Thursday, November 7, 2024

Nat'l Career Development Month - Part 1

Eds note: November is National Career Development Month, an annual observance dedicated to highlighting the importance of career development and planning. For the next several weeks, we will post relevant articles related to career development in Astronomy, Planetary Science, Physics, and science in general.


Crosspost: How researchers and their managers can build an actionable career-development plan

By Tomasz GÅ‚owacki

Having navigated both [industry and academia], I’ve realized that one area in which industry particularly excels is in providing employees with structured and specific career advice, tailored to their specific interests and goals. This is often done through a career-development plan, something that I think could also be effective for academics.

Making a plan is generally a collaborative effort, requiring buy-in from your manager or mentor. But this doesn’t mean that they have to initiate the process. Try to express interest in discussing your career path and invite them to share their suggestions. Involve them by showing how this exercise could enhance your effectiveness and engagement at work.

Be open about your strengths and weaknesses, and the direction in which you want your career to develop, and ask for their perspective on your work habits and performance. If, for example, you’d like to move towards more of a leadership role, say that you are a good organizer, manage your time well and help your team members to plan their activities. However, you might also need to learn more about giving feedback or improve your assertiveness skills.

Moreover, seek input from your team, collaborators, students and other faculty members (or 360-degree feedback, in professional-development jargon) to understand their perspectives.

Learn more about creating a career-development plan at



More information:

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Tips for Writing

Nature recently published some tips and advice for honing skills in the thing we do nearly every day: write. 

Image Credit: awarenessdays.com


Check out the links below to learn how to write more successful grant proposals, more compelling letters of recommendation, better manuscripts (and manuscript reviews), and inspiring personal statements. Got anything to add? Share it in the comments.



Friday, October 25, 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Meet Your CSWA!

Since 1979, over 100 people have been members of the CSWA and have worked to to recommend to the AAS Board of Trustees practical measures that can be taken to improve the status of women in astronomy and encourage their entry into this field. The CSWA's Resources page and External page have a plethora of information to help women advance in the field. 

Thank you to the past members of the CSWA and the work you have done for us. Current members are



Name:
Jeremy Bailin
Institution: University of Alabama
Specialty Research Area: Galaxy Formation, Globular Clusters
Something Interesting: Former radio DJ







Name: Alessandra Aloisi
Institution: NASA HQ & STScI

Specialty Research Area: resolved stellar populations, star-formation histories and chemistry of the multi-phase ISM in nearby star-forming galaxies

Something Interesting: I speak four languages, including my mother tongue, Italian.








Name:
Regina A. Jorgenson
Institution: Maria Mitchell Association, Director of Astronomy
Specialty Research Area: Galaxy Formation and Evolution

Something Interesting: I’m an ethical and compassionate vegan.













                                                       

Name: Stella Kafka

Institution: American Meteorological Society

Specialty Research Area: Variable stars, Cataclysmic Variables

Something Interesting: I have a 4-yo yorkie, called Ruru. I work for him






Name: Dr. Karly Pitman (she/her/hers)

Institution: Chair, AAS CSWA

Specialty Research Area: planetary & ISM dust; radiative transfer & laboratory astrophysics

Something Interesting: I design and sew clothing.








Name:
Rayna Rampalli
Institution: Dartmouth College

Specialty Research Area: Galactic Archaeology 

Something Interesting: I swim with the UV Rays master's team in White River Junction, VT  (which is part of the upper valley, or UV, region hence our team name). 








Name:
Sukanya Chakrabarti
Institution: UAH

Specialty Research Area: precision measurements to constrain dark matter

Something Interesting: I am starting to do karate again after about 7 years and am currently on my way to a karate camp 😀






Name: Eric Hooper
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Specialty Research Area: AGN and galaxy connection; radio surveys.
Something Interesting: I've been a downhill skier since my 6th birthday.












We also acknowledge James Keane and Hannah Jang-Condell. Thank you for your service on the CSWA!