^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS No. 2000-21, April 19, 2000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS: 1) POSITION OPENINGS **University of Iowa **River Alliance of Wisconsin 2) STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES **AWG Winifred Goldring Award 3) NETWORKING 101:SOME BASICS FOR COLLEAGUE CONTACT by Karen Young Kreeger 4) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1) POSITION OPENINGS **UNIVERSITY OF IOWA-VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN PALEONTOLOGY The appointment will begin in August 2000, and extend for one year. Applicants should have a Ph.D. or be in the final stages of completing the degree. Desirable qualifications include: teaching experience, an ability to teach modern quantitative methods, and activity in research that complements our Paleontology program. Applicants should send a complete resume (including a bibliography and statement of teaching interests) and have at least three letters of recommendation sent to: Dr. Ann F. Budd, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1379 (Phone: 319/335-1818; Fax: 319/335-1821). Screening of candidates will begin on May 1, 2000, and a decision is expected by May 15, 2000. **RIVER ALLIANCE OF WISCONSIN Local Group Assistance Manager Statewide river conservation organization seeks an energetic, organized and self-motivated individual to provide technical and educational assistance to local river and watershed organizations. Bachelor's degree in water resources, organizational development, biological sciences or related field required. Background in grassroots/local organizing preferred. Salary 27-30K based on experience. Send cover letter and resume to: Hiring Committee, River Alliance of Wisconsin, 122 State St., Suite 202, Madison, WI 53711. Deadline May 3. 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2) STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES **AWG WINIFRED GOLDRING AWARD The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) is pleased to announce the 2000 Winifred Goldring Award competition. The award, which consists of a one-year membership in both the Paleontological Society and AWG, will be presented to an outstanding female student interested in pursuing a career in paleontology. The award is named for Winifred Goldring, a pioneering woman paleontologist, who became State Paleontologist of New York State in 1939 and the first female president of the Paleontological Society in 1949. Applicants may be either undergraduate or graduate students; the recipient must be enrolled as a student during the period of the award, and proof of student status is required. To apply, the student should submit a concise, one-page statement discussing her interests in paleontology, career plans, and any pertinent extracurricular activities (e.g., research projects, educational outreach, museum volunteerism) related to the realization of her goals. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member is also required. Evaluation is not based solely on scholastic ability, but on the applicant's motivation and professional potential. There is no application form. Deadline for receipt of applications is September 15, 2000. The award recipient will be announced at the Paleontological Society luncheon at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Reno. Applicant's statement, faculty recommendation, and proof of student status (photocopy of student id, official class schedule or transcripts) should be sent to: Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf, Dept. of Geology, University of Illinois, 1301 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801. For information, please e-mail jkluesse@uiuc.edu 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3) NETWORKING 101:SOME BASICS FOR COLLEAGUE CONTACT by Karen Young Kreeger Excerpted from The Scientist 14[5]:32, 3-6-2000 http://www.the-scientist.com/ The first purpose of networking that pops into many people's minds is to find a job. This might be the ultimate goal for most, but career counselors note there are many other purposes outside of a direct job search--career exploration, setting up collaborations, and nurturing relationships with people you respect and share interests with. First define your initial network--make a list of people with whom you feel comfortable talking about your career goals and interests and organize it into an accessible E-mail and hard-copy Rolodex of contact information. The kinds of contacts to start making are with people a couple of years ahead of you who are headed in the direction in which you want to go. Outside of personal contacts or friends of friends, you can add to your network through alumni associations, professional societies and their directories and Listservs, company Web sites, meetings, and lab visits. Whether you make first contact in person, by phone, fax, or e-mail, career counselors stress the need for a rehearsed, but not pat, spiel (3-4 minute and 5-10 minute versions) describing your situation, your strengths, and the purpose of your communication. Counselors also stress doing some preliminary research on the person's area of study and organization by talking with people, reading, and searching the Web to show that you're serious. Meetings are a great venue for meeting people, especially because attendees seem to be more relaxed away from the stresses of the office, classroom, and lab. However, it's inappropriate to use this setting to hand someone your resume. One impediment to networking is that many researchers are implicitly taught in graduate school that good research should stand on its own and doesn't need a pitchperson to hawk it. Yet, those scientists who are really successful have the ability to communicate a compelling message about why they're doing the work that they're doing. Still, networking doesn't come naturally to most and as with any skill, it's necessary to practice. Career counselors suggest beginning by talking with students and postdocs who are a couple of years ahead about the topics that interest you. One skill that develops with practice is the capacity to ask good questions. A universal theme that resounds with those interviewed is that networking is first about building relationships. If approached with respect and honesty, there doesn't have to be anything exploitative, apologetic, or schmoozy about it. 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ***Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of AWG E-Mail News. For submissions to AWG E-Mail News, contact Editor Joanne Kluessendorf at editor@awg.org. For advertising, contact Ad Editor Kata McCarville at ads@awg.org. PLEASE SEND AD COPY OR OTHER SUBMISSIONS AS RTF FILES OR AS PART OF AN E-MAIL MESSAGE ***For membership information or to join AWG, visit our website at or contact our business office at ***E-mail or address changes? Send to office@awg.org, please.