Graduate Student News – September 20, 2020

Graduate College Newsletter | News

Scientista - Women in Science and Engineering

Women in STEM seminar series

This fall, the University of Delaware Graduate Scientista Foundation chapter will be hosting a four-phase virtual seminar series: Identifying & Overcoming Leaks in the Pipeline. The national Scientista Foundation was created in 2011 by two sisters at Harvard University with the goal of empowering women in STEM fields at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. The UD Graduate chapter aims to extend this mission to promote the participation and retention of women seeking STEM careers in our community.

Students, mentees, mentors and professionals will be provided with both a renewed perspective on the challenges faced by women at each stage and tools verified by evidence-based research to begin or maintain support of women in STEM. Strong emphasis is placed on building a network of mentors for women in STEM in the tri-state area and each session includes an examination of the following:

1. How would you advise people identifying as male at your level or above you to support female colleagues and mentees?
2. Commenting on the intersectionality of identifying as a woman and being associated with another minority group.

As such, all students (high school through graduate levels), faculty, staff and healthcare/industry professionals are encouraged to participate for the entirety of the seminar series. We are searching for participants at all levels (students to leading professionals) to serve as moderators, presenters and panelists. Please see our participant recruitment brochure for a detailed description.

If you would like to participate as a moderator, presenter, or panelist, please complete the following: shorturl.at/nqxJZ

If you are interested in pre-registration, please complete the following: shorturl.at/coSZ1

Chad Forbes, expert researcher in the promotion of women in STEM and UD Graduate Scientista Foundation chapter advisor, will be serving as the presenter during the Phase I meeting and will provide an evidence-based overview of the issues faced by women in STEM.

National Postdoc Appreciation Week

National Postdoc Appreciation Week

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is pleased to announce the 11th annual celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), Sept. 21-25.

With challenges, comes innovation. We are excited to announce a multi-institutional collaboration resulting in the first virtual NPAW celebration!
Events include a keynote facilitated by the NPA with speakers, John Beacom and Christine Pfund, discussing best practices for mentorship, virtual networking and workshops hosted by the National Research Mentoring Network and The Postdoc Academy. (Read more)

 

Virtual SPA DAY

SPA DAY for black graduate women

Given the heightened concerns about our students’ mental health and overall wellness during this unprecedented time, we are excited to announce that The Niela Project is hosting a half-day virtual SPA DAY for black graduate women in STEM, from 1-5 p.m. on Sept. 26. SPA DAY is an acronym for self-care, perseverance, awareness and deliberately affirming yourself.

SPA DAY brings together researchers and therapists to discuss and provide coping strategies for three phenomena:

  • strong black woman: expectations and pressure of managing multiple roles
  • stereotype threat: being at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s social group
  • impostor syndrome: feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success

Register here.

 

Fall Symposium on Computational Social Science for an Inclusive Society

Fall Symposium on Computational Social Science for an Inclusive Society

The University of Delaware is hosting a Fall Symposium on Computational Social Science for an Inclusive Society from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 2.

Providing a series of workshops, talks and panels on computational- and data-intensive social science resources and research at the University of Delaware, the virtual symposium is supported by UD’s Data Science Institute (DSI) and DiCoS Core, which is both a core facility and a center that tries to engage the computational science community and strengthen its linkages with the DSI. The lunch hour is reserved for virtual poster presentations and networking opportunities.

Poster proposals are encouraged from participants interested in either presenting their current work or advertising future opportunities for collaboration. The lunchtime “virtual poster” session includes the opportunity to share three to five slides about a project and give a three-to-five-minute presentation in thematically oriented Zoom Rooms.

Please follow this link to register for the event and/or to propose a poster for one of the two tracks above. A schedule and dedicated website are coming soon, and registered participants will receive detailed instructions in the final week of September for attending the virtual symposium via Zoom.

 

CSHL postdoctoral fellow opportunities

Postdoctoral fellow opportunities are available at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for students and alumni. Please visit CSHL post doc careers page to create an account and apply. Questions? Please contact Jessica Toner at toner@cshl.edu.

 

Akilah Alleyne

Doctoral student Alleyne encourages all UD learners to ‘get involved’

Article by Adam S. Kamras, Photo by Teaunah Molden

When Akilah Alleyne enrolled at the University of Delaware in 2011, she was confident it would be a great place for her to pursue her undergraduate education but was not planning on spending more than four years in Newark, let alone a decade. Though the Baltimore native felt great about her decision to cross the state line, which was strengthened by the overall appeal of the campus and an impactful visit to UD’s Center for Black Culture during her tour, she envisioned herself spending her mid-20s as a young professional enjoying the vibrant life of a large city.

Thanks to numerous on- and off-campus supporters, as well as the initiative taken by Alleyne to immerse herself in the community, her time and degrees at UD were just beginning when she earned her bachelor of arts in human services in 2015.

“I stayed at UD because of the people I met here,” said Alleyne. “I have had some really great mentors who have been key to my success.” (more…)

 

UD Updates

Upcoming Events

September 22, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – A Journey from Academics to the In Vitro Diagnostics Industry
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

September 22, 2020 | 2-3:30 p.m. – Keys to Intercultural Communication
Have you ever felt like someone just doesn’t get you? Have you found it difficult to communicate with others in your office? Are you looking for ways to make connections with people that are different from you? Beyond personal differences, culture plays an important role in how we interact with others and how we perceive others’ actions toward us. These differences can often lead to confusion or arguments. Join us as we break down the barriers to intercultural communication. Email foley@udel.edu to reserve your seat.

September 23, 2020 | 11:30 a.m-1 p.m. – Company Spotlight: Croda
Located at Atlas Point in Wilmington, Croda creates, makes and sells specialty chemicals that deliver real benefits to a range of diverse products including health and beauty, engine lubricants, plastics and many more. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from Croda’s executives about the company, its innovation strategies, and career opportunities.

September 23, 2020 | 2-2:30 p.m. – Getting Started with ArcGIS Online
A geographic information system (GIS) is a powerful tool for mapping and analyzing spatial data. Discover how GIS can support your research and how the ArcGIS Online platform—a robust, user-friendly, web-based mapping tool—can help explain and analyze your data. During this virtual workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to practice using the ArcGIS Online platform with the assistance of instructors. Together, you’ll explore how to add data to an online map, learn how cartographic principles apply to clear and fair data representation, and delve into the key concept of data layers.

September 24, 2020 | 10-11:30 a.m. – Wrestling with Privilege
Why can’t you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps? Does a level playing field exist? Why can’t we all just get along? That was then, this is now. This workshop explores the historical roots of privilege and oppression and gives you a chance to learn a bit more about what your history books left out! Email foley@udel.edu to reserve your seat.

September 24, 2020 | 2:30-5:30 p.m. – Merck Virtual Career Fair
Explore how a career with Merck & Co. at our manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina will allow you to invent, impact and inspire by participating in the Merck Durham Virtual Career Fair. We will share a holistic view of Merck, our culture, mission and vision of making a difference in the lives of patients we serve globally, and you will also be able to speak with members of our key functional areas (engineering, maintenance, operations and quality) to hear about the exciting opportunities that we have available. Registration is required.

September 24, 2020 | 4-5 p.m. – Catalyzing my Career: The Adesis Way
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

September 29, 2020 | 10-11:30 a.m. – Understanding Male Privilege
He’s assertive. She’s bossy. He’s motivated. She’s overbearing. There’s no question that gender stereotypes influence each of us on a daily basis. This workshop helps participants begin to unpack the realities of male privilege and how those ideologies negatively impact everyone. It’s not about blame; it’s about awareness and change! (Wrestling with the P-Word is a prerequisite for attendance). Email foley@udel.edu to reserve your seat.

September 29, 2020 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. – Speaks-Warnock Symposium on Race and Racism at the University
This symposium initiates the campuswide discussion of the legacies of slavery, segregation and racism at UD and in Delaware from 1743 to the present, as well as the unacknowledged displacement of indigenous peoples from their lands. As a land-grant college that was segregated until mandated by court order to desegregate in 1950, the University of Delaware perpetuated the legacies of slavery, segregation and white privilege via the educational and taxation systems of the state and nation. Furthermore, many of us have not grappled with the question of the dispossession of Native Americans from their land.

September 29, 2020 | 2-3:15 p.m. – Can I Use That?: Fair Use in Your Research or Dissertation
If you want to support your research or dissertation by incorporating materials from other people, you should always ask yourself: Can I use that? During this virtual workshop, explore how to complete a fair use analysis for your research or dissertation. You’ll also learn about the lifecycle of copyrightable content as well as how material passes into public domain. Email foley@udel.edu to reserve your seat.

September 30, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – From Chemist to Communicator: My Unconventional Career Journey
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

September 30, 2020 | 2-3:30 p.m. – Getting Started with ArcGIS StoryMaps
Your research tells a story. By using geographic information systems (GIS) to help map and analyze your spatial data, you provide a framework for your research story. Learn how to use ArcGIS StoryMaps, a web-mapping application, to help fill in the details. During this virtual workshop, discover how to present data and selected multimedia in a user-friendly geographical context. You will learn how to create inspiring stories by combining interactive maps, text, images and other multimedia content.

October 1, 2020 | 10-11:30 a.m. – Understanding White Privilege
I worked hard for everything I have today! We elected a Black president, right? It’s time for us to demystify and destigmatize the term “white privilege.” This workshop helps participants understand what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can all shift our focus from blame and guilt to social change and responsibility. (Wrestling with the P-Word is a prerequisite for attendance). Email foley@udel.edu to reserve your seat.

October 1, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – Building Skills to Promote Resilience in Graduate School and Beyond (Part 1)
Being a graduate student comes with many challenges, such as juggling academic and personal demands, fear of failure and mentorship relationships. Conducted over two one-hour sessions, this interactive workshop briefly covers the concept of resilience and why it is important for helping students to maintain health and well-being in their daily lives as they pursue their graduate studies. A large portion of the time is devoted to addressing skills and strategies that promote mindfulness, compassion, empathy and connection in order to build resilience. Hands-on opportunities to reflect on and practice these skills are provided to enable application in students’ daily routines.

October 6, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – Bridging to Industry; the Who, What, When and Where
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

October 8, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – Climbing My Career Ladder
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

October 13, 2020 | 2-4 p.m. – Exploring our Self-Talk: Cognitive Distortions and Imposter Fears
We tell ourselves stories about what is happening to us and around us. In this webinar we will explore how our self-talk is generated and look at ways our self-talk can either help us be more resilient or how it can hurt us and hold us back. We will look at two important elements of our self-talk, cognitive distortions and imposter fears, and explore ways to recognize internal messages and input from others that distort our views of our abilities and accomplishments.

October 14, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – My Journey to Operations/Project Management at J&J
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

October 20, 2020 | noon-1 p.m. – From Bench to Startup: A Story of a Life Science Entrepreneur
The University of Delaware is one of the academic partners in the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program founded by NC State University. NC State has kindly opened all of its virtual Industry Job Search Strategies workshops to trainees from partner institutions.

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