Monday, February 28, 2011

AASWOMEN for February 25, 2011

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of February 25, 2011
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, amp; Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. WIA Blogspot: Is Discrimination Largely a Thing of the Past?

2. Happy Birthday! 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

3. Effects of Men Staring Down Women

4. Northwest Undergraduate Women in Physics Conference

5. NASA Planetary Science Summer School

6. Visiting Assistant Professor in Physics, Mount Holyoke College

7. Visiting Assistant Professor, Dickinson College

8. Various Job Openings at NOAO and NSO

9. ALMA Commissioning Scientist

10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

11. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN


1. WIA Blogspot: Is Discrimination Largely a Thing of the Past?
From: Nancy Brickhouse [nbrickhouse_at_cfa.harvard.edu] and
Andrea Dupree [dupree_at_cfa.harvard.edu]

[Item #3 in the February 11, 2011 issue of AASWomen discusses "Underrepresentation of Women in Science." The following are comments from our readers. - Eds.]

Is discrimination largely a thing of the past? The recent article for the National Academy ("Understanding Current Causes of Women's Underrepresentation in Science" by Stephen J. Ceci and Wendy M. Williams) argues just this. Their arguments are based on data for hiring, publishing and funding in science research.

Here are some of our thoughts on their article:

1. As Abby Stewart pointed out, there is no new data here. This is just a meta-analysis.

2. Most if not all of the studies used in the article are from the life and behavioral sciences, which are in general less math-intensive than astronomy and physics and also have better representation of women (e.g. Journal of Biogeography, Behavioral Ecology, Nature Neuroscience).

[To read more on the this summary, please see

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com

Back to top.
2. Happy Birthday! 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day
From: Michele M. Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

International Women's Day is on Tuesday 8 March and it is the hundredth anniversary. A website has been established at Nature Network

http://network.nature.com/groups/women_in_science/forum/topics/8956

for you to nominate your favorite female scientists and engineers in the run-up to March 8th. Spread the word! So far I do not see any astronomers listed!

Back to top.
3. Effects of Men Staring Down Women
From: Therese Jones [tjones_at_astro.berkeley.edu]

A recent article in LiveScience reports ogling, even a once-over, by men subtracts from women's math scores. Despite the drop in performance, women were found to be more motivated to interact with these same men. Psychologists suppose that women might be trying to boost their sense of belonging. To read more on this very interesting article, please see

http://www.livescience.com/11649-ogling-men-subtracts-women-math-scores.html

Back to top.
4. Northwest Undergraduate Women in Physics Conference
From: WIPHYS, February 15, 2011

The 1st annual Northwest Undergraduate Women in Physics Conference will be held on April 16-17th, 2011 at the University of Oregon Center in Portland, OR! Registration is now open for the Northwest Undergraduate Women in Physics Conference! Please visit

http://pages.uoregon.edu/wits/wits/nwpc/home

to register. Registration will close on February 28th.

There is no conference fee, and lodging and food will be provided. However, travel funds will not be provided. If there are any questions or concerns about the conference, see the website, or you can contact the organizing committee at uoregon.wip_at_gmail.com.

Back to top.
5. NASA Planetary Science Summer School
From: WIPHYS, February 15, 2011

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 23rd Annual Planetary Science Summer School,

https://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

which will hold two separate sessions this summer (18-22 July and 1-5 August) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. During the program and pre-session webinars, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback.

By the end of the session, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a space mission; relationships between mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science. Applications are due April 1, 2011. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals.

Back to top.
6. Visiting Assistant Professor in Physics, Mount Holyoke College
From: WIPHYS, February 15, 2011

The Physics Department at Mount Holyoke College seeks applicants for a Visiting Assistant Professor position beginning fall 2011. A Ph.D. is required and postdoctoral experience is preferred. Applicants should have a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and be able to teach a broad range of courses from our upper level undergraduate physics curriculum. The college has well equipped research facilities, and development of a research program that can include undergraduates is desirable but not required. There is a possibility of extended offers for an additional 1-2 years, pending approval. Please apply online at

https://jobsearch.mtholyoke.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=140627

To be assured of full consideration, all of the following should be received by March 9, 2011: letter of interest, CV, statement of teaching philosophy explicitly listing which of our 300-level physics courses the applicant is comfortable teaching, a list of any relevant courses taught previously, and three letters of recommendation. Electronic prompts to referees will be generated automatically once the completed application has been submitted.

Back to top.
7. Visiting Assistant Professor, Dickinson College
From: Windsor Morgan [morgan_at_dickinson.edu]

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Dickinson College anticipates the availability of a sabbatical leave replacement position for the 2011/12 academic year and invites applications.

Dickinson College is a highly selective four-year liberal-arts college with an active and innovative science program. The Department is housed in a new state-of-the-art building, equipped with smart classrooms, research labs, a planetarium and observatory. The physics major program features a project-centered hands-on curriculum beginning with the internationally known Workshop Physics, an activity-based introductory course developed here at Dickinson. Every senior major completes a year-long research project in collaboration with a faculty advisor and other students. Faculty members also teach introductory courses for non-majors as well as first-year seminars and cross-disciplinary courses. The Department graduates approximately ten majors per year, 40% of whom are women.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics or astronomy and a strong interest in undergraduate teaching. The department is particularly interested in applicants who would welcome teaching introductory courses in both physics and astronomy, and who have an interest in involving students in their research programs. Applications should be sent to:

Dr. Hans Pfister, Chair Dept. of Physics amp; Astronomy Dickinson College P.O. Box. 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013-2896.

Please include with your cover letter a CV and a statement of your teaching and research interests and aspirations, and a list of 3 to 5 references. Please do not send letters of recommendation at this time. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Dickinson College is committed to diversity, and we encourage candidates who will contribute to meeting that goal to apply. Applications and nominations of women and minorities are strongly encouraged.

Back to top.
8. Various Job Openings at NOAO and NSO
From: Cindy Burnett [burnett_at_noao.edu]

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) is recruiting for a

- Test Engineer of products and services developed by the Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO)

and and the National Solar Observatory (NSO) is recruiting for a

- Postdoctoral Research Associate who will help in developing a solar Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) in Joint Bear Solar Observatory (JBSO).

More on these open positions can be found at

http://www.noao.edu/cas/hr/jobs/jobs_list.html

Back to top.
9. ALMA Commissioning Scientist
From: Michele M. Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

The joint ESO, NSF, NRC, AS Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) invites applications for the position of ALMA Commissioning Scientist. The role of ALMA Commissioning Scientists is to assist the Project Scientist and Deputy Project Scientist in planning and executing the scientific commissioning of ALMA. The commissioning team of scientists and engineers will devise testing procedures for new equipment and observing modes, carry out measurements, and interpret results. In particular, the CSV Team will be heavily focused on the Scientific Verification of ALMA. The Commissioning Scientists are also encouraged to continue an active program of independent research, and time and resources will be made available.

Applicants for this position are required to have a PhD in astronomy or related field and experience with astronomical observations and data analysis. Other advantageous qualifications include experience with radio to submm interferometric observations and data reduction, knowledge of CASA (or similar astronomical data reduction package, eg AIPS, Miriad), and experience trouble-shooting hardware or software in a Linux environment. A successful high altitude medical check is a necessary condition for this position. Appointments are for two years. These positions are funded from the construction project, and members of the commissioning team will be in a strong position to apply for any long-term posts in Joint ALMA Observatory Science Operations which may be become available during and after the construction phase.

ALMA International Staff will be recruited as employees of either AUI/NRAO or ESO or NAOJ. Each of these employers offer competitive remuneration packages including a competitive salary, comprehensive social benefits and financial support in relocating families. Furthermore, if applicable, an expatriation allowance, as well as other allowances will be added.

Qualified engineers or scientists with extensive relevant experience are invited to apply by submitting an application to either ESO or NRAO. Applications must be completed in English and should include a cover letter and CV.

Applicants submitting their application to NRAO are invited to apply online at

https://careers.nrao.edu

Combine a cover letter and curriculum vitae into one PDF file and attach to your NRAO application. As part of the NRAO application process, you will be prompted for the names and contact information of three individuals, who are familiar with your experience and abilities, for letters of reference. Once you complete the application process successfully, you will receive a confirmation number. At that time, your referees will be sent an automated e-mail requesting they provide a reference letter on your behalf. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Ms. Fonda Hamric at fhamric_at_nrao.edu.

Applicants submitting their application to ESO are invited to apply online at

https://jobs.eso.org

The position requires three letters of reference which shall be sent to vacancy_at_eso.org.

For more information about this vacancy, contact the ALMA Director through AD_at_ alma.cl or NRAO Human Resources at fhamric_at_nrao.edu.

Deadline for receipt of applications to be considered for the position is April 15, 2011.

For further information please consult

http://almaobservatory.org

as well as the NRAO and/or ESO Home Page

Back to top.
10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

[Please remember to replace "_at_" in the below e-mail addresses.]

To submit to AASWOMEN: send email to aaswomen_at_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 itdept_at_aas.org

Back to top.
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.

AASWList mailing list AASWList_at_aas.org

Back to top.

No comments :