Astronomy

AASWOMEN for December 10, 2010

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of December 10, 2010
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. We're Not Just Assistants Now, Part II

2. CONSTELLATION, A Model Program to Promote Women? Part II

3. AASWomen Newsletter Bits to Blog

4. NASA Innovations in Global Climate Change Education

5. APS/IBM Research Internships for Undergraduate Women

6. Gaia Research for European Astronomy Training

7. CIERA Postdoctoral Fellowships at Northwestern University

8. BFA TAC Postdoc Job at UC Berkeley

9. Full-Time Faculty, Bennington College

10. Tenure Track, Assistant Professor, Wellesley College

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

12.Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. We're Not Just Assistants Now ? Part II
Hannah Jang-Condell [hannah_at_astro.umd.edu]

[In last week's AASWomen, a reader discussed the label "William's Essential Assistant" to a photo of Caroline Herschel.] Here's a follow-up to the AASWomen article about Caroline Herschel, written by someone at the Smithsonian itself:

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2010/12/08/caroline-herschel-assistant-or-astronomer

2. CONSTELLATION, A Model Program to Promote Women? Part II
From: Michele M. Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

In the November 12, 2010 AASWomen newsletter, the third item discussed CONSTELLATION, a European Commission (EC) FP6 Marie Curie Research Training Network, as a potential model program to promote women in astronomy. Although not an original goal, approximately 50% women and 50% men were hired from those that were trained through the network, making this a potential model program to promote women in science.

Although no statistics were available at that time on the salaries of the women and men hired through the network, a follow-up interview with the original coordinator of CONSTELLATION, Prof. Mark McCaughrean (Univ. of Exeter, School of Physics), provided us with those statistics: "The salaries for EC networks like these are fixed by the Commission and are gender-blind, i.e. the same for men and women." Slight differences in salaries are due to EC-fixed country-to-country "cost of living" adjustments (roughly +/- 10-15%) and a mobility allowance to move from their home country, but all without reference to the gender of the researcher. A prior network (2000-2004) resulted in only three women hires out of 13 young researchers which thus became the reason why this current network actively sought better hiring statistics.

What about the hiring equality for women in the USA? This topic was discussed in AASWomen October 1, 2010 and is a subject in this week's Women in Astronomy bloodspot

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com

3. AASWomen Newsletter Bits to Blog
From: Kelle Cruz [kellecruz_at_gmail.com]

Hi AAS Women,

It would really be awesome if the meatier posts on the newsletter could be given their own blog entry. The book reviews, comments, discussions, etc. The newsletter format is just so clunky...If the non-announcement posts had their own URL, we could share them on FB, Twitter, AstroBetter and, even more compelling, we could comment on them in real time! I think this would really increase the visibility of this organization and spread the discussion throughout the community.

Also, I'm not saying take them *out* of the newsletter, just *also* post them as their own entry on the blog (copy amp; paste). In the process of doing AstroBetter, I've learned that readers have a very large tolerance for duplication.

Thanks for your efforts!

kelle

[Dear Kelle,

Thanks for your constructive feedback. Note item #2 in this week's newsletter - we have presented the more factual material here in the newsletter and referenced the blog where we have made extemporaneous comments. -- eds.]

4. NASA Innovations in Global Climate Change Education
From: Michele M. Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

NASA will soon release a funding opportunity under its Innovations in Global Climate Change Education (IGCCE) project, which is part of NASA's Minority University Research and Education Program.

IGCCE will be accepting proposals from minority institutions, community colleges, K-12 school districts with high minority populations, and non-profits focused on underrepresented minorities. It is anticipated that there will be opportunities for partnership and collaboration to leverage past and current climate change education efforts. Majority institutions are encouraged to seek partnership opportunities. For more information, see

https://gcce.larc.nasa.gov/index.php?q=news/announcing-funding-opportunity-workshops

5. APS/IBM Research Internships for Undergraduate Women
From: WIPHYS, December 8, 2010

APS and IBM co-sponsor a research internship program for undergraduate women. The goal is to encourage women students to pursue graduate studies in science and engineering. The internships are salaried positions typically 10 weeks long at one of three IBM research locations (San Jose, CA, Austin, TX, or Yorktown Heights, NY), and give the opportunity to work closely with an IBM mentor. Find more information and the application link at:

http://www.aps.org/programs/women/scholarships/ibm

6. Gaia Research for European Astronomy Training
Eduardo Martin [ege_at_cab.inta-csic.es]

The Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK is leading a new EC FP7 Marie-Curie Initial Training Network - GREAT-ITN - with a research theme of 'Unravelling the Milky Way' including studies of its constituent components from planets, stars, dust and gas. The network brings together partners from across Europe - with the aim of exploiting the upcoming data from ESA's Gaia mission as applied to the study of the Milky Way. Further information concerning GREAT can be found at

http://www.great-itn.eu

Across the network, seventeen Marie Curie Early Stage Research (ESR) Fellows will embark on PhD study programmes addressing a range of specific topics. Posts are available at the following institutes:

- Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK (2 positions) - University of Leiden, The Netherlands - Lund University, Sweden - University of Barcelona, Spain (2 positions) - University of Heidelberg, Germany - MPIA, Heidelberg, Germany - University of Geneva, Switzerland - University of Leuven, Belgium - Peking University, China - INAF (Bologna and Padua), Italy (2 positions) - Adam Mickiewicza University, Poznan, Poland - CAUP, University of Porto, Portugal - CNRS (Bordeaux and Besancon), France (2 positions)

The ESR positions are for three years. There is some flexibility with starting dates, although most posts are expected to commence Sep/Oct 2011. The network PhD students will receive training primarily through their host institute with some training provided by visits to other institutes in the network.

Further information concerning the positions, together with the full application procedure is available at:

http://www.great-itn.eu/great-itn/great-itn-recruit

This page provides links to the projects on offer at each of the above host institutes, together with full application details and the eligibility requirements specific to that host institute. In particular applications are welcome from suitably qualified students (generally those holding a recognized Masters level degree in Astrophysics or related subject), but note that they may not have resided in the country of the host institute for more than 12 months in the previous three years.

ESR researchers will be paid a generous salary to cover their living costs and travel. They also receive funds to support their participation in the GREAT-ITN European wide research and training events. A contribution to some family related expenses and the cost of annual travel back to the ESR's home country is also provided. Review of applications will continue until all posts are filled, so early applications are encouraged.

7. CIERA Postdoctoral Fellowships at Northwestern University
From: Vicky Kalogera [vicky_at_northwestern.edu]

The Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University invites applications for Center Postdoctoral Fellowships. Fellows will be expected to work independently and pursue an interdisciplinary research program in any area of astrophysics that overlaps strongly with other fields such as computer science, applied math, planetary science, astrobiology, chemistry, or electrical engineering. We are mainly interested in applications from recent Ph.D. graduates in those other fields who are interested in switching to astrophysics and/or applying their knowledge from another field to astrophysical problems. More information about CIERA and its activities can be found at

http://ciera.northwestern.edu

Fellowship appointments will be for a 3-year term (with the possibility of extension) starting in September 2011. The initial annual stipend is $60,000, plus a competitive benefits package, and a research budget of $15,000 per year.

Applicants should send a complete curriculum vitae including a list of publications, a brief statement of research accomplishments and future plans for interdisciplinary research in astrophysics, and arrange for at least 3 letters of recommendation to be sent to the above address. Email submissions are preferred. Please clearly state the title of the position for which you are applying in your cover letter and in the subject of your e-mail. Applicants must receive their Ph.D. prior to appointment. Applications from women and minority candidates are especially encouraged. The application deadline is December 31, 2010.

CIERA - Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics Dearborn Observatory 2131 Tech Drive Evanston, IL 60208-2900, USA Tel: 847-491-8646 Postal Submissions: Attention: Carrie Middleton at address above E-mail Submissions (Preferred): ciera_at_northwestern.edu Application Deadline: 12/31/2010

8. BFA TAC Postdoc Job at UC Berkeley
From: Karen Wang [karenwang_at_berkeley.edu]

The University of California at Berkeley invites applications for a new prize postdoctoral fellowship in astrophysics. Depending on the candidate chosen, the position will be affiliated with the Theoretical Astrophysics Center (TAC), Center for Integrative Planetary Sciences (CIPS), Berkeley Center for Cosmological Physics (BCCP), Radio Astronomy Lab (RAL), Department of Astronomy, and/or Department of Physics. The position is for two years, with a possibility of renewal for a third year. The Fellows are expected to carry out independent research on topics of their choosing using any technique, theoretical, observational, or experimental. Successful candidates will also have the opportunity to interact with the broad spectrum of researchers in the neighboring Space Sciences Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Candidates should have obtained their Ph.D. in astrophysics or a related field. Candidates who have already applied for the TAC (AAS Job Register No. 26753), CIPS (No. 26826), or Miller postdoc positions need not apply separately for this position. Otherwise, required application materials include a CV, bibliography, and statement of research interests and plans. Please submit applications electronically at

http://astro.berkeley.edu/tac/BFAsearch.html

by January 3, 2011. Please make sure that three letters of reference are uploaded by Jan. 3 2011 to the URL provided to you in the confirmation email message. UC Berkeley's Statement of Confidentiality can be found at:

http://apo.chance.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html

The University of California, Berkeley is committed to affirmative action by actively recruiting qualified women and minorities for employment opportunities: Affirmative Action Employer/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Included Benefits: Medical and dental insurance are included. In addition, UC Berkeley has a number of policies specifically geared towards helping academics with families; see

http://www.berkeley.edu/work/child.shtml

9. Full-Time Faculty, Bennington College
From: Karen Kwitter [Karen.B.Kwitter_at_williams.edu]

Saw this in the Job Register, and thought this might be good in the next AAS Women's Newsletter:

Bennington College, a liberal arts college in southern Vermont (15 miles from Williams College) is looking for a new physics faculty member - all subfields are open, and they are especially interested in developing an astronomy curriculum.

http://members.aas.org/JobReg/JobDetailPage.cfm?JobID=27024

10. Tenure Track, Assistant Professor, Wellesley College
From: Wendy Bauer [wbauer_at_wellesley.edu]

The Wellesley College Department of Astronomy invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the beginning assistant professor level to start in Fall 2011. We are especially seeking candidates whose research specialties lie in planetary science or a closely related area, such as extrasolar planetary or solar astronomy. The successful candidate will teach introductory astronomy courses as well as new courses in areas such as remote sensing, planetary geology, or climate change, that would be broadly appealing to students from related disciplines. The candidate must have demonstrated teaching ability and must be committed to carrying out a vibrant program of research that involves undergraduates at multiple levels.

The Department of Astronomy is housed in an unusually fine facility, the newly renovated Whitin Observatory. Telescopes include historic Clark refractors and a 24" reflector used for teaching and research. We hope to find a candidate who will share our sense of stewardship of the Observatory. Candidates must have a Ph.D., and some postdoctoral experience is preferred. Wellesley College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who believe they can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin Jan 15; for instructions see

https://career.wellesley.edu

11. 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_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/aaswlist

and fill out the form.

If you experience any problems, please email itdept_at_aas.org

12. 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.

- Aaswomen For October 22, 2011
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of October 21, 2011 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. A metric for workplace environment culture: How long do mothers nurse?2. APS Meetings Child Care Grants3....

- Aaswomen For November 5, 2010
Committee on the Status of Women Issue of November 5, 2010 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Response to Yale's Policy on Student-Professor dating2. Encouraging Men to Advocate for Women in Astronomy3....

- Aaswomen For October 9, 2009
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of October 9, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Request for info: Funding for Women Returning to the Field2. AASWomen Survey for Women in Astronomy 2009...

- Aaswomen For May 15, 2009
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of May 15, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Supremely Ignored2. Site Visits3. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship 4. Postdoctoral Fellowship In Astrophysics-PRINCETON...

- Aaswomen Newsletter 05/08/09
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of May 8, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. AASWomen Eileen Friel Named New Lowell Observatory Director2. Sticks and Stones and Words Can All be Hurtful3....

Astronomy