Applications are open for the 2024 Graduate Student Research Awards from the Department of Energy! Perform Graduate Theses Research at U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories!

From The Department of Energy Office of Science's webpage:

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science is pleased to announce that the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is now accepting applications for the 2024 solicitation 1 cycle. Applications are due on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

SCGSR application assistance workshops will be held on March 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET and April 18, 2024, 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET. The first workshop will provide a general overview of the program and the application requirements. It will also include a time for attendees to discuss their potential research topics and their alignment with the SCGSR priority areas with managers of each participating program office; register here. The second workshop will guide attendees through the application process, answer general questions, provide guidance on proposal writing, and feature discussions with scientists and former awardees; register here.

The SCGSR program provides supplemental awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE national laboratory or facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist. The goal of the program is to prepare graduate students for scientific and technical careers critically important to the mission of DOE’s Office of Science. The research opportunity is expected to advance the graduate students’ overall graduate theses while providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at the host DOE laboratories.

SCGSR is open to U.S. Ph.D. students in qualified graduate programs at accredited U.S. academic institutions, who are conducting their graduate thesis research in targeted areas relevant to DOE’s Office of Science. Since its inception in 2014, the SCGSR program has provided support to over 1,066 graduate awardees from 161 U.S. universities to conduct thesis research at all 17 DOE national laboratories across the nation.

The SCGSR program is sponsored and managed by the Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, in collaboration with the Office of Science’s six research programs offices and two research and development and production offices, and with DOE national laboratories/facilities. Program administration support is provided by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

More information on the SCGSR program can be found by visiting the SCGSR program website, attending the program’s virtual office hours which are held every Tuesday between 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET via this Zoom link, or by emailing the SCGSR team.

The Change Sequence: Genentech Networking Event 2/20/24

In honor of Black History Month, Genentech will hold a networking event called The Change Sequence.  

This in-person event will take place on February 20, 2024, at the South San Francisco campus from 5:30pm to 8pm. 

At The Change Sequence you will have the opportunity to: 

• Network with Hiring Managers and Senior Leaders across Genentech 
• Gain insight into Genentech's culture, 2025 D&I Commitments, and the bold initiatives creating impact for our people, patients and communities
• Learn more about our Black Director’s Exchange group for senior leaders, and our employee resource group AAIB (African Americans in Biotech).

Don't miss out! Register today at bit.ly/tcs-bhm24.

Welcome to 20-1-4: the year of opportunities Galore!

I wish you all a Happy, Happy New Year! 

Summer Research
I want to remind all of you that this is the time of year to begin thinking about your plans for Summer 2014. Many research programs will begin soliciting applications now with deadlines occurring between the end of January 2014 thru March 2014. This blog has some summer research programs listed for you to browse through. The most recent addition is the summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) that is available at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. 

FAFSA
Also remember if you are applying for college, that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) is now available for the 2014-2015 school year. When I applied for college, my parents could not support me financially so I filled out a FAFSA.  Thankfully, my college tuition, housing and other fees were primarily paid using grants, loans and work study that I received in my financial aid package. Do not let the cost of attending college deter you! 

Conferences
Scientific conferences occur throughout the year. Remember to determine whether the conference you would like to attend offers travel grants/stipends. Many do, but it may be contingent on submitting an abstract to present your research (orally or as a poster). So check out 1) conference dates, 2) abstract submission deadlines, and 3) travel grant/stipend deadlines. Check out conferences here.

I am sure that there are many other things to consider and remember at this time of the year, but these three topics were immediately on my mind. If you would like to share others, send me an email. Best, Minority.Scientist

LearnLab Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program Description

LearnLab at Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh has an exciting summer research opportunity available to undergraduate students. This research program encourages applications from students who would like to conduct research in the fields of psychology, education, computer science, human-computer interfaces and language technologies.  This program seeks broad participation, including members of underrepresented groups as defined by the National Science Foundation (African American, Hispanic, Native American) who may be considering pursuing further graduate study in the learning sciences.

LearnLab's REU program allows talented undergraduates to spend 8 weeks during the summer in a research laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, or one of our research partners. The REU program aims to make LearnLab's programs more visible to students not traditionally exposed to our fields. The REU program supports LearnLab's commitment to training a diverse set of science, technology, education, and psychology leaders.

Applications are encouraged from students who wish to learn to conduct research in a modern academic research laboratory under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers and experiment in real classroom environments. The REU program will expose students to the excitement and opportunities of a research career. This experience will provide excellent preparation for students interested in subsequently pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. degree. Although students from other years may apply, this opportunity is most fitting for a student at the end of the junior year of undergraduate studies.

Each student will receive a fellowship stipend of $4000 for the eight-week REU program. Food, housing and travel will also be provided. Students will conduct research in an area matched to the interests expressed in the student's application. Guidance and supervision of the research project will be provided by the faculty member as well as, in some cases, a postdoctoral fellow and/or advanced graduate student.

Seminars specific to those participating in the REU program will be held weekly including seminars on graduate admissions and career opportunities in science, education, computer science and engineering. In addition, LearnLab seminars and those held by Carnegie Mellon's Human Computer Interaction Institute and Language Technologies Institute and seminars at Pitt's Language Research and Development Center will be open to the students, giving them exposure to a wide range of research in learning sciences.

REU Program Benefits

There are several benefits that the participating students may receive.

• If the student’s research in the summer is of high quality and has added value to an ongoing research project, past students have been asked to be a coauthor on the research team's publication on that subject. Addition of publications to the resume of a graduate school applicant always greatly improves the application.
• If the quality of the research is high, the faculty member who advised the student would likely be willing to write a letter of recommendation for the student which could be included in a graduate school application.
• Research experience in one of the National Science Foundation's premier research centers will be viewed attractively.
• Scholarships may be available for graduate research on projects in LearnLab. The student should inquire about these possibilities during the summer.

REU Program Dates: Students will begin their research experience on Sunday, June 1, 2014 with a welcoming reception and information session.  The REU program will end on Friday July 25, 2014 with a poster session in the afternoon.. Submission of an application indicates that the applicant agrees to be present from June 1 to 4pm, July 25, 2014 inclusive.

Application Deadline: Deadline for applications is February 17, 2014. Students will be informed of our decision by March 3, 2014.

Minimum Requirements: Applicants must be current undergraduates who are U.S. Citizens or have current F1 visas.  Applicants should have a minimum of 3.5 GPA out of 4.0 although we will consider students who show by other measures that they are exceptional and who have GPAs over 3.2. Class standing and grades in specific subjects that are close to the field of research will also be considered, as are recommendations.

Number of slots/ positions available: LearnLab can accommodate as many as 10 positions, although in any given year, we may decide to fund less than 10 applicants

Funding Source: National Science Foundation

Partner Institutions: Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Learning

Send completed applications to:
LearnLab - Summer Internship Program
c/o Jo Bodnar
3501B Newell-Simon Hall - HCII
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

National Space Biomedical Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

NSBRI is a NASA-funded, non-profit research consortium charged with developing biomedical countermeasures and technologies for potential health problems that could occur in astronauts either during long-duration spaceflight, on exploration missions, or upon return to Earth.  NSBRI’s current program, aligned with NASA’s exploration objectives, consists of approximately 44 science and technology projects organized into research teams.


NSBRI invites ground-based research applications for Postdoctoral Fellowships. Minority.Scientist briefly summarized the details of this fellowship opportunity below, but please review the entire application for more information. Good luck!

Proposals:  Proposals can either address topics of interest to one of the seven existing NSBRI research teams, or the supplemental cross-cutting research area of Food Science, which has importance to both NSBRI and the NASA Human Research Program (HRP). The seven research teams are as follows:

• Cardiovascular Alterations
• Human Factors and Performance
• Musculoskeletal Alterations
• Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors 
• Radiation Effects 
• Sensorimotor Adaptation
• Smart Medical Systems and Technology

Who can apply: The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents or persons with pre-existing visas obtained through their sponsoring institutions that permit postdoctoral training for the project’s duration.

Duration: Postdoctoral Fellowships will be competitively awarded for two years, with an opportunity for a third year renewal, in any laboratory in the U.S. conducting biomedical/biotechnological research aligned with NSBRI’s goals

Stipend: First year- $42,500; Second year- $43,775

Deadline: June 7, 2013

NSBRI-RFA-13-01: NSBRI Request for Applications Soliciting Postdoctoral Fellows

Scientific Conventions April 2013

Interested in a little time away from the lab? Want to meet up with others in your field to talk about your studies? Then check out these conferences happening in April 2013! If you attend, Minority.Scientist would love to hear about your experience.

April 6-10
American Association for Cancer Research- Washington, DC

April 7-11
American Chemical Society, Spring- New Orleans, LA

April 11-14
National Science Teachers Association- San Antonio, TX

April 20-24
Experimental Biology- Boston, MA

April 22-25
BIO 2013- Chicago, IL

April 30-May 2
Food Safety Summit- Baltimore, MD

Blerdology Hackathon

Blerdology Rallies Brick City Blerds

with Rutgers Business School

 at #BlackHack Newark Charity Hackathon April 6-7

Who:  Blerdology, the woman-led social enterprise dedicated to increasing the number of African Americans in technology and the first organization to produce hackathons specifically for the minority tech community

What: Blerdology will be hosting a hackathon with the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development at Rutgers Business School, MailChimp, Brick City Development Corp and Initiative Consulting Group to benefit the Center for Collaborative Change April 6-7, 2013. The hackathon will close out a 4-day tech weekend celebrating innovation and the advancement of technology throughout the Brick City.

#BlackHack Newark will bring minority coders and developers to build new and innovative apps and websites in a friendly competition format. #BlackHack attendees are exposed to a wealth of industry insights and business consulting and have the opportunity to get their resumes in the hands of top tech corporations. Building projects on site for little to no costs, #BlackHacks are a novel way for budding entrepreneurs to get their projects off the ground, a fun way to benefit budding tech communities, and an unmatched opportunity to meet and recruit the top minority tech talent from around the world.
Though the event is minority focused, tech enthusiasts from all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to come. Blerdology is still accepting student start-up projects and local business participation for the event.

Newark Tech Weekend:
WEDNESDAY, April 3^rd

·         Tips for Entrepreneurial Success with Mike Michalowicz , Author of The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Business in any Field

Rutgers Business School, 6:30 pm, Register at http://rbsaa.org

 THURSDAY, April 4^th

·         TEDxNJIT

NJIT, 5-9pm, TEDxNJIT.com/register

FRIDAY, April 5^th

·         STEM Day at St. Phillips Academy

·         The Future of Newark Tech: A Policy Discussion

NJIT, 12-2pm

·         Newark Tech Happy Hour

Loft 47, 5-8pm, RSVP at NewarkTechHappyHour.eventbrite.com

SATURDAY- SUNDAY, April 6-7

·         Brick City Blerds: #blackhack NWK

Rutgers Business School, 9am-9am, Register at blackhacknewark.eventbrite.com

For additional information on Blerdology please visit: Blerdology.co

For sponsorship inquiries or interview requests, please contact Amanda Spann, CMO at 904-476-8003 or  pr@blerdology.co

The NeXXt Scholars Program

The informational PDF flyer can be downloaded by clicking here.

 The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and societies worldwide. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. 

Visit us at www.nyas.org.

The New York Academy of Sciences

Check out these events and opportunities from The New York Academy of Sciences!

**Deadline for Poster Abstracts and Travel Fellowship Applications this Friday, March 23, 2012**

12th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders Conference

Conference dates: May 21 - 23, 2012

Website & Information: www.nyas.org/MG12

**Deadline for Abstracts is Monday, March 26, 2012**

Genome Integrity Discussion Group Meeting

Event Date: April 2, 2012

Website & Information: http://www.nyas.org/Apr2012

**Deadline for Poster Abstracts next Friday March 30, 2012**

Fetal Programming and Environmental Exposures: Implications for Prenatal Care and Pre-Term Birth Conference

Conference dates: June 11 - 12, 2012

Website & Information: www.nyas.org/FetalProgramming

*Call for Poster Abstracts.  Deadline: April 06, 2012

5th Annual Advances in Biomolecular Engineering Symposium

Event Date: April 27, 2012

Website & Information: http://www.nyas.org/​BiomolEng2012

*Call for Abstracts. Deadline: April 08, 2012

Malaria 2012: Drugs, Vaccines, and Pathogenesis

Event Date: April 17, 2012

Website & Information: http://www.nyas.org/​Malaria2012

*Call for Poster and Short Talk Abstracts.  Deadline: Friday, April 27, 2012

Inositol Phospholipid Signaling in Physiology and Disease

Conference dates: June 26 - 27, 2012

Website & Information: www.nyas.org/Inositol2012

*Call for Poster Abstracts.  Deadline: May 18, 2012

Chemical Biology Discussion Group Year-End Symposium

Event Date: June 6, 2012

Website & Information: http://www.nyas.org/​YearEnd2012

UPCOMING EVENT:

Monday, April 9, 2012 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Introduction to Scientific Teaching

http://www.nyas.org/​ScienceTeaching

Dr. Matthew R. Marcello will introduce key elements of Scientific Teaching in this interactive workshop based on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute/National Academies Summer Teaching Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology. He will introduce the core Scientific Teaching concepts (active learning, diversity, and assessment) and practical information on how to incorporate these concepts into the classroom to improve your teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes. The workshop will provide current and future faculty the knowledge and skills to incorporate scientific teaching principles into their courses.

About the New York Academy of Sciences

For nearly 200 years, the New York Academy of Sciences has brought together extraordinary people working at the frontiers of discovery and promoted vital links between science and society. The leading minds of academia, industry, and government depend on the unique forum the Academy provides for insight into the most important questions in all disciplines of science. For more information, visit www.nyas.org.

Finding a postdoctoral position

I know it has been quite some time since I last wrote- that is how busy things have been for me. Within the last year I have published a first author manuscript, mentored an undergraduate summer research student, defended my thesis, graduated from my doctorate program and relocated to start my postdoctoral research position. Phew, yeah I know... it all happened so quickly and I have lots that I want to share with you about each of these events. First I will start with how I approached finding a postdoctoral position.

Identify exciting research
Thinking about finding a postdoctoral position nearly gave me an anxiety attack.  But I calmed down and initially approached the search by identifying labs whose research greatly peeked my interest. I view the postdoctoral position as a great opportunity for me to modify my research focus, but remain within the broader scope of what my graduate work centered upon. With this in mind, I scrolled website after website of numerous labs located at a very short list of universities where I wanted to conduct my postdoctoral research.  After reading a variety of research summaries, I decided to further investigate the labs whose research made me feel "giddy."  (I know that sounds unprofessional, but if the research does not garner feelings of excitement, then I know that is not the lab for me.)

Explore the publication record
For these labs whose research I found interesting, I next explored their publication history. Most lab web pages display the most recent or impressive articles that they have published. However, I also visited the NCBI PubMed website to view a more thorough publication record. To do this, I went to PubMed and typed in the last name and first initial of the principal investigator of the lab followed by [au] (For example, Researcher X [au]) and clicked "search."  Sometimes I had to add a key word to narrow results when the professor's last name and first initial was too common). Conducting this publication search was important because examining the lab's publication record shows the types of journals in which a lab publishes; i.e. journals that feature clinical, technical, or basic research, etc.

Review trainees 
Exploration of the publication record also gave me insight into the composition of trainees in a given lab. How so? Well, articles always provide a listing of contributing authors.  I cross-referenced the authors' names with the lab's website, and began to learn that some labs were primarily comprised of postdocs, whereas others had a mixture of individuals at various stages in their career and from varying disciplines, i.e. graduate students, undergraduate students, technicians, biostatisticians, clinicians, etc.). Depending on the publication date, some of the authors of an article no longer were present in thatalab. So it was important to do a little more research to see where trainees went after leaving the lab. Most significantly, I wanted to know what became of the postdocs once they left the lab. Did they go move into faculty appointments...go to industry/biotech...land a position in government? Tracking past trainees this way allowed me to get a sense of how the training received in the potential lab facilitated movement of the trainees into their current positions. Some lab websites readily displayed such "where are they now" information and supplied me with instant answers.  However, when not provided, I simply Googled.

Learn how the lab is funded
Also, to be sure that the funding situation is secure for at least three years, I reviewed what funding the potential lab possessed.  If the lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), then this information can be accessed on the NIH RePORTER web page. On this site, I also learned what the potential lab has funding for, which allowed me to better understand the goals of the research and the duration of funding.

Time is short right now, so I will continue describing this journey in another post. In an upcoming post, I will share my experience with how I contacted and applied to prospective labs.

Principal Scientist Positions AVAILABLE!

The Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) is recruiting individuals to serve as the Principal Scientist of the major Institutes within the NIFA. (4 positions available!)

• Institute of  Food Production and Sustainability
 

• Institute of  Food Safety and Nutrition
 

• Institute of  Bioenergy, Climate and Environment
 
• Institute of Youth, Family and Community

Each Principal Scientist will provide executive scientific leadership and direction; develop strategies to confront current and future issues; promote ideas that will impact program direction; and play an integral role on the NIFA Executive Council.
Please Note: - This position can be: Permanent  (Career Senior Executive Service); Term (a competitive appointment for a period of more than one year but not more than four years); or Short-term via an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) appointment. 

To be considered, applications MUST be received no later than 

midnight, January 31, 2011.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Moss
JDG Associates, Ltd.
1700 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 340-2210
moss@jdgsearch.com

In the tunnel

I was recently informed by one of my thesis committee members that I am IN THE TUNNEL meaning that completion of the PhD is near. YES!!!!

With that said, I am writing a manuscript and considering where to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship. I am SO excited to be doing these things.... but I feel a little anxious about the next stages of my career, namely finding that postdoctoral research position.

Finding the right lab to conduct postdoctoral research is extremely crucial to the advancement of my career. Everything must be considered, including (in no particular order of importance because it's all important):

• Research focus (because whatever I choose to study at this stage will define my career, right?)
• Geographical location (where do I want to spend the next 5+ years of my life?)
• Mentoring capabilities...What type of mentoring style (hands-on or hands-off) does the principal investigator have?
• What are the social dynamics of the lab?
• What type of grants/funding does the PI have?
• How successful were past trainees of the potential PI? (where and how often did they publish, what kind of position did they obtain after leaving?)
• Big lab or small lab?
• Well-known or up-and-coming mentor?
• What type of collaborations does the mentor have with other labs or industry?

There are always other things to consider, so did I leave anything out??

For now, I am narrowing down the labs that I am interested at a few different universities and based on the criteria specified above.

Super Saturday! STEM Expo in New York 5/22/10

One of my passions is to get more youth interested in the sciences and thus believe that Super Saturday! in New York City on May 22, 2010 will be awesome. See flyer below for detailed information.

Super Saturday! aims to inspire the next leaders in STEM fields in upper Manhattan, particularly low-income, minority students who may not be exposed to the possibilities of STEM education and careers.  At Super Saturday! there will be hands-on activity stations to engage both children (through high school) and parents in fields of STEM.

More information about the Morningside Area Alliance and its programs can be found at www.morningsidealliance.org.

The Importance of Role Models And Mentors

The article, Reaching Gender Equity in Science: The Importance of Role Models And Mentors - Science Careers - Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Faculty, Postdoc jobs on Science Careers, by Laura Bonetta is a great read. Excerpt from the article:

"The number of women embarking on science careers has been increasing steadily during the past several decades. Although women scientists continue to be underrepresented at the faculty level, many women have established rewarding and successful careers in science—thanks in part to having had role models and mentors whose paths they could follow."

Reaching Gender Equity in Science also reminds me of a post I made entitled, "Build your team: How to get mentors" it which I also urged readers to assemble a team of mentors and advisors to help you advance your career in the sciences.
Read the full article.

Women in Science

Visit the listed organizations to learn more about scholarships/fellowships and other valuable career resources (i.e. networking and mentoring opportunities) for women in the sciences.
*American Chemical Society Women Chemists Committee
*American Physical Society Committee on the Status of Women in Physics
*Association for Women in Computing
*Association for Women Geoscientists
*Association for Women in Mathematics
*Association for Women in Science
*Graduate Women in Science
*National Center for Women in Information Technology
*National Research Council Committee on Women in Science and Engineering
*Society of Women Engineers
*Women in Global Science and Technology
Want to add more organizations? Send a link!

Thank Goodness It's Friday???, Part II

In an earlier post, I described how my Friday would be hectic, to say the least. I also said that I would let you know how my Friday turned out. Well, yes, it was a whirlwind day. The lab meeting w e n t.  I did not make it to my networking event as an unexpected visitor came to our lab. But this was okay because he was an old lab-mate who stopped by to say hello and have lunch with us. Once this was over, I should have turned my focus to my presentation, B U T no... I was fussing over some old data.  Finally at about 1:30pm, I turned my attention to my presentation (which I presented once before) and began rehearsing it to myself.

3PM: SHOWTIME! As I began to speak, I felt my heart race, as it does whenever I give a talk. I mean, I know my research and what I want to say, but it's just a will of nerves hence, rapid heartbeat. (I think the nerves come in because I am wondering what the audience is thinking of me. Am I good enough? How is my data? Is my hair sticking up? Am I slouching? Am I speaking loud enough? Do they care about what I am saying? OMG is that person SLEEP?!) Then there were some technical difficulties which garnered a few laughs from the audience which was nearly half-dead from the intense interviews with professors earlier in the day. But their laughter eased my nerves.

Mid-way through the talk, I glanced at the clock and realized that I had only 2min left, since I was trying to speak slowly (I have been told that I talk too fast), so I rushed the last half.  When it was over, I knew that some of the students were actually paying attention because 3 asked me questions.

SELF ASSESSMENT I have critiques of my presentation: 1) I stumbled with words here and there. It's like I am trying to say one thing and already thinking about the next thing I want to say and what comes out my mouth is a jumbled mess of the first and second thoughts. Speaking slower will correct this issue. 2) I notice that I have the tendency to "talk to myself" while presenting. For example, I think there was a point that I said out loud, "oh no that is not right..." in reference to the order I wanted to say something. And I was on a microphone, sigh.  Although I know this presentation was not perfect, I can feel myself growing and becoming better. I am aware of some of my flaws and approach others to learn of other flaws so that I can work on correcting them.  I have another event at the end of the month. Between now and then, all I can do is practice, practice and practice so more.

Oh yes, I only managed to get a minimal amount of lab work done on Friday. So, now I am rushing my daughter to "get it together" and get dressed so that we can spend a Saturday in the lab. I know she is not happy with me about this. But it's the way it is. Maybe we will go for ice cream later. Geez, I feel like I am bribing the girl, sigh.

STEM careers, how do we appeal to our youth?

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers are failing to attract today's youth.  Why? This concern is briefly explored in the January 27, 2010 Herman Trend Alert, STEM Grads and Competitiveness, which says that,

"our youth (seem) to revere the accomplishments of sports celebrities and rock stars, while our scientific geniuses (go) virtually unrecognized. More recently, United States President Barack Obama at his Whitehouse summit for youth echoed Kamen's words, himself promoting the study of the STEM topics as a matter of competitiveness." 

Competitiveness, eh?  So STEM careers have to compete for the admiration of our youth against Kobe and Beyoncé??  Oh boy, that is a tough battle.  So, I prose two questions:

1. To STEM professionals, what can we do to get our young people interested in STEM careers?

2. To young people, what can STEM professionals do to get you interested in STEM careers?

I am going to take a stab at Question #1 myself. I know from personal experience that young people do not exactly view STEM careers as "cool," UNTIL they learn more about what STEM professionals do either through presentations or hands-on activities. So, I believe that exposure is the key.  Unfortunately, young women and minorities are less likely to be exposed to STEM careers.  I was not exposed to careers in STEM until I was a junior in high school through an outreach program that allowed me to shadow a clinical lab researcher at a local hospital.  Until that experience, I did not know any scientists or what their jobs entailed.  This experience greatly influenced my current career path as a biomedical researcher.  From experiences like this Bottom line: Exposure MUST happen sooner.

Want to learn about STEM careers? Then check out these links below!

Browse Occupations Find details like wages, education requirements, and job demand. Create an Occupation Profile by selecting “Explore Careers” and then “Browse” under “Occupations.” 

O*NET’s STEM Occupations View the full list of STEM occupations. Select a job title to learn more.  

Career Voyages Explore career options and education requirements in emerging, high-growth industries and in-demand occupations. 

What Do You Like? Learn how your interests and favorite school subjects match careers. This Web site can help you make informed decisions about careers, education, and training.

Links courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Empowering Women in Science and Engineering (EWISE) video

Great video produced by Cornell University discussing how featured panelists attain work-life balance, including how they incorporate children into their overall career goals. Watch and get some great info! Note: each video is about 1 hour in length.

Empowering Women in Science and Engineering (EWISE) Part 1

Empowering Women in Science and Engineering (EWISE) Part 2

Increasing minorities in STEM faculty positions

What is being done to increase the numbers of underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, HIspanic Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders, in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) faculty positions? Well, based on the article, From Grad School to a Job: How to Get Underrepresented Minorities into the S&T Workforce by Molly McElroy, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recently hosted a conference on December 10-11, 2009 to discuss this issue and to, as the article says, "explore new ideas for achieving the goal."  These ideas included combining the minority-targeted programs sponsored by AGEP (Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate) so that more minorities can interact with each other and "widen mentoring possibilities." The article goes on to explore the underlying reasons for less minorities in faculty positions, which includes the time it takes to achieve a faculty position, which often "can deter students and encourage them to seek better-paying industry positions." To read the complete article, click here.

Attend the SACNAS 2010 conference with a travel scholarship for minorities!

I was looking for opportunities to attend a conference this year and found this video that showcases the goals of SACNAS (Society for Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native American in Science) as an organization in general and what can be expected from attending the SACNAS National Conference, which will be held September 30- October 3, 2010 in Anaheim, CA.  If you are interested in attending the conference, apply for a SACNAS Travel Scholarship before April 29, 2010, which will cover your hotel and roundtrip airfare to/from Anaheim.  Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.  Also, if you are not of Hispanic/Chicano or Native American heritage, do not be discouraged to apply for the travel scholarship! SACNAS supports all minority scientists, which is made evident on their website:

"SACNAS serves, supports, and is made up of researchers, students, educators, and administrators at all levels of education and career stage from diverse ethnic, racial, gender, cultural, and sexual orientation backgrounds."

For more details, visit the SACNAS website!