Association of Women in Science - Southern Louisiana Update
Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, PhD, AWIS-SL President
Liz Simon, PhD, AWIS-SL Secretary
The AWIS-SL recently held a Virtual Career Roundtable Event. Thirty-nine faculty, fellows, and graduate students attended the virtual Zoom event. Attendees selected three topics to be discussed in breakout rooms in advance of the event and spent 15 minutes in each breakout room. There was equal enthusiasm for all the breakout sessions, and active participation in the specific breakout sessions.
The six breakout rooms covered the following topics:
- Getting a Postdoctoral Position, led by Dr. Danielle Levitt-Budnar;
- Negotiating in Academia - led by Dr. Patricia E. Molina;
- Professionalism - led by Dr. Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard;
- Family-Career Balance, led by Dr. Tiffany Wills;
- Tenure and Promotion, led by Dr. Carmen Canavier, and
- Non-Academic Careers in Science, led by Dr. Chelsea Kasten.
The non-academic session discussed the resources available and how to look for nonacademic positions. Participant trainees learned how to look for such positions and how they could decide what track to follow. Tenure, promotion and negotiating in academia sessions discussed how to begin negotiations both early in career or later in an academic career; what the major barriers were in negotiating, especially for female candidates; whether research collaborations were favorably received for tenure, and the benefits of tenure vs. non-tenure positions in academia. Family-career balance was particularly relevant in this pandemic era especially for females with school-age children. Discussions were held on how to prioritize one's career, especially balancing academic deadlines with family responsibilities. Trainees discussed why a postdoctoral position is necessary, what to consider for selection of a position and career trajectories for which postdoctoral position may not be necessary. The professionalism session discussed strategies for handling difficult situations while maintaining integrity.
In response to the positive feedback received, the AWIS-SL will hold a similar event in October, 2021.