February 2024 Empower

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Monday, February 19, 2024 (0 Comments)
Posted by: Jennifer Riggs

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February 2024

Welcome to GWIS Empower! GWIS Empower seeks to provide career and leadership advice for women in science along with member-generated content. In this issue, we celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the accomplishments and dedication of black women in STEM. Specifically, we include articles discussing the importance of representation, and creative approaches to diversify STEM fields. Tune in to the newest GWIS podcast episode, and register for the first GWIS career series webinar, going live at the end of the month. For more insight into career options and how to get your documents ready, read about upcoming events. Finally, we list a scholarship opportunity.

Celebrate Black women making her-story in STEM

There's no doubt that black women are underrepresented in STEM fields; in the U.S., less than 5% of PhD degrees are earned by Black women, and only 3.2% get a faculty position. One of many reasons for these low numbers is that (most) universities lack representation and role models, which negatively affects recruitment and retainment of Black women in STEM (discussed in Forbes). To increase their visibility, the IF/THEN collection offers access to authentic and relatable images of women in STEM, including many Black scientists. Although they are underrepresented in STEM, it is important to highlight the many successful Black women that have made a huge impact on the sciences. Meet a few of them in the following articles.

Black scientists you should know

Black British women in STEM

Podcast Alert

Pharmaceutical development through the eyes of an inspirational woman

In the latest episode of the GWIS podcast, Meredith Sibley, a visionary in managing biologic and pharmaceutical product development, shares her profound journey and the inspirations that propelled her into this crucial field. As a seasoned professional, Meredith discusses the challenges she faced as a woman in science and the role mentors and role models have played in her career.
This episode is not just a conversation; it's a testament to the power of perseverance, mentorship, and the critical need for diversity in science.

Listen here

Webinar Series

GWIS Career Series

It's time for the first webinar in the GWIS career series. Majored in STEM? Are you interested in intellectual properties or patents? Do you know that you can be a patent technology specialist? Join us on Thursday, February 22nd, at 6:00pm BST/2:00pm AST/1:00pm ET/12:00pm CT/10:00am PST, for a conversation with representatives of WilmerHale Patent Technology Specialist Program, Dr. Laura Macro and Dr. Iva Dincheva, about how to start a career as a patent technology specialist and what their work day looks like. For any questions contact mentoring@gwis.org, and if you are interested in joining, register below.

Robotics and Black STEM romance novels

Dr. Carlotta A. Berry is an accomplished academic, working as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She is very passionate about diversifying STEM professions by recruiting more marginalized populations and women. She feels that the profession should reflect the world that we live in order to solve the unique problems that we face. She has taken an untraditional approach to encourage underrepresented people to enter the sciences. When she's not an engineering professor, she writes youth-friendly romance novels featuring Black protagonists who work in STEM fields.

Listen to Dr. Berry

Instead of writing novels, NASA engineer Dajae Williams combines HipHop with math and science to make it more accessible for young people, and Dr. Joy Buolamwini uses poetry to talk about how AI has victimized women and people of color. Interested in learning more about the creative approaches of these women to diversify STEM?

Listen to Dajae Williams

Read about Dr. Buolamwini

Upcoming Events

Want to get some writing done this semester? If so, GWIS’s 3rd annual book club might be for you! We’ll be reading "Scientific Papers Made Easy" by Stuart West and Lindsay Turnbull. The book is available online https://academic.oup.com/book/45619. We’ll meet virtually to discuss a few chapters and actively practice our writing. Multiple sessions will be available so you can choose which time works for you. Scheduled discussions: Chapters 1-5 on Monday Mar 11, 2024 and Chapters 6-11 on Monday Apr 8, 2024. Check out this review of the book!

The Association for Women in Science Virtual Career Fair

As part of their mission to build equal inclusion and advancement of women in science positions at all levels, the AWIS Virtual Career Fair aims to connect members and all women in science with employers seeking top talent. This premier recruiting event will offer the opportunity to potentially have a dozen first-round interviews, all within three hours on March 14th 2024, from 1pm to 4pm ET. Are you looking for a new career, want to step into a leadership position, or simply see what opportunities may be available for you? Then join the AWIS Virtual Career Fair.

Want to connect on-line with other women scientists? Join the GWIS Slack channel. GWIS also has a private LinkedIn group for connecting with nearly 2,000 women scientists to share interesting news, job opportunities, and more! Want to form a small group? Contact the GWIS Media group to access our private forums and help you solicit fellow GWIS participants!

Scholarship Opportunity

The Beyond the C.L.O.U.D Scholarship

Beyond the C.L.O.U.D seeks to break gender inequality and bridge the gender gap in STEM and business. To inspire and empower the next generation of women in STEM and business, this $1,020 scholarship supports a female student as they earn their degree in STEM or business. To be eligible, applicants must be undergraduate and graduate female students who are pursuing a career in STEM or business and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The deadline to submit an essay and required documents is March 1, 2024.

Apply Here

Get Involved with GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

Join or Renew

About GWIS

Founded in 1921, Graduate Women in Science is an inter-disciplinary society of scientists who collectively seek to advance the participation and recognition of women in science and to foster research through grants, awards and fellowships. We comprise over 20 active chapters of more than 800 women who are "United in Friendship through Science" to support and inspire member professional goals and mutual appreciation of science. Learn more at www.gwis.org.

Contact GWIS

PO Box 7
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
www.gwis.org

President
Amanda Koenig
Editor
Courtney Ragle
Membership Secretary
Ogochukwu Ozotta
GWIS Empower Copy Editor
Amy Zheng
GWIS Empower Content Editor
Selina Bruckner

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February 2024 Empower