10/12/2018 4:52:53 PM
The
ASBMB Minority Affairs Committee is committed to enhancing cultural diversity in the sciences by raising the
status and visibility of underrepresented minorities. That’s why the ASBMB is
proud to have exhibited this week at the 2018 SACNAS:
The National Diversity in STEM Conference hosted by the Society for
Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
In
honor of SACNAS and its work promoting STEM diversity, the careers blog
features a collection of resources for scientists interested in pursuing
academic careers at colleges and universities officially certified as Hispanic-serving
institutions. Be sure to check out the related posts (see below) for more
resources related to careers that support diversity in STEM efforts.
Resources
for undocumented students
If
you work with Hispanic students, it’s important to be aware of the many
challenges they face in accessing higher-education opportunities. Those
students who are undocumented immigrants have even more barriers. As Arianna
Celis Luna pointed out in a personal
essay in the ASBMB Today about the end of the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program*, undocumented students are ineligible for financial
aid and federal funding and may not be able to apply for admission to specific
universities or programs. But, as Luna concludes, these are just hurdles that
need to be overcome. And, personally, I think it is the science community’s
responsibility to help connect these students with the resources to do so. Here
are just a few resources for undocumented and DACA-status students that we have
run across recently.
•
The Golden Door Scholars program
is providing up to 50 college scholarships for DACA students to pursue
undergraduate studies in STEM fields. High school students, current
undergraduates and transfer students are welcome to apply. Scholarships will
preferentially be used at partner institutions. Recipients also will have the
opportunity to participate in internships, receive mentoring and other
career-development opportunities. The application deadline is Oct. 25. (H/t to
the Twitter account 500womenscientists
for sharing this information.)
•
Matthew Cover, professor
at California State University Stanislaus, has crowdsourced a list of summer
research and professional-development programs for undocumented college
students in STEM fields that is published on his website. Contact
him to add any additional resources to the list.
•
ASBMB MAC chair Sonia Flores previously
wrote in the
AToday about the many benefits of the proposed Development, Relief
and Education of Alien Minors Act for science students. While, unfortunately,
the DREAM Act has not become reality yet, Flores provides a useful list of
funding support and resources for DACA students in this article.
•
The Ford
Foundation Fellowship program provides predoctoral, dissertation and
postdoctoral fellowships with the specific intent of increasing the ethnic and
racial diversity of faculties at academic institutions in the U.S. and to
promote the use of diversity to enhance the educational experiences received by
students. Individuals with DACA status are eligible to apply. The application
deadlines are in December. See the program website for more details.
*Note:
It seems the current
status of the DACA program is that renewal applications can still be
submitted.
Academic
jobs at HSIs
One
avenue to reach a broad base of Hispanic students to mentor and encourage their
pursuits of STEM careers is to work as a faculty member at a Hispanic-serving
institution. HSI is a U.S. Department of Education designation for
any institution of higher education with an enrollment of full-time
undergraduate students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. Many of these
schools also belong to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. A
listing of HSI members and affiliated/partner institutions are included in the HACU member directory.
The HACU also provides an academic job
board and an option for Hispanic professionals to submit a
resume to the ProTalento database. SACNAS also hosts a career center
with a job board.
Here is a quick roundup of open faculty jobs at HSIs.
•
The Department of Biology at Mills
College (Oakland, Calif.) is in search of a part-time visiting
professor in developmental genetics to teach undergraduate courses
and organize a STEM professionals lecture series. The goal of the professorship
program is to promote teaching excellence and expose students to careers and
networks outside the college. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in the
biological sciences, experience with innovative teaching methodologies and
commitment to working with multicultural students. Review of applications
begins Oct. 15.
•
The Department of Biology at Sonoma
State University is hiring a tenure-track
faculty position at the assistant-professor level in the area of
molecular biology. The incumbent will be expected to teach
undergraduate/graduate courses and establish an externally funded research
program in areas that may include but are not limited to cell signaling, neurobiology,
microbiomes, host‐parasite
interactions or synthetic biology. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in
the biological sciences and experience in postdoctoral research and working
with undergraduate students. The application deadline is Nov. 16.
•
The Department of Microbiology and
Environmental Toxicology at the University of California–Santa Cruz
invites applications for a tenure-track
faculty position at the assistant-professor level in the area of
environmental health science. In particular, research should focus on the
mechanistic understanding of how organisms are affected by
environmentally-derived stressors. The faculty member will advise both Ph.D.
and M.S. graduate students and teach undergraduate courses in environmental and
organismal health. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in a relevant field,
one year of postdoctoral experience and a strong research track record. The
application deadline is Nov. 30.
•
Morton
College (Cicero, Ill.) is recruiting for a tenure-track instructor with
experience in teaching microbiology and general biology. The instructor also
may teach botany and environmental science labs. Minimum qualifications include
a master’s degree in biology. No application deadline is provided.
•
Santa Monica
Community College is seeking a tenure-track
instructor to teach lecture and laboratory courses in cellular and
molecular biology, genetics and evolution for biology majors and general
biology courses for non-majors. Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree
in the biological sciences. The application deadline is Nov. 19.
HSI
STEM grants
HSIs
are eligible to apply for specific funding from the DoE for HSI STEM program grants.
The goal is to increase the number of Hispanic students graduating (or
transferring to four-year degree programs) in STEM fields. The funded programs
often need program coordinators to manage these efforts. Here is a sampling of
programs currently hiring. You also can check out the list of recent HSI STEM grant awardees
to find institutions that may be hiring in the future. (Note: I am unsure about
the current status of funding for the program as it seems the last round of
awards was in 2017.)
•
Reedley
College (part of the State Center Community
College District in California) is looking for a STEM-4-STEM program counselor and
coordinator to manage its Student Transfer, Engagement and Mentoring
for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program. Duties include
recruiting participants, developing related programming and curriculum,
providing career counseling services and evaluating program outcomes. Note: The
minimum qualifications state a master’s degree in a counseling or related
field. However, the desired qualifications include familiarity with a STEM
discipline, so I suggest reaching out to check further on qualifications. The application
deadline is Oct. 27.
•
Contra Costa
College (part of the Contra Costa Community
College District in California) is hiring a program assistant to
provide logistical support for events, activities and support services related
to its HSI STEM student retention programs. There are no minimum qualifications
included in the job posting. No application deadline is provided.
•
Amarillo
College is seeking a curriculum
specialist to integrate undergraduate research-based curriculum into
biology courses and programs. Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree
in the biological sciences and three years of teaching experience in higher
education. No application deadline is provided.
Bonus
job posting
Arizona
State University is hiring three postdoctoral research scholars in
biology education to work within the Research for Inclusive Science
Education center. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in biology, science
education or a related field. The application deadline is Oct. 30.
Related
posts
• Faculty-hiring
season commences
• Diversity support programs for academic careers
• Science careers at HBCUs
• Careers to support diversity in science efforts
• Community college jobs
• Academic administration positions
Donna Kridelbaugh is a contributor to the ASBMB Careers Blog. She holds an advanced degree in microbiology and is a former lab manager.
Stay updated on new posts by following the ASBMB on social media or click “follow” on this blog (must be a member and signed in). Also, be sure to check out the ASBMB Job Board for even more job listings.
10/5/2018 2:05:27 PM
During October for National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, people all across the country are
donning their finest pink attire and lacing up their sneakers to participate in
races for the cure. These events spread awareness of the importance of
early-cancer screenings, build community support and raise needed funds for
research. At the ASBMB, we join these efforts by sharing a
collection of our members’ personal stories and research advances in breast
cancer. (And, ICYMI, last month we observed another important health
observance related to women’s cancer. See the health observances webpage
for information related to National Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month.) We are proud to support our members who are
leading the way in women’s cancer research. This week on the careers blog, we
looked more into research funding and job opportunities related to women’s
cancer research for those of you also considering such a career path.
Research grants and fellowships
To identify research grant and fellowship
opportunities, we searched through the websites of top funders of women’s
cancer research. Additionally, we reviewed recent press releases for other
foundations working in this funding landscape. This list definitely is not all
inclusive. You can further find opportunities by doing a little more research
to identify which organizations are most active in cancer-research initiatives (e.g.,
review the websites of the organizations below for sponsors and collaborating
partners).
-
The
American Cancer Society awards postdoctoral
fellowships to recent Ph.D. graduates who are starting to train for
independent careers in any area of cancer research. Funding is provided for
three years with a progressive stipend. The next application deadline is Oct.
15.
-
The
Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer is accepting applications for its scientific scholar award program
that provides two years of funding for postdoctoral or early-career scientists
(both U.S. and international applicants). The application deadline is Dec. 3.
- The American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation provides a number
of small grants
in areas that include research and community outreach. The
application deadline is Dec. 14.
- Friends For An Earlier Breast Cancer Test invites
applications on a rolling basis for pilot
projects focused on improving the early detection of breast cancer,
especially biologically or immunologically based tests. The next round of
proposals is due Dec. 15.
-
The
Susan G. Komen charity offers a number of research
grants, including graduate training in disparities research,
postdoctoral fellowships and career-catalyst research awards. Review the
website for more details and to stay updated on when funding announcements are
posted.
-
The
Foundation for Women’s Cancer awards a number of women’s
cancer research grants and postdoctoral fellowships. Most
application due dates have passed for this year, but it’s never too early to
start planning for next year and create a grant-planning calendar.
Additionally, check out the award sponsors for ideas on potential employers who
are active in this research area.
-
The
DoD’s office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program
funds research in many disease areas
that include breast and ovarian cancers. Funding opportunities include
early-career investigator and fellowship awards. Review the archived funding opportunities page
to see what they fund. FYI, there is a current funding call in the breast
cancer research program for breakthrough awards. Senior postdocs who
are not eligible for the fellowship award are eligible to apply for level I and
II awards. See the funding announcement for more details. The letter of intent
is due Nov. 1 with an application deadline of Nov. 15.
-
Previously,
we covered career resources related to the National Cancer Institute in
a post on shooting for
a career in cancer research. Be sure to check that out for more
information about NCI-funded research programs and other useful resources.
Weekly jobs roundup
Jobs were found for this week’s roundup by
searching generic and cancer-research related job boards with combinations of
keywords that included “cancer research” and women’s, gynecologic, breast or
ovarian. There were lots of positions found. Here is just a small sampling.
- The
Indiana University School of Medicine is recruiting faculty to develop a breast
cancer-focused research program in the areas of genomic medicine and precision
health. Minimum qualifications include an M.D. or Ph.D. degree and
demonstrated research excellence in the field of breast cancer research. The
priority application deadline is Nov. 23.
- The
laboratory of Michael Birrer within the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Comprehensive Cancer Center is hiring a postdoctoral researcher focused on
the genomics of ovarian cancer. Projects range from biomarker identification
for early-disease detection to the testing of novel therapeutics. No
application deadline is provided. (Note: Contact information for the PI is
provided in the post, and I recommend reaching out to see if this position is
still open.)
-
The
Functional and Chemical Genomics Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research
Foundation (Oklahoma City) has openings for several
postdoctoral fellows. One position may be available in the lab of
Magdalena Bieniasz to study the role of oncogenic drives in ovarian cancer
progression and drug resistance. No application deadline is provided.
- The
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston) is searching for a research
technician to perform research related to studying DNA damage
response and differentiation control in mammary epithelial cells, with
implications for understanding the molecular basis of breast cancer. Minimum
qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry. No
application deadline is provided.
- The
Gayther Lab within the Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center (Los Angeles) is hiring both a laboratory
manager and research
associate. The lab is focused on identifying genetic risk loci
related to the development of ovarian, breast and prostate cancers. Both
positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and three to five years of
relevant lab experience. No application deadlines are provided.
- The
Susan G. Komen charity has several
openings for positions that require a scientific background. Current
jobs listed include a scientific programs manager and research grants manager.
See the website for more details and qualifications. No application deadlines
are provided.
Donna Kridelbaugh is a contributor to the ASBMB Careers Blog. She holds an advanced degree in microbiology and is a former lab manager.
Stay updated on new posts by following the ASBMB on social media or click “follow” on this blog (must be a member and signed in). Also, be sure to check out the ASBMB Job Board for even more job listings.
9/26/2018 5:05:46 PM
It’s time, yet again, for another blog recap, to help you catch up on the latest career advice and resources that the ASBMB has to offer. This post also happens to mark my one-year anniversary writing for the ASBMB Careers Blog (and I feel like breaking open a bottle of champagne as I write this post, but I’ll stick to my usual overly caffeinated writer buzz instead). IMO, the No. 1 benefit of being a freelancer is the option to work with clients who reflect your values as well. Therefore, it has been a pleasure to work with an organization that is truly dedicated to supporting early-career scientists. OK, sentiments aside, here is a collection of useful career resources and upcoming reminders, along with that blog recap I promised.
Career advice and resources
- Last
week, the ASBMB celebrated National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week with a
series of live #PostdocLife Twitter chats covering topics related to staying in
the academic career track, jobs outside academia and other useful career
advice. Look up #ASBMBLovesPostdocs
or these daily
roundups of tweets to catch up on the conversations.
- Faculty
hiring season is in full swing, and, recently, the ASBMB hosted a professional-development
webinar with an insider’s take on what faculty search committees are looking
for. You can watch
the archived webinar online or see this
AToday article for a synopsis. (Also, don’t forget to check out the ASBMB Job
Board if you are on the faculty job hunt. There are lots of
positions at the assistant-professor level listed right now.)
Scicomm skills and training
- The
ASBMB’s Art
of Science Communication course begins Oct. 1 and registration is
open until that date. During the eight-week course, participants will learn the
fundamentals of communicating complex scientific information to a nontechnical
audience with an emphasis on presentations. The course is $25 for ASBMB members.
(FYI, if you have previously taken the course, it is possible to serve as a
course mentor in the future, which provides valuable training in how to teach science-communication
skills as well.)
- If you’re
interested in further building your science-communications portfolio or just
adding your voice to the discussion to help other scientists, you can write for
the AToday as a guest contributor. There are open calls for submissions
for several series right now. This includes submissions for the January issue
focused on wellness. The editorial staff is looking for your thoughts on how
scientists can stay well (both physically and mentally) and expressed as
written works, photography or other visual media. The deadline for submitting topic
ideas is Oct. 15.
Annual meeting planning
- It’s not
too early to be thinking about the ASBMB annual meeting to be
held April 6–9, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. Abstract submissions are due by Nov. 14.
In addition to traditional posters and presentations, the meeting will once
again feature spotlight
talks, which is a great way to practice your scicomm skills and get
your name out in front of a large audience. (And, if you need some guidance on
writing an abstract, check out
these tips from the Journal of Biological Chemistry’s technical
editor Martin Spiering.)
- There
are a number of travel awards available
for the ASBMB annual meeting with an application due date of Nov.
27. The application system will open soon. Note: In order to apply for travel
awards, applicants must also have submitted a first-author conference abstract
by the due date.
- Additionally,
nominations are open for the JBC’s Herbert Tabor Young Investigator
Award* until Oct. 31. A scientist at any career stage who
is the first author on an exceptional paper published in JBC can be nominated.
The awardees will be recognized for their accomplishments in ASBMB publications
and invited to present at the ASBMB annual meeting.
* This year also marks a major milestone for
Herbert Tabor, former JBC editor-in-chief and scientist extraordinaire, who will
be turning 100 years young! Help the ASBMB celebrate by submitting
your personal stories or other reflections on how his scientific
legacy has affected your career.
Careers blog recap
Last, but not least, here is a
recap of recent posts on the ASBMB Careers Blog. If there’s one thing I’ve
learned from writing this blog, it’s that the number of possible science career
paths is limitless. There are so many topics to cover and so little time! If
you have a specific career path you’d like me to research further, feel free to
comment below or reach out to the ASBMB on Twitter and tag your post
with #ASBMBCareers.
July 2018
August 2018
September 2018
Past blog recaps
Donna Kridelbaugh is a contributor to the ASBMB Careers Blog. She holds an advanced degree in microbiology and is a former lab manager.
Stay updated on new posts by following the ASBMB on social media or click “follow” on this blog (must be a member and signed in). Also, be sure to check out the ASBMB Job Board for even more job listings.