www.awislavc.org LA/Ventura AWIS Page 1

Upcoming Events

Expanding Your Horizons in Los Angeles

Mount St. Mary's College

Doheny Campus, Los Angeles

April 6, 2013

Communicating Science to the World:

The Nature and Practices of Science

AWIS LA/VC + Aquarium of the Pacific Workshop

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach

April 7, 2013, 2 pm

WIST Conference

Sponsored by the AWIS San Diego Chapter

UCSD Faculty Club, San Diego

May 18, 2013

Inside this issue…

1 Upcoming Events

2 Congrats! Column

3 President’s Letter

4 AWIS Members Connect

5 Science News and Upcoming

Events

6 Behavior Based Interviewing

7 Journal of Postdoctoral Research

8 From Student to Teacher

9 Recent Events

Be sure to check our webpage, www.awislavc.org, regularly for updates to our events

calendar, both professional and social. Dates, places, and times will be posted for all of our

upcoming events as details become available.

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Welcome to our new members! (joined since 10/2012)

Courtney White

Letisha Wyatt

Nancy Schroeder

Martha Wheelock

Monica McCallum

Elizabeth Berrigan

Ciarra Jones

Yvonne Klaue

Valerie Neill

Shewit Tekeste

Jessica Christenson

Nichole Yamashiro

Amber’s son under the rainbow

Congrats!

April Shiflett, Ph.D.

New position: Scientist II at Amgen

Xinzhao Grace Jiang, Ph.D.

New position: Senior Manager, International

Regulatory Affairs at Amgen

Sophia Tsai, Ph.D.

New position: Officer, Research Scholarships,

UCSD

Yael Wexler-Cohen, Ph.D.

New position: Associate Scientist II, Amgen

Amber Kaplan

Published paper “Failure To Induce IFN-β

Production during Staphylococcus aureus

Infection Contributes to Pathogenicity” in the

Journal of Immunology.

Congratulations also to Amber on the birth of

her son (left) in 2012.

Nicole Rubin, Ph.D.

Defended her doctoral thesis at USC.

Paper accepted for publication in the inaugural

issue of the Journal for Cardiovascular Disease

and Diagnosis.

The AWIS Congrats Column is now taking submissions…Want to

recognize yourself or another LA/VC AWIS Member?

Just click below to send an email to: newsletter@awislavc.org

www.awislavc.org LA/Ventura AWIS Page 3

The President’s Letter

Dear Chapter Members,

This year as president seems to be passing in the blink of an eye! We

are now in the second half of our year. Many of the events in the first

half of the year focused on career growth and development; our chapter

sponsored a resume workshop, and a behavioral interviewing seminar

which we co-sponsored with the USC postdoctoral association.

Remember that networking continues to be key in career growth, so be

sure to take advantage of those opportunities! The second half of our

year will cover self-defense, teaching science to non-scientists, and

more of our popular networking events.

As our chapter grows, our greatest strengths can also become our greatest challenges. Our chapter

covers an enormous geographic area, and has many members from the undergraduate level to advanced

career levels including professors and industry leaders. This gives us strength by serving a diverse

group, but can pose problems for providing a broad array of programs that meet our members’ needs

and interests. We also find it challenging to hold our events in locations that provide easy access for

our members.

Additional challenges arise in maintaining our membership, extending our outreach programs, and

developing new leadership. I hope that all of our members will consider becoming more involved with

the chapter, whether it is attending at least one event each semester, calling in to a single planning

committee meeting to hear about how our chapter is run, or contributing an article to the newsletter to

try out new writing skills. Our chapter cannot continue to grow without your participation and

guidance.

Sincerely,

April Shiflett

AWIS LAVC Chapter President

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AWIS Members Connect

Networking leads to success! So, come on out and practice your networking skills at one of our social events.

Not only will you get a chance to meet other outstanding AWIS women, but you will also have a little fun while

practicing those key networking skills. All in all, a win-win situation!

Volunteer Needed

Have you been looking for a way to get involved? If you would like to interact with energetic, know-how

women who want to make a difference, this is the opportunity for you! You will expand your network and help

other women scientists in their career development. Service in areas related to your profession is also an

excellent way to promote yourself in your resumes and C.V.

Position – Monthly Coffee Club Coordinator at UCLA

The duties would involve acting as a contact person for interested attendees, reporting attendance to the chapter,

and advertising the get together in the area. The coffee clubs are relaxed opportunities for our members in a

particular geographic area to network and discuss any topic of interest.

Interested volunteer should contact president@awislavc.org.

AWIS Coffee Clubs

Coffee Clubs are now being hosted at Cedar Sinai and in East Los Angeles the

second Tuesday of each month! Check our website for more details and look for

fliers. If you would like to host one, let us know! It’s a great afternoon pick-me up

of caffeine and camaraderie.

We conduct regular telephone conferences to plan upcoming events, both professional and networking. If

you would like to be part of this planning committee, join us on our next call on Tuesday, April 16th at 8

pm (teleconferences are held every third Tuesday of the month). For more information, please email

webadmin@awislavc.org.

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Science News and Upcoming Events

Communicating Science to

the World:

The Nature and Practices of

Science

AWIS LA/VC + Aquarium of the

Pacific Workshop

Sunday, April 7th 2013 – 2 pm

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA

90802

Effective science communication is sometimes

challenging because of differences in

understanding (or differences in opinion) of what

science is and how it works. Recognizing and

understanding the spectrum of ideas on the nature

and practices of science (how we do science/ how

science works as an enterprise) can help science

communicators like us interpret their own work

to the lay public.

.

Amgen acquired deCODE Genetics, a Reykjavik based

Icelandic company;

http://www.amgen.com/media/media_pr_detail.jsp?releaseI

D=1765710

Beckman Coulter acquired IRIS International, Inc., a biotech

company specializing in automated and semi-automated

urinalysis products;

https://www.beckmancoulter.com/wsrportal/wsr/company/ne

wsletters/diagnostics-today-online/issue-4-2012/beckman-

iris/index.htm

Jones Lang Lasalle, a real-estate-focused financial and

professional services firm, recently ranked various life

science clusters using quantitative data based on their

existing infrastructure and propensity to best support the

industry. Boston ranks first, whereas Los Angeles/Orange

County ranks 8th

;

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jones-lang-

lasalle-reveals-16-us-regions-vying-as-established-or-

emerging-markets-for-life-sciences-industry-

134584603.html

Rita Levi Montalcini, a joint winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize

for physiology and medicine has died at age 103. She

discovered the nerve growth factor (NGF) while at

Washington University in St. Louis. Interesting tidbit-during

her studies at the University of Turin, Italy, in the mid

1930s, she met two students who became her close friends

and also future Nobel prize winners- Salvadore Luria (of LB

fame)–and Renato Dulbecco (think DMEM).

Always wanted to get a Nobel Prize? Here is your chance!

The family of James Crick, the famed co-discoverer of the

DNA double helix structure, is auctioning Crick’s 23 carat

medal. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the medal and

the other items will be donated to the Francis Crick Institute,

which is scheduled to open in London in 2015;

http://www.genomeweb.com//node/1196316?hq_e=el&hq_

m=1511900&hq_l=1&hq_v=c610f8e49f

WIST Conference

May 18, 2013

UCSD Faculty Club

Sponsored by the AWIS San Diego Chapter.

Details about the WIST Conference in San Diego

are posted at http://sdawis.org/wist2013/. We will

be having a coordinated AWIS LA-VC Weekend

Get-Away to go along with this event.

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By Lorena Griparic

recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management estimates that 55% of organizations in

the United States are currently utilizing behavior-based interview techniques in their hiring process.

What is a behavior-based interview? To find out, on October 23rd 2012, a large group of AWIS

women from local biotech companies, graduate students and postdocs had at the USC Health Sciences Campus

to attend a seminar held by Sue Robins of Ascend Training Solutions. Sue is a professional with background in

science, biotech sales and marketing, science education, technical writing consulting, and presently,

professional development - definitely a person who knows how interviews are conducted, and how to best land

an offer in this tough job market.

The event was co-organized by AWIS LA VC and by the USC Postdoctoral Association. The speaker was

introduced by April Shiflett and Rachel Britt.

The seminar was intended to relate to us what is

meant by Human Resource professionals when they

refer to “Behavior Based Interviews”. In traditional

interviews, the candidate typically meets with the

hiring manager and HR person, has lunch with the

group, all accompanied with traditional questions -

what is your greatest accomplishment, what are your

weaknesses, where do you want to be in 5 years.

The reality is that many interviewers don’t ask these

types of questions any more. They are asking

behavior based questions. The goal is to elicit

specific examples of the candidate having

demonstrated desired behavior. Sue addressed how

behavior based interviews are conducted, why they

are done and their benefits to the hiring organization. Concrete suggestions and action steps were provided to

help the audience prepare for the next behavior based interview; when asked, the candidate should describe the

situation, detail action steps, and outline results. Additionally, one should research ahead of time the corporate

culture in the company of interest, and have a couple of good stories to tell about particular personality traits the

company is looking for.

The Q&A session was lively, full with engaged questions and discussion. Partnering with the USC PDA was a

success, serving as a model of partnering with other groups, which we will implement for future events.

A

Behavior Based Interviewing

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By Lorena Griparic

Starting a scientific journal is no easy task. That is even

more true when initiating the journal dedicated solely to

the research done by postdocs. Just ask Dr Partha

Ramasastry, Managing Editor for the Journal of

Postdoctoral Research, a new journal that launched in

January 2013. I talked to Dr Ramasastry about this novel

exciting enterprise.

Can you describe in few words the scope of the

journal?

Postdoc Journal, as the name suggests, is a representative

publication to highlight the contribution of creative,

hardworking postdocs to ongoing research in ANY field.

This is a face of the efforts put-in by 120 000 global

postdocs, 75% working in the US spread across 3 000

universities and research institutions in the US alone.

Where did the idea about the journal come from?

The idea came about in 2005-2006 when I was working

in UCLA. A few postdocs thought it might be a good idea

to have a publication highlighting postdoc research. And

things rolled from there to where this initiative is right

now.

How did you get form the idea to the first issue?

I did get to communicate with the Presidents of various

postdoctoral associations across US and the response was

quite encouraging. We then started putting together an

editorial board and started seeking just Review papers to

set a base. We will continue to seek Reviews through the

entire first year and then invite original research papers.

What is the format of the manuscripts that can be

submitted to your journal?

Manuscripts can be submitted, preferably as a single file,

either in word or a pdf file. Author instructions cab ne

found at http://www.postdocjournal.com/instruction-

author.aspx

This is the journal for research conducted by

postdocs. Are the reviewers also only postdocs?

We prefer that at least one of the authors on the paper is a

postdoc.

Some of the

reviewers, as of now, are suggested by the authors though

many of our editors review the submissions. As we go

along, we will broaden the editorial base so submissions

will be reviewed by our own editors.

What is the role of the advisory board in day to day

operation?

Advisory board has been very appreciative of this

initiative. They are definitely an inspiration to the

younger research community.

How do you intend to raise the impact of the journal

and its visibility?

The first 10-12 issues focus on the Review papers to set a

base. We will then invite both review and original

research papers. We are also currently seeking tie-ups

with an established journal so the visibility improves.

I am sure that you have a vision of how would you like

the journal to look in few years. In other words, how

and when will you know that the journal

"succeeded"?

Initially we plan to publish 12 issues in a year with at

least 10 papers in one issue. As we all know, it’s a

challenge seeking submissions for any new journal and

postdoc journal is no exception. The long-term goal is to

publish at least a paper a day. This would be a mark of

success.

Do you have any other details that you would like our

members to know?

Working on a shoe-string budget, publicity at this point is

the biggest challenge. We appreciate any and all input

from postdocs to let their fellow postdocs take the

initiative to publish in their own journal. Many are

concerned that this journal is unknown. It’s very

understandable. No journal comes with a huge impact

factor. An initiative has been undertaken and it is now in

the hands of all postdocs to make it succeed.

We would like to see women postdocs as the Editors-in-

Chief for the next term.

The New Journal in Town: Journal of

Postdoctoral Research

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From Student to TeacherAn Interview with Dr. Megan Prosser

By Jessica Christenson

As a graduate student, it is often hard to imagine where life will

take you after getting your PhD. Asking yourself the question,

“When this is over, what am I going to do with myself” is a

frightening thing. As a fifth-year graduate student myself, it’s

getting harder and harder to believe that this will, indeed, ever

be over. Fortunately for me, one of my closest friends not only

graduated with her PhD but landed her dream job as a biology

professor at Azusa Pacific University. Megan, or better known

to her students as Dr. Prosser, has been both a source of

information and inspiration for me personally, and she has

kindly agreed to talk with me, for the purposes of this AWIS

article, not only about the mechanics of getting a teaching job

(especially when your graduate program offers few teaching

opportunities), but also about her experience transitioning from

a student to a teacher.

If in college students learn to learn, then in graduate school

students learn to teach themselves (a piece of wisdom passed

down to me by my mentor Dr. Susan Kane). This provides

graduate students with a firm foundation from which to build

upon, but the goal of graduate school is not necessarily to

produce teachers. Experience is required for that, and unless you

are doing research at an institution with undergraduates and

reams of teaching assistant positions, it can be a little difficult to

gain standard teaching experience. Dr. Prosser’s first and

foremost piece of advice for people in this situation is to take

advantage of what’s available and be proactive, “A lot of times,

the opportunities are out there, you just have to look for them.”

For instance, if your institution has a graduate program, get

involved with teaching the first-year students. Let it be known

‘around town’ that you’re interested in getting teaching

experience (This is where networking connections come in real

handy. Dr. Prosser was lucky enough to secure a year-long

visiting professor position at Point Loma Nazerene University in

San Diego through the recommendation of a friend and

colleague).

A little ‘outside the box’ thinking doesn’t hurt either. Guest

lecturing positions are a great way to gain experience. Even

though you’re often speaking about your research, use your

introduction as an opportunity to teach students about your topic

of interest. Tailoring your presentation to an intellectual level

appropriate for the audience you’re addressing is much like

standard teaching. Also, whenever possible ask for feedback in

these situations, you will gain much more from the experience if

you do. Furthermore, training and mentoring students within the

lab, depending on the effort that’s expended, can also be

considered teaching experience.

Finally, the cherry of top…sell yourself and your

experience. The difficulty is often “how to present what you’ve

done.” Dr. Prosser suggests you divide the teaching experience

on your resume into sections: 1) Teaching and Guest Lecturing,

2) Training and Mentoring. This is a way to highlight and list

everything you’ve done in the best possible light. You should

also be realistic with your choice of position; only apply to

positions that fit both your interest and experience. It is also

wise to keep your options open and apply to a variety of

positions. One may not be ideal at first, but it just might be a

stepping stone to your perfect job. If all goes well, as it did for

Dr. Prosser, you’ll eventually find yourself successfully

teaching loads of adoring students and enjoying yourself while

you’re at it.

Even though Megan is a new professor, it seems that her

previous experience has well prepared her for teaching

undergraduates topics such as biology and genetics. Of course

she has encountered some challenges associated with

transitioning from student to teacher, but these have more to do

with logistics and advising, then with her teaching ability.

Learning to balance the varied and many responsibilities of a

professor is something that’s going to be learned with time, and

learning to guide students in their studies as well as in their lives

has become both a joy and challenge for her. None of these

challenges, however, have proven overwhelming, and perhaps

this is because Megan loves her job and her students. To

emphasize this, I’d like to

close by sharing with you an

anecdote that perfectly

portrays Dr. Prosser’s success

as a teacher, through the

actions of one of her students.

On Valentine’s Day, Megan

received this note, from an

anonymous student, in her

office mailbox.

Congratulations Megan on your success, thank you for your

advice, and good luck to all you future professors!

www.awislavc.org LA/Ventura AWIS Page 9

By Lorena Griparic

On September 8th, 2012 approximately 20 Chapter Leaders met at the AWIS SoCal Chapter Leader Social,

organized at the home of one of the LAVC Chapter Officers. The event was attended by members of the AWIS

San Diego, Los Angeles-Ventura County and the Inland Empire Chapters. Most of the leaders attending, around

10, were from the San Diego Chapter, the largest

and longest standing attending Chapter. Three

attendees were from the newly formed Inland

Empire Chapter, whereas the remaining participants

were from LAVC, the host Chapter. The meeting

was a full success. The officers were able to get to

know each other and promote some collaborative

activities. As a result, this upcoming April, the

LAVC and Inland Empire Chapter will co-organize

an event dedicated to fostering opportunities for

scientists in industry. The following month, the San

Diego Chapter will be organizing the Women in

Science and Technology (WIST) Conference, which

will mark the 30th anniversary of the AWIS San

Diego Chapter.

This social event was an excellent opportunity to

network and exchange ideas. It was proposed that to

make this an annual event. Tracy Blois and April

Shiflett provided outstanding and nicely presented

food, wine (yes, there was also wine tasting), and

swags bags.

RRReeeccceeennnttt EEEvvveeennntttsss

www.awislavc.org LA/Ventura AWIS Page 10

By Lorena Griparic

On Dec 9, 2012, AWIS LAVC and Inland

Empire Chapter members gathered at the

home of our President April to celebrate

the end of the year 2012. Approximately

20 members and significant others

attended. This social was a very

successful event, with an animated white

elephant gift exchange, and plenty of

good food and drinks. We thank April for

hosting!

Editors: Lorena Griparic and Jessica Christenson

Benefit for Members: Interested in expanding your professional network? Need a job?

LA/VC AWIS Chapter members can begin taking immediate advantage of the networking opportunities provided

by this organization by getting “LinkedIn”. This is also a forum used for job postings. Note that this opportunity is

for members only. It is easy! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Join the LA/Ventura County of AWIS

2. Go to http://www.linkedin.com/

3. Sign in to your account or if you are new to Linked In, create your account

4. Search for the group “LAVC AWIS”

5. Select “Join this group” ♦