in STEM, among them recruiting gender-balanced review and speaker selection committees and creating institutional report cards for gender equality.

Interesting Features at PWN for 3.9.15

News from the PWN Pipeline: 

"There used to be a girl in the Robotics class but she quit, and so, I'm the only girl left."

Click the link above for a brief clip from Microsoft on their new initiative to inspire girls to stay interested in science despite prevailing perceptions that science is a "boy thing." The video features statements from young girls who have demonstrated their interest in science and technology in various ways; one young science enthusiast built her own computer and another developed a garage door opener.

'Call for action to make sure that women and girls are at the center of the global science and technology revolution.'

UN Under-Secretary-General, and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka recently reported in The Huffington Post that UN Women has joined forces with the Global Fund for Women and its IGNITE: Women Fueling Science and Technology campaign in an effort to call for global action in eliminating barriers for equal access and participation for women and girls in global science, technology, and innovation industries. The campaign is also advocating for supporters to sign a petition demanding that critical steps be taken by governments, regional institutions and leading decision makers in the UN to promote global women's empowerment and gender equality in STEM fields.

Interesting Features at PWN for 3.2.15

News from the PWN Pipeline:

"Girls taught by women scientists are more interested in science and more confident of their abilities."

This article features an interview with Shulamit Kahn, an associate professor in the markets, public policy and law department of Boston University School of Management, who, together with three colleagues, conducted research showing that women faculty in math-intensive science fields, including geoscience, engineering, economics, mathematics/computer science, and physical science (GEEMP) feel as professionally fulfilled as their male colleagues. Though women are still underrepresented in these fields, Kahn and her coauthors found that women faculty in GEEMP fields received comparable pay rates, had equivalent access to tenure-track academic positions, and had manuscripts accepted and grants funded at equal rates as their male colleagues. The interview with Kahn offers some interesting perspectives on eliminating pre-college perception barriers to women studying and entering GEEMP fields as well as the importance of female role models in science and engineering.


PWN Member-Led Initiative

Upcoming free Webinar entitled "Protein Analysis Made Simple" offered through The Scientist magazine. 

PWN Member Sarah Barry, graduate fellow in the Jaqueline McGinty Lab in the Neuroscience Institute at the Medical University of South Caroline and Dr. Asima Kerimi, research fellow in the Gary Williamson Group at the University of Leeds, will lead this Webinar on recent advances that can automate protein analysis techniques and procedures in order to obtain more quantitative reproducible data.

Live Webinar | Tuesday March 17th
Free
1-2 pm
Click link above or register here


Advancement Opportunities

Postdoctoral fellowship available in the Department of Psychology at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 

Excellent postdoctoral research opportunity for a candidate with a PhD in neuroscience, pharmacology, psychology or related discipline to study molecular mechanisms through which sex steroid hormones regulate memory in mice throughout the adult lifespan in the laboratory of Dr. Karyn Frick. Successful candidates will have past experience with chemogenetics, gene silencing and/or molecular biology/biochemistry techniques as well as a background in memory and/or behavioral endocrinology and a strong track record of manuscript publication.

More details in link above
Interested applicants: CV | 3 references | Statement of research interests
Send to: Dr. Karyn Frick | fricklab@gmail.com

Interesting Features at PWN for 2.23.15

News from the PWN Pipeline: 

'A man who doesn't help is "busy"; a woman is "selfish."'

Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook, and Adam Grant, professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, have written a four part series for the New York Times about women in the workplace. This article, the third in the series, focuses on how support work and communal contributions, as well as 'office housework', in the office are differentially perceived and prioritized between men and women. Sandberg and Grant suggest strategies for improving imbalances in support work and office housework that can interfere with career progress and promotions.

5 Common Misconceptions That Make You Bad at Networking

Sometimes, the idea of networking with new acquaintances or colleagues can evoke memories of loud crowded spaces with people talking at you about the work they do, expecting you to do the same, and ending with the frenzied exchange of business cards and hollow promises to keep in touch. Building a network can rely, however, on far more engaging and thoughtful approaches. This article from Fast Company identifies some common misconceptions that derail successful networking and suggests useful approaches for initiating and maintaining more meaningful connections.

Interesting Features at PWN for 10.27.14

We hope to see many of you at the annual PWN meeting during the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington DC in November! If you are a PWN member attending SfN and have not yet heard about our meeting, please leave a comment below or click on my name to email me for more details.  

News from the PWN Pipeline:

Plugging up the "leaky pipeline."

The shortage of women in STEM-related industries and fields is an ongoing problem. CNN asked several female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to weigh in on solutions for engaging and retaining women in STEM careers. Dr. Patty Fagin asserts that young girls demonstrate as much interest and aptitude for STEM as young boys but they lost interest along the way, suggesting a 'leaky pipeline,' possibly because they were not encouraged as enthusiastically to explore these options. One solution is to initiate early exposure to STEM-related studies and to offer female mentors early on as well, so as to show that support and success are available to all women.

"I can never be sure whether I truly earned it."

Dr. Claudia Perlich offers an interesting perspective on the apparent paucity of women in data science. In fact, she posits, there are many women data scientists but not very many 'visible' ones. It is possible that women are only suggested for invited and keynote speaker roles after committee members are reminded that "we need to get more women speakers." In order to increase the visibility and accomplishments of female data scientists, and female scientists in general, Perlich asserts that it may require a job transition from the limitations of academia to industries where women are already in more key leadership roles and well positioned to offer support and mentorship to other women ascending the ranks.