SWSM NEWSSociety of Women in Sciences and Mathematics

Spring 2017 • auburn.edu/cosam

THIS IS LEADERSHIP. THIS IS ACHIEVEMENT. THIS IS SWSM.

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Q&A WITH DR. KACIE JACKSON SAULTERS The journey from first-generation college student to assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University

How did you choose to come to Auburn?Originally I thought, given family finances,

that I would attend community college prior to transferring to a four-year university. My family had always been Auburn fans, so I decided to apply to Auburn, just to see what would happen. Not only did I get accepted, but I was also blessed to receive a full-tuition scholarship, allowing me to go straight to a four-year university.

Tell us about your time at Auburn.As a first-generation college student, and

one of only a few high school friends who went straight to a four-year university, I didn’t really know what to expect from Auburn when I arrived. At first, I was quite nervous and didn’t get involved right away. After I transitioned into the College of Sciences and Mathematics, I started out by doing supplemental instruction for a non-majors biology class. Then, I became a peer advisor for pre-health students and a COSAM Leader. Thanks to Anne Gorden, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, and former COSAM Dean Marie Wooten, I was inspired to start a chapter of the Association of Women in Science, or AWIS, at Auburn, an organization that is still active on campus today. I was also involved with the Auburn Christian Student Center and spent some summers abroad in Peru and Panama doing mission work.

What made you want to go into the medical field and ultimately teach?

I was not one of those kids who grew up knowing I would become a doctor, but I did know I wanted to work in some type of ‘helping profession’ where I got to work closely with people. I actually started out at Auburn with a major in psychology. My freshman year, I took Dr. Robert Lishak’s general biology course as a requirement for my degree. I was surprised at how challenging and fascinating the course was and at how much I enjoyed studying for it. I actually met with him during the year to discuss these feelings, and he encouraged me to change my major to biology, which I did. At that point,

I still had no idea what I would do within the field. I had some basic science research opportunities in the summer and shadowed at a local physical therapy center. Both were good learning experiences, but I didn’t find them exciting enough for a career. Eventually, I narrowed down my choices to public health and medical school, with the idea to use my newfound love for biology in a helping profession. I did both a public health internship and extensive physician shadowing and decided on the latter about six months prior to my December 2007 graduation. In terms of staying in academics, now as an assistant professor, my love for teaching definitely started at Auburn. Between leading supplemental instruction and the incredible experience I had as an undergraduate teaching assistant in biology labs, I knew I wanted teaching to be an aspect of whatever career I chose. Seeing the look on a student’s face when they understood a biology concept for the first time was so exciting and rewarding, and I still get that feeling when I help my medical students listen to a heart murmur or feel an enlarged spleen for the first time.

Tell us about your life after Auburn.After Auburn, I attended medical school

at the University of South Alabama. Halfway through medical school, I married a wonderful man named Stuart Saulters. He’s a civil engineer and graduated from Mississippi State, so fortunately, that rivalry isn’t too hard on our marriage. I was fortunate to match into my

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first choice of residency at the University of Virginia, where George Petrie was from and where they share Auburn’s colors. I completed my internal medicine residency there in June 2015, with a concentration and some research experience in global health. Stuart’s job brought us to the Washington, DC, area around that time, and I now have my first ‘real job’ as a hospitalist and assistant professor of internal medicine at Georgetown University.

How do you feel COSAM prepared you for your life and career after graduation?

COSAM prepared me in so many ways, and I could talk about it for a long time. Given that I really didn’t know what I wanted to do prior to college, I feel that my experiences in COSAM, and the people in COSAM, really helped shape me and guide me into the physician I am now. I learned to love biology from Dr. Lishak, which shaped my career choice. The guidance, encouragement, and mentorship from the COSAM advisors and, specifically, Beverley Childress, director of pre-health professions programs, always kept me going in the right direction. Drs. Gorden and Wooten gave me the confidence to start something new with AWIS. My favorite course at Auburn was parasitology with Christine Sundermann. Little did I know, her class would spark my interest in neglected tropical diseases and global health, and I now have a pending publication related to this. I could never say enough about Dr. Larry Wit. He was my professor, advisor, mentor, and someone who I will always look to as the ultimate example of excellence in teaching, leadership, and truly caring for each and every one of his students. In summary, COSAM instilled in me a love of science, gave me a strong educational foundation, and confidence that I could be successful in whatever path I chose.

CAREER SPOTLIGHT: AMY DANNA

Amy Danna is a lawyer at Huntsman International LLC, a global manufacturer and marketer of chemicals used in a variety of industries, such as plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, healthcare, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances, and packaging.

She received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Saint Vincent Seminary in Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in chemistry at Auburn University, and went on to study law, earning her juris doctor.

As in-house litigation counsel, she oversees lawsuits that affect the company. She manages United States-based litigation and also works with attorneys in South America, Europe, and Asia.

“After Auburn, I moved to Houston to work in the chemical manufacturing industry. In part because of the excellent education I received at Auburn, I secured a job in one of the more sophisticated industrial analytical labs

in the area and was privileged to work with some extraordinary chemists and engineers. However, over the next few years, I saw the industry contracting and consolidating around me, so I thought it would be wise to continue my education. My manager suggested getting an MBA, but I decided on law school instead. I continued working in the chemical industry and attended law classes at night and on the weekend. While it was a really busy schedule for a few years, combining science and law turned out to be a great decision.

Upon graduation, I jumped at the opportunity to join a litigation firm that handles dockets for chemical and manufacturing companies. It was a great experience. Now, as in-house counsel, all kinds of cases land on my desk. Some test my chemistry background, but others do not. Generally, we engage outside law firms to assist with case development, discovery, and litigation strategy. On any given day, I coordinate with outside counsel and outside data management vendors, as well as the company business managers, sales teams, production engineers, risk managers, and contract negotiators. Every case is unique so it never gets boring.

My chemistry education and industry experience give me an edge in understanding and working up cases involving complex chemical processes. There is often a steep learning curve for lawyers at the beginning of such a case while they try to understand the chemical reactions, manufacturing process, and industry shorthand particular to the matter. For instance, a lawsuit might involve the purity of chemicals sold, so in addition to contract law, it is important for the lawyer to understand product specifications, analytical test methods, and production capabilities to effectively argue their position. My background in science is so beneficial in helping me manage all aspects of my job.”

Since its inception in 2006, the Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics has been committed to fulfilling its mission of increasing awareness of the opportunities available in sciences and mathematics fields for women at all stages of their careers, supporting experiences to enhance the learning environment, and encouraging young women to pursue career paths in sciences and mathematics. The society has met these goals by providing financial support for programs at each stage of the pipeline: Science and Engineering Fair, Summer Science Institute, Women’s Leadership Symposium, Scholarships for Undergraduate Students, Faculty Service Award, and SWSM Holiday Reception. SWSM and its loyal supporters have made quite an impact, but we realize there is so much more we can do. In celebration of 125 years of Auburn Women, the society will be expanding to provide more opportunities for women in science,

technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM fields, and meet the needs of our alumnae, students, faculty, and community, while maintaining and strengthening our involvement with the aforementioned programs. Proposed additions are: Lecture Series, Mentoring Program, Shadowing Opportunities, Faculty Lunch and Learns, and Career Expo.We would love your input on ways to enhance our program and provide more opportunities to our alumnae, students, and faculty. You can find a link to a survey at auburn.edu/cosam/swsm where you can provide your opinions and ideas on current programs and proposed future opportunities. By supporting these programs, SWSM is able to provide recognition for excellence and encouragement for the next generation of female scientists and mathematicians through peer mentoring, professional development, and leadership experiences.

SWSM WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU

DID YOU KNOW? COSAM female faculty members go above and beyond to create new research opportunities, mentor other women, and work together to solve any day-to-day issues they may face.

Nanette Chadwick, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, serves as a mentor for the Smiths Station High School grant proposal and funded teaching project on clownfish aquaculture and symbiotic systems for high school biology students, in collaboration with biology teacher, Jamie Sikes, via National Education Association Foundation Grants for Educators. This grant includes funding a female biology teacher in high school to serve as a role model for girls in science.

THIS IS RESEARCH.STUDY SHOWS LOCAL URBAN AREAS CAN BE AS MUCH AS 18 DEGREES WARMER THAN SURROUNDING RURAL LOCATIONSChandana Mitra, assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences

Scientists have long understood the effect large urban areas like New York City or Atlanta have on temperature – these mega cities are warmer than nearby rural locations due to increased energy usage, the enormous presence of heat-absorbing impervious surfaces like concrete, steel, and asphalt, and dwindling green spaces. Scientists refer to these heat-producing urban centers as “urban heat islands.” What is less understood is whether smaller urban areas create the same urban heat island effect.

In an effort to shed light on the heat-causing potential of small to mid-sized cities, Chandana Mitra, assistant professor in COSAM’s Department of Geosciences, completed a study on whether the Auburn-Opelika and Birmingham areas create enough excess heat to be considered urban heat islands.

“In 2008 we crossed the line between urban and rural, and we now have more people living in urban areas than rural areas,” said Mitra. “Urbanization is happening rapidly; it’s a global phenomenon. The United Nations forecasts that over 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050, which is why it is imperative we gather information on how urban heat islands affect local climate change and how we can lessen human discomfort.”

Mitra, along with geography master’s student Andy Hug ’14, GIS Specialist for the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, used 40 iButtons, which are highly accurate, small digital thermometers that store data, to measure temperature differences in rural and urban

locations throughout Birmingham, Opelika, and Auburn. They placed 20 iButtons in downtown Birmingham and surrounding rural areas, and 20 iButtons in the Auburn-Opelika area including Tiger Town, The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Samford Park, and various rural locations.

Temperatures were gauged during a span of six months, and data was then analyzed. They discovered that in the Auburn-Opelika area, there is an average 4.39 degree Fahrenheit heat intensity difference between urban and rural areas during the day. Birmingham had an average 3.84 degree Fahrenheit daytime heat intensity difference.

“The reason Birmingham’s heat intensity difference was smaller is due to the height/width ratio of the buildings in the Auburn-Opelika area versus Birmingham,” explained Mitra. “Downtown Birmingham buildings are taller and the gap between buildings is less, which means there is more shade. In the Auburn-Opelika area, there are not many tall buildings and there is a larger space between buildings, which means there is less shade. As a result, during the day, the difference in average temperature between rural and urban areas is greater in Auburn-Opelika than it is in Birmingham.

“However, at night the reverse happens. The temperature difference between the urban and rural areas is less in the Auburn-Opelika area because the tall buildings and increased

impervious surfaces in downtown Birmingham absorb more heat which is released at night.”

Mitra also looked at heat intensity differences during two heat waves.

“There were two high heat spells during our study that occurred continuously for three days. During these timeframes, the average daytime temperature difference between urban and rural areas in Birmingham was about 11 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, it was about 9 degrees Fahrenheit. The Auburn-Opelika average daytime temperature difference between rural and urban areas was 18.92 degrees Fahrenheit, and the nighttime difference was about 7 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Mitra noted these numbers are significant because they could spell danger for the most vulnerable members of society, including the elderly, children, and those who work outdoors.

“Those living and working in areas that are nearly 10 or more degrees hotter than the high temperature for the day are at a higher risk for emergency health situations,” said Mitra. “We can mitigate the effects of urban heat islands by promoting more green space, incorporating verdant rooftops or white rooftops. We can use less energy by adopting solar panels and rainwater-catching techniques. All of this contributes to a much cooler, sustainable community, and a resilient one too.”

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THIS IS AUBURN.

Each year, the Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics Symposium invites women to be a part of a dynamic, one-day experience. The symposium includes a panel discussion from accomplished women in various disciplines, opportunities to receive mentorship for possible career paths, and a luncheon featuring a keynote speech delivered by a woman distinguished in her discipline. The Marie W. Wooten Distinguished Speaker at the 2017 SWSM Symposium will be Audrey Goins Brichi, biological sciences ’74, zoology entomology ’77, former manager of diversity and inclusion for Chevron Corporation’s Office of Global Diversity, Ombuds and University Partnerships. The event is sponsored by SWSM, a COSAM-based organization committed to increasing awareness of the opportunities available for women in the fields of sciences and mathematics.

To register, complete the enclosed form and mail to:Kristen BondAuburn University131 Sciences Center Classrooms Building315 Roosevelt Concourse Auburn, AL 36849-5319

Or visit auburn.edu/cosam/swsmregistration to download a registration form and email it to kristen.bond@auburn.edu.

REGISTER NOWfor the 11th annual SWSM Symposium and Luncheon

MAY 4, 2017