Announcements from the Public Affairs Committee - January 30th 2012

The NIH lacks diversity

The NIH has recently assembled a task force to deal with what they view as a problem with a lack of diversity amongst NIH-funded trainees and scientists. The task force has been given the directive to focus on five key transition points in the pipeline: (i) entry into graduate degree programs; (ii) the transition from graduate degree to post-doctoral fellowship; (iii) the appointment from a post-doctoral position to the first independent scientific position; (iv) the award of the first independent research grant from NIH or equivalent in industry; and (v) award of tenure in an academic position or equivalent in an industrial setting. To read more about this project, please see below:

NIH Diversity Taskforce: http://acd.od.nih.gov/DBR.asp

The future of the biomedical workforce

The NIH has recently compiled the combined input for a request from both the extramural and intramural communities on what the NIH should consider with regard to the future of the biomedical workforce. It contains a comprehensive set of data and is a must read for post-docs. considering a research career that depends on NIH support. Please see below for the full report.

Future of Biomed. Workforce: http://acd.od.nih.gov/BWF_RFI.PDF

Youtube used to report scientific misconduct

In an interesting twist on how to report ethical violations of scientific research and/or reporting, an anonymous whistleblower uses the website portal, YouTube, to report alleged wrongdoings by high profile researchers. To read more about this stunning revelation of combing social media with scientific research, please see the below link.

YouTube and misconduct: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/01/whistleblower-uses-youtube-to-assert.html#more

Cell biology for post-docs.

Continuing with our new tradition of highlighting professional science societies that aide post-docs. in the all-so-critical transition from peon to professional, today we focus on The American Society for Cell Biology. This society provides career resources, meeting resources, as well as an actual committee made up to specifically help post-docs. This is all in addition to the many monetary and distinguished awards the society provides. To read more about being a post-doc. in this society, please see below.

Cell bio. for post-docs: http://ascb.org///index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=765&Itemid=353

Support your post-doc. peers!

Our final note to the post-doctoral community focuses on supporting one another. Our very own Vice President of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division Post-Doctoral Association is starring in local theatre. Show your support and kick back and enjoy the show, Bittersweet Love, playing February 10, 11 and 12 at The Experimental Station in Hyde Park. For more information, please see the link below.

Bittersweet Love: http://hydeparkcommunityplayers.org/