During the July “Postdoctoral Writing Suite” at UMBC, there was discussion about developing Individual Development Plans, or IDPs, as a tool for assessing skills, charting goals, and facilitating communication with your postdoctoral mentor. The IDP, developed by Dr. Cynthia Fuhrmann (formally of UCSF, joining UMass Medical School August 2013), has been used by both graduate students and postdocs, but increasingly, Offices of Postdoctoral Affairs are adopting this tool as means of adhering to regulations for postdoctoral mentoring that have been established by NSF, NIH, and other agencies. The National Postdoctoral Association is a strong advocate for the IDP, and PROMISE will be discussing it more during the August 16, 2013 “Postdoctoral Writing Suite” at the PROMISE Summer Success Institute.

Here are some of the resources that were shared during the July 12, 2013 “Postdoctoral Writing Suite” at UMBC:

Develop your goals so that they match your

ideal performance for an annual review: 

http://www.faseb.org/portals/0/pdfs/opa/SampleAnnualReview.pdf

PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is posting this position as part of an informal partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. We have been asked to disseminate this job announcement. Please consider this position.

ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION

Opportunity: Program Officer (Energy and science programs)

Roles and Responsibilities:
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeks a bright, highly motivated, and well-organized individual with five to ten years of experience for the position of Program Officer in its energy and science program areas.
The Program Officer serves as the Foundation’s key manager of grantee relationships for the assigned program areas. The position works closely with the Program Directors and President to help manage the current grant portfolio, evaluate and respond appropriately to new grant opportunities, and develop new program strategies. The position monitors and evaluates grantee progress and new opportunities through site visits, reports, publications, conferences, and workshops. The Program Officer stays abreast of developments and emerging trends in relevant fields, and reviews and synthesizes research across multiple engineering, physical and social science disciplines to inform the Foundation’s grantmaking in these areas. The position reports directly to the President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

 
Organization:
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit founded in 1934, makes grants to support research and education in science, technology, economic performance, and the quality of American life. As of December 31, 2012 the Foundation’s endowment was ~$1.7 billion. The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks a broad and diverse pool of candidates for this position.

 
Qualifications:
The Program Officer position for the energy and science program areas requires a generalist with broad interest and expertise in energy technology, policy, economics, and regulation. The successful candidate will also have a strong interest in and familiarity with physical and social sciences generally. Breadth of knowledge and interests are important attributes for a successful Program Officer at the Foundation. The position requires 5-10 years of experience in the public, non-profit, and/or private sector, preferably in multiple, challenging assignments or in interdisciplinary scholarship; a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in engineering, science, economics, or or a multi-disciplinary degree covering two or more of these fields; and a strong record of achievement and relevant experience.
The Program Officer position requires a high level of intellectual, analytic, problem-solving, leadership, entrepreneurial, and management ability. The position requires sound judgment and integrity and the ability to analyze novel situations objectively based on available information, formulate and evaluate possible courses of action, and respond or offer recommendations in an appropriate manner.
The position requires superior organizational and quantitative skills as well as strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. The position also requires good project, budget, and time management skills. The position requires proficiency in digital communications, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and the ability and eagerness to learn additional information technology applications and systems.
The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively in a small, collaborative, and semi-structured environment with Program Directors and others having a wide range of educational backgrounds and experience, including the Foundation’s managerial and support staff.

 
Compensation:
This is an exempt position. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation offers competitive compensation and benefits.
For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume to Gail Pesyna (HR@sloan.org).

PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is posting this position as part of an informal partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. We have been asked to disseminate this job announcement. Please consider this position.

ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION

Opportunity: Program Officer (Energy and science programs)

Roles and Responsibilities:
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeks a bright, highly motivated, and well-organized individual with five to ten years of experience for the position of Program Officer in its energy and science program areas.
The Program Officer serves as the Foundation’s key manager of grantee relationships for the assigned program areas. The position works closely with the Program Directors and President to help manage the current grant portfolio, evaluate and respond appropriately to new grant opportunities, and develop new program strategies. The position monitors and evaluates grantee progress and new opportunities through site visits, reports, publications, conferences, and workshops. The Program Officer stays abreast of developments and emerging trends in relevant fields, and reviews and synthesizes research across multiple engineering, physical and social science disciplines to inform the Foundation’s grantmaking in these areas. The position reports directly to the President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

 
Organization:
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit founded in 1934, makes grants to support research and education in science, technology, economic performance, and the quality of American life. As of December 31, 2012 the Foundation’s endowment was ~$1.7 billion. The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks a broad and diverse pool of candidates for this position.

 
Qualifications:
The Program Officer position for the energy and science program areas requires a generalist with broad interest and expertise in energy technology, policy, economics, and regulation. The successful candidate will also have a strong interest in and familiarity with physical and social sciences generally. Breadth of knowledge and interests are important attributes for a successful Program Officer at the Foundation. The position requires 5-10 years of experience in the public, non-profit, and/or private sector, preferably in multiple, challenging assignments or in interdisciplinary scholarship; a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in engineering, science, economics, or or a multi-disciplinary degree covering two or more of these fields; and a strong record of achievement and relevant experience.
The Program Officer position requires a high level of intellectual, analytic, problem-solving, leadership, entrepreneurial, and management ability. The position requires sound judgment and integrity and the ability to analyze novel situations objectively based on available information, formulate and evaluate possible courses of action, and respond or offer recommendations in an appropriate manner.
The position requires superior organizational and quantitative skills as well as strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. The position also requires good project, budget, and time management skills. The position requires proficiency in digital communications, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and the ability and eagerness to learn additional information technology applications and systems.
The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively in a small, collaborative, and semi-structured environment with Program Directors and others having a wide range of educational backgrounds and experience, including the Foundation’s managerial and support staff.

 
Compensation:
This is an exempt position. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation offers competitive compensation and benefits.
For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume to Gail Pesyna (HR@sloan.org).

Dr. Kevin Omland (UMBC Professor of Biology), presents two seminar for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty on July 9-10, 2013 at UMBC, Commons, Room 331

Sometimes, trying to be perfect means that you never get those drafts off of your desk or off of your computer screen. What about submitting them for publication? Did you know that journal articles are ranked? Find out about the rankings and ratings of various journals.

Professor Kevin Omland has more than 50 publications, that have been cited more than 3000 times. Dr. Omland provides his lectures for our academic community. Faculty, Postdocs, and graduate students are welcome to attend. These seminars were initially sponsored by a grant from Universidad Metropolitana, in Puerto Rico as part of their faculty development initiative that utilized best practices from PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and the ADVANCE Hispanic Women in STEM Project. Dr. Omland conducted the initial seminars in San Juan, Puerto Rico in May 2013. 

RSVP: Understanding Impact Factor – July 9: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18197

Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 9:30 AM – 12 Noon, UMBC, Commons 331

RSVP: Demon of “Perfection” – July 10: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18198

Related articles

• Summer Dissertation Houses at UMBC and College Park – July 2013 (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• “Writing for Publication” goes on the road – Puerto Rico Sessions: May 17-19 w/ UMBC’s Dr. Kevin Omland (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI) 10th Anniversary Celebration! August 16-17, 2013 in Baltimore (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

Dr. Kevin Omland (UMBC Professor of Biology), presents two seminar for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty on July 9-10, 2013 at UMBC, Commons, Room 331

Sometimes, trying to be perfect means that you never get those drafts off of your desk or off of your computer screen. What about submitting them for publication? Did you know that journal articles are ranked? Find out about the rankings and ratings of various journals.

Professor Kevin Omland has more than 50 publications, that have been cited more than 3000 times. Dr. Omland provides his lectures for our academic community. Faculty, Postdocs, and graduate students are welcome to attend. These seminars were initially sponsored by a grant from Universidad Metropolitana, in Puerto Rico as part of their faculty development initiative that utilized best practices from PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and the ADVANCE Hispanic Women in STEM Project. Dr. Omland conducted the initial seminars in San Juan, Puerto Rico in May 2013. 

RSVP: Understanding Impact Factor – July 9: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18197

Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 9:30 AM – 12 Noon, UMBC, Commons 331

RSVP: Demon of “Perfection” – July 10: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18198

Related articles

• Summer Dissertation Houses at UMBC and College Park – July 2013 (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• “Writing for Publication” goes on the road – Puerto Rico Sessions: May 17-19 w/ UMBC’s Dr. Kevin Omland (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI) 10th Anniversary Celebration! August 16-17, 2013 in Baltimore (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

2013 PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI)

10th Anniversary Celebration

Theme: Mentoring for Transitions & Advancement

Friday and Saturday, August 16-17, 2013

 2013 PROMISE SSI LOCATION, Downtown Baltimore:

University of Maryland Baltimore, The Founding Campus

SMC Campus Center (2nd Floor Ballroom)

621 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, (410) 706-7532

Lodging: Camden Yards Hampton Inn & Suites, Conference Rate $107 + tax/night. Discounted Conference Rate in the ”PROMISE” Block,  valid until July 17, 2013.

Parking & Transportation:

Parking: Baltimore Grand Garage (5 North Paca Street between Baltimore and Fayette Streets)

Directions: http://www.dental.umaryland.edu/dentalgraduation/parking.html

Campus Map: http://www.umaryland.edu/map/,

Walking directions from this garage to the SMC Center ( 5-7 minutes):

- When leaving the garage, turn left and walk south on N Paca St toward W Baltimore St  (0.1 mi )
- Turn right onto W. Lombard St.  (Destination will be on the left)

Public Transportation:

• Bus Route from UMBC to UMB, take the MTA bus #35.
• Contact Dr. Ana Perez at College Park for transportation from UMCP with the subject: “Transportation to SSI”

Attire:

• Friday, August 16, 2013 – Casual.
• Saturday, August 17, 2013 – Business –  (No: Jeans/athletic attire/tee-shirts; Yes: Jacket/shirt/tie/shoes, Yes: Skirt/dress/pantsuit.) See Forbes’ “Dress for Success” article.
• Please be sure that you have a jacket, sweater, and/or wrap for the air-conditioned rooms.

________________________________________________

The PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI) provides professional development, encouragement, motivation, career advice, peer support, and camaraderie, for new/incoming graduate students, continuing graduate students (master’s and doctoral level, and the PP&Ps (Postdocs, Professors, and Professionals). This event is open to graduate students throughout the state of Maryland, from any school within the University System of Maryland. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is particularly focused on professional development for underrepresented students in STEM fields; broadly, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty from any group or discipline are warmly invited to attend.

________________________________________________

SSI 2013 DETAILED PROGRAM AGENDA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

For students and postdocs: SMC Center, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, 2nd Floor

• Dissertation House 

  This session is for “alumni” of the Dissertation House (DH).   “Alumni of the DH” are current graduate students, who have already worked with Dr. Carter-Veale, and who have attended at least one DH (at SSI, UMBC, UMB, or UMCP) in the past. Follow the traditional DH application procedure and send applications to promisestaff@gmail.com, with the subject line: DH SSI 2013. Come ready to post your goals, ready to blog, and ready to work. You know the drill.

  • Location: SMC Center, Room 223
  • Leader: Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale, PROMISE Dissertation Coach; Founder, PhDCompletion.com
  • Summer Dissertation House – Online Challenge (Join the conversation now!)

*******

• Postdoctoral & Alumni Writing Suite 

  This session welcomes postdocs from all USM schools,  postdocs who are conducting research in the Maryland area (e.g., NIH, NASA, Johns Hopkins), and alumni of PROMISE who are now postdocs at other institutions around the world. The session is based on the best practices of the Dissertation House for graduate students, and the “Writing for Publication” sessions that PROMISE has conducted for both graduate students and early-career faculty. Participants should review the “Impact Factor” and “Demon of Perfection” slides prior to arrival. PROMISE Alumni at any institution who are working on their publications (e.g., books, articles, grant proposals within a postdoctoral appointment or tenure-track appointment) are strongly encouraged to participate.

  • Location: SMC Center, Room 203
  • Co-Leaders: Dr. Renetta Tull & Dr. Judith Kadarusman Pollack
  • In advance of the workshop: Review the PROMISE Information for Postdocs, bring your CV, your mentor’s CV, and the style guide (Information for Authors) for the journal that you are targeting for your pending article.
    • 9:00 Introductions and goal-setting
    • 10:00 Work on publications
    • 12:00 Lunch discussions
    • 1:00 Goal-driven “Annual Review” Planning
    • 2:00 Work on publications
    • 4:30 Report-out

*******

For Speakers:

External/Visiting Speakers’ Evening Orientation and Reception

8PM – 9PM, Hampton Inn and Suites Camden Yards.

Visiting speakers are invited to join the PROMISE Director to learn more about PROMISE and the SSI. During this orientation reception, visiting speakers will be able to connect  in advance of the Saturday program.

The Speakers’ Reception is sponsored by : The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

____________________________________________________________________________________

• 11:30 AM: BREAKOUT “SUCCESS SEMINAR” SESSIONS

Audiences: New/Incoming Graduate Students (NS),Continuing Graduate Students (Completed at least one year of graduate study: CS), Postdocs/Professors/Professionals (PP&P)

• Room 351 (NS): “Making the Mental and Emotional Switch from Undergrad to Graduate School: A New World”

  • MODERATOR:  Gloria Casilda Anglón, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
  • Gloria is a past PROMISE Graduate Assistant at University of Maryland College Park, and UMBC. After finishing her graduate degree in Sociology at UMBC, she was awarded an administrative fellowship at Harvard University. Her key areas of interest and expertise are as follows: Sociology, Higher Education, Broadening Participation in STEM, Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Graduate Recruitment and Retention, Graduate Admissions Preparation, Graduate Student Development, and Event Coordination
    
    

• 

  Panelist: “What faculty expect” -  Dr. Levon Esters, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Purdue University.

  • Dr. Levon Esters, Project Director,is Associate Professor of Agricultural and Life Science Education in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education at Purdue University. Dr. Esters taught for two years at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences which is the largest urban agricultural education program in the United States.  He has 14 years of experience coordinating pre-college career development programs focused on the agricultural sciences for urban high school age youth.  Dr. Esters’ research interests include STEM career development; use of agriculture as a context for teaching and learning STEM; and the career development of racial and ethnic and minorities.  Dr. Esters is Project Director for a USDA-funded grant focused on increasing the mentoring support of women and underrepresented minority students in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture which will lead to an increase in the number of women and URM students who complete STEM-based agricultural and life science graduate degrees and enter the STEM workforce. Dr. Esters served as a member of authoring committee that developed the 2009 National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies report, Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World.  He also served as lead project evaluator for an 1890 Capacity-building Grant which focused on enhancing undergraduate education through learner-centered teaching.

• • Panelist: “How to be a superior graduate student” - Dr. Jennifer Cohen, NSF AAAS Fellow (former postdoc at Johns Hopkins University).
  • Jennifer R. Cohen, Ph.D. earned an Associate’s degree from City College of San Francisco and her B.S. in Biology from Howard University. She was awarded a Minority International Research Training Fellowship to conduct biomedical research in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she explored an inexpensive alternative for malaria prevention. In 2010, she earned her doctorate in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Johns Hopkins, School of Medicine. Her discovery of the targeting signal for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus envelope protein enhanced the modern paradigm of virus production by providing a novel approach for preventing viral infection. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Brady Urological Research Institute, her work investigated the non-classical roles of B-cell lymphoma 2 protein during prostatic disease. Dr. Cohen is passionate about the recruitment, retention and advancement of minorities within biomedical research. Dr. Cohen developed a successful model for creating community among minorities in science and has shared her “best practices” regarding diversity at the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education, Christopher Newport University, and the National Postdoctoral Association annual meeting. Her dedication to scientific research is merged with a commitment to using policy to change the stereotyped race and gender of science.

SESSION SPONSOR:  The MAP Program.  The Mentoring@Purdue (MAP) program is a mentoring program designed for women and minority graduate students in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. MAP aims to improve the quality of graduate education through fostering mentoring relationships between graduate students and faculty members in the Agricultural and Life Sciences. A major outcome of the MAP program is to help students grow professionally, academically, and personally to become successful individuals in their chosen area of study. (Dr. Levon Esters appears at the 2013 PROMISE SSI courtesy of the MAP program.)

~~~~~~~

• Room 311 (CS, PP&P): “When Bricks and Sticks are Replaced by Clicks: MOOCs – The Next Wave”*

  • Speaker (via video): Dr. Andrew Ng, Co-Founder of Coursera, Associate Professor, Stanford University.  Dr. Ng participates courtesy of Coursera. Dr. Ng will give a short talk on the MOOCs movement, and how graduate students, postdocs, and faculty can move into this new way of delivering course material to thousands of students. He will take questions from PROMISE participants in the room.
  • Andrew Ng is the co-founder of Coursera and a Computer Science faculty member at Stanford. In 2011, he led the development of Stanford University’s main MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platform, and also taught an online Machine Learning class that was offered to over 100,000 students, leading to the founding of Coursera in January 2012. Through Coursera, Ng’s goal is to give everyone in the world access to a high quality education, for free. Today, Coursera has 70 top educational partners from around the world who offer more than 300 courses in a wide variety of subjects, including computer science, business, medicine, science, teaching, humanities, social sciences, and more. More than 3.5 million students from 196 countries have enrolled for Coursera courses, making Coursera the largest MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platform in the world. [Ref: U.S. News STEM Solutions.]

~~~~~~~

• Room 349 (CS, PP&P): “Mentoring for Advancement – Mentoring Pods”  with World-class Mentors and Leaders from academic, government, and industry sectors.

• • MODERATOR:  Miryam C. Gerdine, MPH
  • Management Analyst
  • Office of Legislation, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

During this section, participants will sit at tables with one of the mentors-in-residence for this session (listed below). Participants will spend 20 minutes with their chosen mentor, and will be prompted by the moderator to switch to a different mentor for the next 20 minutes.

• Beyond the advanced degree: Preparing for professional, executive positions
  • Dr. David Rico, Boeing Cyber Solutions.
  • Synopsis: Dr. David F. Rico will host a mentoring pod with a focus on advanced training, skills, and certifications coupled with one’s research background, to facilitate the process of successfully obtaining executive-level positions in public, private, and academic institutions. Dr. Rico will discuss the synergistic role of leveraging one’s PhD to maximize career success and earning potential in the 21st century by maintaining a balanced portfolio of academic and non-academic commitments and activities. He will identify, distinguish, and discuss the role of knowledge and information workers in post industrial society at-large. He’ll also introduce emerging academic and industry management and technological trends, critical skills, and capabilities needed in the workforce, and the most valuable certifications for maximizing and maintaining fluidity between major industry sectors to enable sustainable employment and relevance in today’s highly-competitive marketplace. Finally, Dr. Rico will close with a discussion of tips, tricks, and techniques for maximizing earning potential, avoiding pitfalls of overextending one’s self, and making critical strategic decisions to ensure career success. [Dr. Rico appears courtesy of invitation by UMBC PROMISE Alum, Samuel Cordero, via the National Security Agency.]

• Making the transitions (grad student to PhD, postdoc, professor), keeping your cool, and addressing the issues: How do you deal with the lack of respect on the new job that may come from subtle discrimination based on age, gender, or race?
  • Dr. Christine Grant, Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Special Initiatives, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University; and Founder of “Creative Growth Solutions for You!” 
  • Synopsis: You can now be called “Dr. ____,” but how do you deal with situations where people question your credentials and experience? This topic was requested by PROMISE alumni and postdocs who found that themselves excited about starting their new positions, but were continually being challenged about their credentials. Often, their hiring supervisors were very supportive and acknowledged their expertise, but when they had to work with others in the department or on a different campus, they received comments like:  ”Did you really do enough work to get a PhD?”  (Even though you’ve won international awards in your field.) -OR- “I need to know if you can teach this class.” (Even when you’ve taught the class to stellar reviews on a sister campus.) How do you handle situations when people argue with you (about being in your own lab) because they think that you’re a student, or support staff? What do you do when other professors try to “steal” your grad students, or when students challenge your authority? These are questions that have been posed to PROMISE by PhD alumni who are underrepresented minorities, and women of all races. Dr. Christine Grant brings to PROMISE her experiences as a full professor of engineering, as a national speaker and leader within the NSF ADVANCE community (winner of many grants to assist women faculty), and as a professional coach. [Dr. Grant, winner of a U.S.Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, was guest at the PROMISE SSI 2004, and she returns as part of the 10th anniversary celebration, courtesy of her company, "Creative Growth Solutions for You!"] 

• Academic Leadership & Global Influence
  •  Dr. Sujata Bhatia, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering; Assistant Dean, Harvard Summer School; Associate – Science, Technology, and Globalization – Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
  • Sujata K. Bhatia, MD, PhD, PE is a physician, bioengineer, and professionally licensed chemical engineer who serves on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering at Harvard University.   In addition, she is an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; she works with students on projects for medical innovation in Africa, as well as global engineering education. In 2010, Sujata wrote and published a textbook, “Biomaterials for Clinical Applications,” which discusses opportunities for both biomaterials scientists and physicians to alleviate diseases worldwide.  The book appeared on Amazon.com bestseller lists for Biotechnology, Clinical Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering.  The book was also selected as Innovation Book of the Week by the Harvard Science, Technology, and Globalization Project.  In 2011, she published another book, “Engineering Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine.”  The book appeared on Amazon.com Kindle best-seller lists for Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, and Microbiology.  In 2012, she published two books with her Harvard students, “Medical Devices and Biomaterials for the Developing World: Case Studies in Ghana and Nicaragua,” and “Naturally Based Biomaterials and Therapeutics: The Case of India.”  In 2013, Sujata will represent the United States at the Global Grand Challenges Summit, a joint initiative of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.K. Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. VIEW:  Dr. Bhatia’s interview by Scientista: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiHBtd2bqfc. READ: Dr. Bhatia’s “Before They Were Scientists: A Letter to My Younger Self“ in the Huffington Post.  Her biggest passion is to “Enable People’s Dreams.”  [Dr. Bhatia's connection with PROMISE is courtesy of Dr. Frances Colon's invitation to PROMISE to participate in the 2013 Global Diaspora Forum.]

• Government Lab Opportunities and Leadership
  •   Dr. Jaron Lockett, MI, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Current Rotation: Office of Government and Congressional Relations, National Cancer Institute
  • Dr. Jaron Lockett joined the NIH Management Intern (MI) program in August 2012. As a MI, Jaron is interested in pursuing a career in science administration and management. He joined the NIH in 2007 as a post-doctoral fellow in the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in Baltimore, MD. In 2009, he became the Scientific Recruiter and Associate Training Director for the NIA. His scientific background helped him as a recruiter as he met with various groups to discuss the training opportunities offered at the NIH. As the Associate Training Director, he enjoyed interacting with the post-docs and has worked to completely reface the NIA’s training program by incorporating fellows into more of the institute’s activities. One of his hallmark programs include the creation of the NIH-Baltimore Fellows’ Symposium which highlights the scientific achievements of the post-docs at the NIH labs located in Baltimore, which include NIA,  the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).Jaron earned his B.S. in Biology at Bowie State University in 2001. He continued on to Wayne State University in Detroit, MI where he received his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathobiology and Cancer Biology in 2007. Jaron has a long history with the NIH as he was in the inaugural class of the National Graduate Student Research Festival and received a F31 grant from the NIH to support his graduate work. [Dr. Lockett began his mentoring relationship with PROMISE in 2011.]

• Positions at National Labs:
  • Dr. Nwokedi Idika, Cyber Security and Operations Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratories.
  • Dr. Nwokedi Idika is a member of the technical staff at the Cyber Systems and Operations Group of MIT Lincoln Laboratory.  Principally, Dr. Idika conducts research in the areas of cybersecurity situational awareness and computational trust.  Broadly, his research interest lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, usability, security, and trust. Dr. Idika obtained his Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2005.  He obtained his Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science from Purdue University in 2007 and 2010 respectively.  While at Purdue University, he conducted research in the areas of malware detection, security metrics, and attack graph analysis as part of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS). [Dr. Idika, an alum of the undergraduate Meyerhoff Scholars program at UMBC, appears courtesy of sponsorship by The Lincoln Laboratory of The Massachusetts Institutes of Technology, Bill Kindred, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion.]

• En route to tenure: Plan now for  your future career as a tenured professor:
  • Dr. Neil A. Knobloch, Associate Professor, Extension Education, Youth Development and Agricultural Education, Purdue University.
  • Dr. Neil Knobloch is an associate professor of agricultural and life science education at Purdue University. He is chair of the PK-12 Council for the College of Agriculture and the Life Science Education Signature Area (LSESA) in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education. He develops teachers, graduate students, and professors transition their teaching strategies to be more engaging for their students. Using the learner-centered teaching model, he studies student learning and motivation. He has conducted curriculum and faculty development projects to enhance human capacity at Land-grant Universities (LGUs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and has served as project director or co-project director of 40 grant-funded projects (cumulative amount of $7.1 million). Currently, he is project director of a large interdisciplinary grant project that is developing educational games to help college students learn difficult science concepts in introductory life science courses (i.e., animal science, food science, and plant science). He is passionate about helping faculty and students develop more engaging educational experiences that will enhance the STEM education and career pipeline. [Dr. Knobloch is a Co-PI of Mentoring (MAP) @Purdue.]

• Career Choices and Tips for Success:
  • Dr. Miguel O. Román, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard Flight Center. Dr. Román is on the list of Puerto Ricans in the United States Space Program.
  • My research focuses on the development and application of satellite remote sensing to produce stable, well calibrated, and scientifically validated products from a series of earth observing satellites. My focus is on the quantification of uncertainty in satellite-derived products through a combination of quality assessment and validation techniques including day/night visible, near-infrared, and multi-angle imagery and measurements acquired from in-situ and airborne platforms. At the international level, my work focuses on addressing the challenges associated with the validation of Land Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) derived from satellite data by coordinating major field and airborne campaigns, managing a global network of validation sites, developing internationally-recognized validation protocols and standards, and ensuring that validation data and results are made available for free within the global user community. [Dr. Román appears courtesy of collaboration with the Institute for Broadening Participation in Damaricotta, Maine.]

• Technology, Innovation, Education Consulting:
  • Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, Open Innovation Program Manager at Lockheed Martin and Founder of Beysix Consulting, LLC.
  • Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey has demonstrated experience in designing and executing projects that leverage the intersection of technology, strategy, and business to create value and new opportunities. His expertise has spanned the commercial industry, the defense industry, and academia. For the past 10 years, he has worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation with increasing levels of responsibility in advanced technology and strategy. His current responsibilities include program performance and strategic coordination of the corporation’s innovative research activities with National Laboratories and Fortune 50 companies. Coincident with his Lockheed position, he founded Beysix Consulting to assist schools with their Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education strategy.  He received a BS degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and received both a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware. [Dr. Johnson-Bey, a colleague of PROMISE aluma Dr. Patti Ordonez, appears courtesy of Beysix Consulting.]

• National Security Science:
  • Dr. Scott Kinkead,  Science Advisor, NA-82 at National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos National Laboratories (New Mexico).
    

    “Computerized simulation of our galaxy – 2,” from LANL’s Science and Technology Photo Gallery.

  • LANL’s mission is to develop and apply science and technology to ensure thesafety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce global threats; and solve other emerging national security and energy challenges. ”At Los Alamos National Laboratory, a diverse workforce of multidisciplinary teams fuels the creativity and innovation that are essential to address emerging issues and solve problems of national and international importance. To be successful in our critical mission, it is essential that we embrace diversity and create an inclusive work environment where all employees feel welcome and fully engaged.“ —Charlie McMillan, Laboratory Director. (What postdocs have to say about Los Alamos: http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php.) [Dr. Kinkead appears courtesy of connections with LANL Scientist Dr. Deanne Idar, and CJ Bacino, Office of Diversity and Strategic Staffing.]

Speakers  for the PROMISE 2013 “Mentoring for Advancement – Mentoring Pods” session appear courtesy of their own personal donation and sponsorship by:  MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Beysix Consulting, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and Creative Growth Solutions for You!  We also thank members of AWIS (Greater Baltimore chapter, Bethesda and DC chapters) for their support. We thank PROMISE alumni, business owners, partner organizations (e.g., NSF ADVANCE, Institute for Broadening Participation, MSPHDs, WEPAN),  and corporate diversity officers (MIT Lincoln Labs, LANL) for working with us to develop this session and for supporting PROMISE. 

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• 12:45 PM: PROMISE 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)

• Luncheon Program welcome from University System of Maryland Administrators.

• Meet, Greet, and Eat! Alumni Mentors-in-Residence leading lunch table conversations on various topics. Choose a table, enjoy your meal and the conversation. 

• Dr. Angela McRae, Visiting Scholar, Catholic University; Adjunct faculty, University of Maryland College Park (UMCP Alum)
  • Table Topic: Balancing work and family, getting a faculty position.
• Dr. Troy Grant, Adjunct Professor, Loyola University of Maryland and Teacher, Prince Georges County Public Schools (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topics: Finishing the dissertation while working full-time, writing books “An Autobiography of an Unknown Man,” from probation to inspiration, life in the military,
• Dr. Heather Holden, Research Scientist,  Intelligent Technologies Researcher at Army Research Laboratory Simulation Training and Technology Center (STTC), (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topic: The process of editing and writing a book in your field
• Dr. Oliver Myers, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topic: Time management and health/wellness
• Dr. Stacey N. Williams, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Notre Dame of Maryland (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topics: Balancing family and graduate school, life as a professor
• Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topics: Staying on top of your research, transitioning from postdoc to professor
• Dr. Trudy (Smith) Amin, Drug Enforcement Administration (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topic: Transitions throughout graduate school, then to postdoc, then to permanent work
• Dr. Jocelyn Reader, Postdoctoral Fellow, Greenbaum Cancer Center (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topic: Things to consider when choosing a postdoctoral position
• Dr. Alycia Marshall, Chair, Mathematics, Anne Arundel Community College (UMCP Alum)
  • Table Topic: Careers at Community Colleges.

Feature: Dr. Alycia Marshall, tenured professor & Mathematics department chair (AACC) – PROMISE: Full Circle. UMCP PROMISE Alumna, Dr. Alycia Marshall, now has her own NSF grant ($598,000) for the Engineering Scholars Program at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.  In February 2013, Dr. Marshall won a Verizon Community Innovator Award for her work with the ESP program.  The Engineers Scholars Program provides up to $4,000 per year for tuition, mentoring opportunities, funds for students to attend professional conferences, organized study groups and scheduled opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals on a regular basis. The program targets underrepresented groups in Engineering (women, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans), but the scholarships are open to all students. Dr. Marshall used PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program as models for her grant.

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• Luncheon Program: Recognition of PhD Candidates: All PhD Candidates (post qualifying exams, proposals, etc.), from all schools in the University System of Maryland will be asked to come to the front to be recognized. PhD candidates should be prepared to give a 30 second introduction with name, school, department, research topic, and expected year of graduation.

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• 
• Luncheon Keynote with UMBC’s President, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski.   Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, has served as President of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) since May, 1992.  His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Read about Dr. Hrabowski in Time Magazine: 10 Best College Presidents, World’s 100 Most Influential People. See Dr. Hrabowski talk about UMBC on 60 Minutes. Watch Dr. Hrabowski’s  TED Talk 2013. Dr. Hrabowski talks about PROMISE: 

*******

• 2:30 PM: 10th ANNIVERSARY CAKE RECEPTION:

• NETWORKING, Meet-up,  & “TWEET-UP” @PROMISE_AGEP

#PROMISEagep

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PROMISEagep

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/PROMISE-Marylands-AGEP-107650

*******

• 3:00 PM: ADJOURN

Stay tuned to this website for a running list of confirmed guest speakers.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Donations to memorial funds (in memory of our former PROMISE Peer Mentors who have passed away)  in lieu of registration fees, are strongly encouraged:

• Dr. Angela Grant Memorial (Math): http://promisetributes.blogspot.com/2010/09/remembering-dr-angela-grant-former.html
•  Jessica Soto Perez Memorial (Chemical Eng.):  http://promisetributes.blogspot.com/p/jessica-soto-perez-tribute.html

About the Summer Success Institute (SSI) About PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP   

Follow @PROMISE_AGEP on Twitter for articles, advice, and up-to-the-minute information. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Please stay tuned to this page for regular updates on speakers and logistics. Last update: August 10, 2013

The primary sponsor for the 2013 PROMISE AGEP Summer Success Institute is The National Science Foundation, Division of Education and Human Resources, Directorate of Human Resource Development, Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) “PROMISE Pathways”  grant #1111217 . Co-sponsorship is provided by The Graduate School at UMBC, The University of Maryland College Park Graduate School, and The University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate School. Employers of some of our guest speakers are also sponsoring their participation. This website will be updated with the names of those organizations as our guests are confirmed.

Related articles

• July 2013 Summer Horizons: Apply to Graduate School, with UMBC President, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Postdocs: Planning for Success and Developing an “Individual Development Plan (IDP)” (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

*”When Bricks and Sticks are Replaced by Clicks” (Ref: Eric Schatzker, anchor and editor-at-large at Bloomberg Television, “Market Makers,” June 19, 2013.)

2013 PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI)

10th Anniversary Celebration

Theme: Mentoring for Transitions & Advancement

Friday and Saturday, August 16-17, 2013

 2013 PROMISE SSI LOCATION, Downtown Baltimore:

University of Maryland Baltimore, The Founding Campus

SMC Campus Center (2nd Floor Ballroom)

621 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, (410) 706-7532

Lodging: Camden Yards Hampton Inn & Suites, Conference Rate $107 + tax/night. Discounted Conference Rate in the ”PROMISE” Block,  valid until July 17, 2013.

Parking & Transportation:

Parking: Baltimore Grand Garage (5 North Paca Street between Baltimore and Fayette Streets)

Directions: http://www.dental.umaryland.edu/dentalgraduation/parking.html

Campus Map: http://www.umaryland.edu/map/,

Walking directions from this garage to the SMC Center ( 5-7 minutes):

- When leaving the garage, turn left and walk south on N Paca St toward W Baltimore St  (0.1 mi )
- Turn right onto W. Lombard St.  (Destination will be on the left)

Public Transportation:

• Bus Route from UMBC to UMB, take the MTA bus #35.
• Contact Dr. Ana Perez at College Park for transportation from UMCP with the subject: “Transportation to SSI”

Attire:

• Friday, August 16, 2013 – Casual.
• Saturday, August 17, 2013 – Business –  (No: Jeans/athletic attire/tee-shirts; Yes: Jacket/shirt/tie/shoes, Yes: Skirt/dress/pantsuit.) See Forbes’ “Dress for Success” article.
• Please be sure that you have a jacket, sweater, and/or wrap for the air-conditioned rooms.

________________________________________________

The PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI) provides professional development, encouragement, motivation, career advice, peer support, and camaraderie, for new/incoming graduate students, continuing graduate students (master’s and doctoral level, and the PP&Ps (Postdocs, Professors, and Professionals). This event is open to graduate students throughout the state of Maryland, from any school within the University System of Maryland. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is particularly focused on professional development for underrepresented students in STEM fields; broadly, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty from any group or discipline are warmly invited to attend.

________________________________________________

SSI 2013 DETAILED PROGRAM AGENDA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

For students and postdocs: SMC Center, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, 2nd Floor

• Dissertation House 

  This session is for “alumni” of the Dissertation House (DH).   “Alumni of the DH” are current graduate students, who have already worked with Dr. Carter-Veale, and who have attended at least one DH (at SSI, UMBC, UMB, or UMCP) in the past. Follow the traditional DH application procedure and send applications to promisestaff@gmail.com, with the subject line: DH SSI 2013. Come ready to post your goals, ready to blog, and ready to work. You know the drill.

  • Location: SMC Center, Room 223
  • Leader: Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale, PROMISE Dissertation Coach; Founder, PhDCompletion.com
  • Summer Dissertation House – Online Challenge (Join the conversation now!)

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• Postdoctoral & Alumni Writing Suite 

  This session welcomes postdocs from all USM schools,  postdocs who are conducting research in the Maryland area (e.g., NIH, NASA, Johns Hopkins), and alumni of PROMISE who are now postdocs at other institutions around the world. The session is based on the best practices of the Dissertation House for graduate students, and the “Writing for Publication” sessions that PROMISE has conducted for both graduate students and early-career faculty. Participants should review the “Impact Factor” and “Demon of Perfection” slides prior to arrival. PROMISE Alumni at any institution who are working on their publications (e.g., books, articles, grant proposals within a postdoctoral appointment or tenure-track appointment) are strongly encouraged to participate.

  • Location: SMC Center, Room 203
  • Co-Leaders: Dr. Renetta Tull & Dr. Judith Kadarusman Pollack
  • In advance of the workshop: Review the PROMISE Information for Postdocs, bring your CV, your mentor’s CV, and the style guide (Information for Authors) for the journal that you are targeting for your pending article.
    • 9:00 Introductions and goal-setting
    • 10:00 Work on publications
    • 12:00 Lunch discussions
    • 1:00 Goal-driven “Annual Review” Planning
    • 2:00 Work on publications
    • 4:30 Report-out

*******

For Speakers:

External/Visiting Speakers’ Evening Orientation and Reception

8PM – 9PM, Hampton Inn and Suites Camden Yards.

Visiting speakers are invited to join the PROMISE Director to learn more about PROMISE and the SSI. During this orientation reception, visiting speakers will be able to connect  in advance of the Saturday program.

The Speakers’ Reception is sponsored by : The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

____________________________________________________________________________________

• 11:30 AM: BREAKOUT “SUCCESS SEMINAR” SESSIONS

Audiences: New/Incoming Graduate Students (NS),Continuing Graduate Students (Completed at least one year of graduate study: CS), Postdocs/Professors/Professionals (PP&P)

• Room 351 (NS): “Making the Mental and Emotional Switch from Undergrad to Graduate School: A New World”

  • MODERATOR:  Gloria Casilda Anglón, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
  • Gloria is a past PROMISE Graduate Assistant at University of Maryland College Park, and UMBC. After finishing her graduate degree in Sociology at UMBC, she was awarded an administrative fellowship at Harvard University. Her key areas of interest and expertise are as follows: Sociology, Higher Education, Broadening Participation in STEM, Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Graduate Recruitment and Retention, Graduate Admissions Preparation, Graduate Student Development, and Event Coordination
    
    

• 

  Panelist: “What faculty expect” -  Dr. Levon Esters, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Purdue University.

  • Dr. Levon Esters, Project Director,is Associate Professor of Agricultural and Life Science Education in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education at Purdue University. Dr. Esters taught for two years at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences which is the largest urban agricultural education program in the United States.  He has 14 years of experience coordinating pre-college career development programs focused on the agricultural sciences for urban high school age youth.  Dr. Esters’ research interests include STEM career development; use of agriculture as a context for teaching and learning STEM; and the career development of racial and ethnic and minorities.  Dr. Esters is Project Director for a USDA-funded grant focused on increasing the mentoring support of women and underrepresented minority students in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture which will lead to an increase in the number of women and URM students who complete STEM-based agricultural and life science graduate degrees and enter the STEM workforce. Dr. Esters served as a member of authoring committee that developed the 2009 National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies report, Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World.  He also served as lead project evaluator for an 1890 Capacity-building Grant which focused on enhancing undergraduate education through learner-centered teaching.

• • Panelist: “How to be a superior graduate student” - Dr. Jennifer Cohen, NSF AAAS Fellow (former postdoc at Johns Hopkins University).
  • Jennifer R. Cohen, Ph.D. earned an Associate’s degree from City College of San Francisco and her B.S. in Biology from Howard University. She was awarded a Minority International Research Training Fellowship to conduct biomedical research in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she explored an inexpensive alternative for malaria prevention. In 2010, she earned her doctorate in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Johns Hopkins, School of Medicine. Her discovery of the targeting signal for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus envelope protein enhanced the modern paradigm of virus production by providing a novel approach for preventing viral infection. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Brady Urological Research Institute, her work investigated the non-classical roles of B-cell lymphoma 2 protein during prostatic disease. Dr. Cohen is passionate about the recruitment, retention and advancement of minorities within biomedical research. Dr. Cohen developed a successful model for creating community among minorities in science and has shared her “best practices” regarding diversity at the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education, Christopher Newport University, and the National Postdoctoral Association annual meeting. Her dedication to scientific research is merged with a commitment to using policy to change the stereotyped race and gender of science.

SESSION SPONSOR:  The MAP Program.  The Mentoring@Purdue (MAP) program is a mentoring program designed for women and minority graduate students in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. MAP aims to improve the quality of graduate education through fostering mentoring relationships between graduate students and faculty members in the Agricultural and Life Sciences. A major outcome of the MAP program is to help students grow professionally, academically, and personally to become successful individuals in their chosen area of study. (Dr. Levon Esters appears at the 2013 PROMISE SSI courtesy of the MAP program.)

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• Room 311 (CS, PP&P): “When Bricks and Sticks are Replaced by Clicks: MOOCs – The Next Wave”*

  • Speaker (via video): Dr. Andrew Ng, Co-Founder of Coursera, Associate Professor, Stanford University.  Dr. Ng participates courtesy of Coursera. Dr. Ng will give a short talk on the MOOCs movement, and how graduate students, postdocs, and faculty can move into this new way of delivering course material to thousands of students. He will take questions from PROMISE participants in the room.
  • Andrew Ng is the co-founder of Coursera and a Computer Science faculty member at Stanford. In 2011, he led the development of Stanford University’s main MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platform, and also taught an online Machine Learning class that was offered to over 100,000 students, leading to the founding of Coursera in January 2012. Through Coursera, Ng’s goal is to give everyone in the world access to a high quality education, for free. Today, Coursera has 70 top educational partners from around the world who offer more than 300 courses in a wide variety of subjects, including computer science, business, medicine, science, teaching, humanities, social sciences, and more. More than 3.5 million students from 196 countries have enrolled for Coursera courses, making Coursera the largest MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platform in the world. [Ref: U.S. News STEM Solutions.]

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• Room 349 (CS, PP&P): “Mentoring for Advancement – Mentoring Pods”  with World-class Mentors and Leaders from academic, government, and industry sectors.

• • MODERATOR:  Miryam C. Gerdine, MPH
  • Management Analyst
  • Office of Legislation, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

During this section, participants will sit at tables with one of the mentors-in-residence for this session (listed below). Participants will spend 20 minutes with their chosen mentor, and will be prompted by the moderator to switch to a different mentor for the next 20 minutes.

• Beyond the advanced degree: Preparing for professional, executive positions
  • Dr. David Rico, Boeing Cyber Solutions.
  • Synopsis: Dr. David F. Rico will host a mentoring pod with a focus on advanced training, skills, and certifications coupled with one’s research background, to facilitate the process of successfully obtaining executive-level positions in public, private, and academic institutions. Dr. Rico will discuss the synergistic role of leveraging one’s PhD to maximize career success and earning potential in the 21st century by maintaining a balanced portfolio of academic and non-academic commitments and activities. He will identify, distinguish, and discuss the role of knowledge and information workers in post industrial society at-large. He’ll also introduce emerging academic and industry management and technological trends, critical skills, and capabilities needed in the workforce, and the most valuable certifications for maximizing and maintaining fluidity between major industry sectors to enable sustainable employment and relevance in today’s highly-competitive marketplace. Finally, Dr. Rico will close with a discussion of tips, tricks, and techniques for maximizing earning potential, avoiding pitfalls of overextending one’s self, and making critical strategic decisions to ensure career success. [Dr. Rico appears courtesy of invitation by UMBC PROMISE Alum, Samuel Cordero, via the National Security Agency.]

• Making the transitions (grad student to PhD, postdoc, professor), keeping your cool, and addressing the issues: How do you deal with the lack of respect on the new job that may come from subtle discrimination based on age, gender, or race?
  • Dr. Christine Grant, Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Special Initiatives, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University; and Founder of “Creative Growth Solutions for You!” 
  • Synopsis: You can now be called “Dr. ____,” but how do you deal with situations where people question your credentials and experience? This topic was requested by PROMISE alumni and postdocs who found that themselves excited about starting their new positions, but were continually being challenged about their credentials. Often, their hiring supervisors were very supportive and acknowledged their expertise, but when they had to work with others in the department or on a different campus, they received comments like:  ”Did you really do enough work to get a PhD?”  (Even though you’ve won international awards in your field.) -OR- “I need to know if you can teach this class.” (Even when you’ve taught the class to stellar reviews on a sister campus.) How do you handle situations when people argue with you (about being in your own lab) because they think that you’re a student, or support staff? What do you do when other professors try to “steal” your grad students, or when students challenge your authority? These are questions that have been posed to PROMISE by PhD alumni who are underrepresented minorities, and women of all races. Dr. Christine Grant brings to PROMISE her experiences as a full professor of engineering, as a national speaker and leader within the NSF ADVANCE community (winner of many grants to assist women faculty), and as a professional coach. [Dr. Grant, winner of a U.S.Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, was guest at the PROMISE SSI 2004, and she returns as part of the 10th anniversary celebration, courtesy of her company, "Creative Growth Solutions for You!"] 

• Academic Leadership & Global Influence
  •  Dr. Sujata Bhatia, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering; Assistant Dean, Harvard Summer School; Associate – Science, Technology, and Globalization – Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
  • Sujata K. Bhatia, MD, PhD, PE is a physician, bioengineer, and professionally licensed chemical engineer who serves on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering at Harvard University.   In addition, she is an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; she works with students on projects for medical innovation in Africa, as well as global engineering education. In 2010, Sujata wrote and published a textbook, “Biomaterials for Clinical Applications,” which discusses opportunities for both biomaterials scientists and physicians to alleviate diseases worldwide.  The book appeared on Amazon.com bestseller lists for Biotechnology, Clinical Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering.  The book was also selected as Innovation Book of the Week by the Harvard Science, Technology, and Globalization Project.  In 2011, she published another book, “Engineering Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine.”  The book appeared on Amazon.com Kindle best-seller lists for Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, and Microbiology.  In 2012, she published two books with her Harvard students, “Medical Devices and Biomaterials for the Developing World: Case Studies in Ghana and Nicaragua,” and “Naturally Based Biomaterials and Therapeutics: The Case of India.”  In 2013, Sujata will represent the United States at the Global Grand Challenges Summit, a joint initiative of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.K. Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. VIEW:  Dr. Bhatia’s interview by Scientista: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiHBtd2bqfc. READ: Dr. Bhatia’s “Before They Were Scientists: A Letter to My Younger Self“ in the Huffington Post.  Her biggest passion is to “Enable People’s Dreams.”  [Dr. Bhatia's connection with PROMISE is courtesy of Dr. Frances Colon's invitation to PROMISE to participate in the 2013 Global Diaspora Forum.]

• Government Lab Opportunities and Leadership
  •   Dr. Jaron Lockett, MI, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Current Rotation: Office of Government and Congressional Relations, National Cancer Institute
  • Dr. Jaron Lockett joined the NIH Management Intern (MI) program in August 2012. As a MI, Jaron is interested in pursuing a career in science administration and management. He joined the NIH in 2007 as a post-doctoral fellow in the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in Baltimore, MD. In 2009, he became the Scientific Recruiter and Associate Training Director for the NIA. His scientific background helped him as a recruiter as he met with various groups to discuss the training opportunities offered at the NIH. As the Associate Training Director, he enjoyed interacting with the post-docs and has worked to completely reface the NIA’s training program by incorporating fellows into more of the institute’s activities. One of his hallmark programs include the creation of the NIH-Baltimore Fellows’ Symposium which highlights the scientific achievements of the post-docs at the NIH labs located in Baltimore, which include NIA,  the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).Jaron earned his B.S. in Biology at Bowie State University in 2001. He continued on to Wayne State University in Detroit, MI where he received his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathobiology and Cancer Biology in 2007. Jaron has a long history with the NIH as he was in the inaugural class of the National Graduate Student Research Festival and received a F31 grant from the NIH to support his graduate work. [Dr. Lockett began his mentoring relationship with PROMISE in 2011.]

• Positions at National Labs:
  • Dr. Nwokedi Idika, Cyber Security and Operations Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratories.
  • Dr. Nwokedi Idika is a member of the technical staff at the Cyber Systems and Operations Group of MIT Lincoln Laboratory.  Principally, Dr. Idika conducts research in the areas of cybersecurity situational awareness and computational trust.  Broadly, his research interest lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, usability, security, and trust. Dr. Idika obtained his Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2005.  He obtained his Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science from Purdue University in 2007 and 2010 respectively.  While at Purdue University, he conducted research in the areas of malware detection, security metrics, and attack graph analysis as part of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS). [Dr. Idika, an alum of the undergraduate Meyerhoff Scholars program at UMBC, appears courtesy of sponsorship by The Lincoln Laboratory of The Massachusetts Institutes of Technology, Bill Kindred, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion.]

• En route to tenure: Plan now for  your future career as a tenured professor:
  • Dr. Neil A. Knobloch, Associate Professor, Extension Education, Youth Development and Agricultural Education, Purdue University.
  • Dr. Neil Knobloch is an associate professor of agricultural and life science education at Purdue University. He is chair of the PK-12 Council for the College of Agriculture and the Life Science Education Signature Area (LSESA) in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education. He develops teachers, graduate students, and professors transition their teaching strategies to be more engaging for their students. Using the learner-centered teaching model, he studies student learning and motivation. He has conducted curriculum and faculty development projects to enhance human capacity at Land-grant Universities (LGUs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and has served as project director or co-project director of 40 grant-funded projects (cumulative amount of $7.1 million). Currently, he is project director of a large interdisciplinary grant project that is developing educational games to help college students learn difficult science concepts in introductory life science courses (i.e., animal science, food science, and plant science). He is passionate about helping faculty and students develop more engaging educational experiences that will enhance the STEM education and career pipeline. [Dr. Knobloch is a Co-PI of Mentoring (MAP) @Purdue.]

• Career Choices and Tips for Success:
  • Dr. Miguel O. Román, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard Flight Center. Dr. Román is on the list of Puerto Ricans in the United States Space Program.
  • My research focuses on the development and application of satellite remote sensing to produce stable, well calibrated, and scientifically validated products from a series of earth observing satellites. My focus is on the quantification of uncertainty in satellite-derived products through a combination of quality assessment and validation techniques including day/night visible, near-infrared, and multi-angle imagery and measurements acquired from in-situ and airborne platforms. At the international level, my work focuses on addressing the challenges associated with the validation of Land Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) derived from satellite data by coordinating major field and airborne campaigns, managing a global network of validation sites, developing internationally-recognized validation protocols and standards, and ensuring that validation data and results are made available for free within the global user community. [Dr. Román appears courtesy of collaboration with the Institute for Broadening Participation in Damaricotta, Maine.]

• Technology, Innovation, Education Consulting:
  • Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, Open Innovation Program Manager at Lockheed Martin and Founder of Beysix Consulting, LLC.
  • Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey has demonstrated experience in designing and executing projects that leverage the intersection of technology, strategy, and business to create value and new opportunities. His expertise has spanned the commercial industry, the defense industry, and academia. For the past 10 years, he has worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation with increasing levels of responsibility in advanced technology and strategy. His current responsibilities include program performance and strategic coordination of the corporation’s innovative research activities with National Laboratories and Fortune 50 companies. Coincident with his Lockheed position, he founded Beysix Consulting to assist schools with their Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education strategy.  He received a BS degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and received both a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware. [Dr. Johnson-Bey, a colleague of PROMISE aluma Dr. Patti Ordonez, appears courtesy of Beysix Consulting.]

• National Security Science:
  • Dr. Scott Kinkead,  Science Advisor, NA-82 at National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos National Laboratories (New Mexico).
    

    “Computerized simulation of our galaxy – 2,” from LANL’s Science and Technology Photo Gallery.

  • LANL’s mission is to develop and apply science and technology to ensure thesafety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce global threats; and solve other emerging national security and energy challenges. ”At Los Alamos National Laboratory, a diverse workforce of multidisciplinary teams fuels the creativity and innovation that are essential to address emerging issues and solve problems of national and international importance. To be successful in our critical mission, it is essential that we embrace diversity and create an inclusive work environment where all employees feel welcome and fully engaged.“ —Charlie McMillan, Laboratory Director. (What postdocs have to say about Los Alamos: http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php.) [Dr. Kinkead appears courtesy of connections with LANL Scientist Dr. Deanne Idar, and CJ Bacino, Office of Diversity and Strategic Staffing.]

Speakers  for the PROMISE 2013 “Mentoring for Advancement – Mentoring Pods” session appear courtesy of their own personal donation and sponsorship by:  MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Beysix Consulting, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and Creative Growth Solutions for You!  We also thank members of AWIS (Greater Baltimore chapter, Bethesda and DC chapters) for their support. We thank PROMISE alumni, business owners, partner organizations (e.g., NSF ADVANCE, Institute for Broadening Participation, MSPHDs, WEPAN),  and corporate diversity officers (MIT Lincoln Labs, LANL) for working with us to develop this session and for supporting PROMISE. 

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• 12:45 PM: PROMISE 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)

• Luncheon Program welcome from University System of Maryland Administrators.

• Meet, Greet, and Eat! Alumni Mentors-in-Residence leading lunch table conversations on various topics. Choose a table, enjoy your meal and the conversation. 

• Dr. Angela McRae, Visiting Scholar, Catholic University; Adjunct faculty, University of Maryland College Park (UMCP Alum)
  • Table Topic: Balancing work and family, getting a faculty position.
• Dr. Troy Grant, Adjunct Professor, Loyola University of Maryland and Teacher, Prince Georges County Public Schools (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topics: Finishing the dissertation while working full-time, writing books “An Autobiography of an Unknown Man,” from probation to inspiration, life in the military,
• Dr. Heather Holden, Research Scientist,  Intelligent Technologies Researcher at Army Research Laboratory Simulation Training and Technology Center (STTC), (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topic: The process of editing and writing a book in your field
• Dr. Oliver Myers, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University (UMBC Alum)
  • Table Topic: Time management and health/wellness
• Dr. Stacey N. Williams, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Notre Dame of Maryland (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topics: Balancing family and graduate school, life as a professor
• Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topics: Staying on top of your research, transitioning from postdoc to professor
• Dr. Trudy (Smith) Amin, Drug Enforcement Administration (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topic: Transitions throughout graduate school, then to postdoc, then to permanent work
• Dr. Jocelyn Reader, Postdoctoral Fellow, Greenbaum Cancer Center (UMB Alum)
  • Table Topic: Things to consider when choosing a postdoctoral position
• Dr. Alycia Marshall, Chair, Mathematics, Anne Arundel Community College (UMCP Alum)
  • Table Topic: Careers at Community Colleges.

Feature: Dr. Alycia Marshall, tenured professor & Mathematics department chair (AACC) – PROMISE: Full Circle. UMCP PROMISE Alumna, Dr. Alycia Marshall, now has her own NSF grant ($598,000) for the Engineering Scholars Program at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.  In February 2013, Dr. Marshall won a Verizon Community Innovator Award for her work with the ESP program.  The Engineers Scholars Program provides up to $4,000 per year for tuition, mentoring opportunities, funds for students to attend professional conferences, organized study groups and scheduled opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals on a regular basis. The program targets underrepresented groups in Engineering (women, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans), but the scholarships are open to all students. Dr. Marshall used PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program as models for her grant.

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• Luncheon Program: Recognition of PhD Candidates: All PhD Candidates (post qualifying exams, proposals, etc.), from all schools in the University System of Maryland will be asked to come to the front to be recognized. PhD candidates should be prepared to give a 30 second introduction with name, school, department, research topic, and expected year of graduation.

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• 
• Luncheon Keynote with UMBC’s President, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski.   Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, has served as President of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) since May, 1992.  His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Read about Dr. Hrabowski in Time Magazine: 10 Best College Presidents, World’s 100 Most Influential People. See Dr. Hrabowski talk about UMBC on 60 Minutes. Watch Dr. Hrabowski’s  TED Talk 2013. Dr. Hrabowski talks about PROMISE: 

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• 2:30 PM: 10th ANNIVERSARY CAKE RECEPTION:

• NETWORKING, Meet-up,  & “TWEET-UP” @PROMISE_AGEP

#PROMISEagep

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PROMISEagep

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/PROMISE-Marylands-AGEP-107650

*******

• 3:00 PM: ADJOURN

Stay tuned to this website for a running list of confirmed guest speakers.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Donations to memorial funds (in memory of our former PROMISE Peer Mentors who have passed away)  in lieu of registration fees, are strongly encouraged:

• Dr. Angela Grant Memorial (Math): http://promisetributes.blogspot.com/2010/09/remembering-dr-angela-grant-former.html
•  Jessica Soto Perez Memorial (Chemical Eng.):  http://promisetributes.blogspot.com/p/jessica-soto-perez-tribute.html

About the Summer Success Institute (SSI) About PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP   

Follow @PROMISE_AGEP on Twitter for articles, advice, and up-to-the-minute information. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Please stay tuned to this page for regular updates on speakers and logistics. Last update: August 10, 2013

The primary sponsor for the 2013 PROMISE AGEP Summer Success Institute is The National Science Foundation, Division of Education and Human Resources, Directorate of Human Resource Development, Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) “PROMISE Pathways”  grant #1111217 . Co-sponsorship is provided by The Graduate School at UMBC, The University of Maryland College Park Graduate School, and The University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate School. Employers of some of our guest speakers are also sponsoring their participation. This website will be updated with the names of those organizations as our guests are confirmed.

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• Postdocs: Planning for Success and Developing an “Individual Development Plan (IDP)” (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

*”When Bricks and Sticks are Replaced by Clicks” (Ref: Eric Schatzker, anchor and editor-at-large at Bloomberg Television, “Market Makers,” June 19, 2013.)

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Our PROMISE AGEP is in the “PROMISE Pathways” phase where we have been looking at ways to expand our program and partner with more campuses within the University System of Maryland (USM). On Tuesday, April 16, 2013, a group of PROMISE students left UMBC at 5AM to travel to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to serve as moderators for the 2013 Regional Research Symposium which was part of the celebration activities for the new president, Dr. Juliette Bell. Dr. Bell, a biochemist, spent time meeting and greeting the group from UMBC. Dr. Bell’s own mentor from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health (NIEHS/NIH), Dr. Thomas Kunkel, gave a keynote address that discussed innovations in DNA repair.

At the door of opportunity. PROMISE Students from UMBC at the Student Services Center at UMES.

Students also had a chance to talk with Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis, an assistant professor at UMES, and former PROMISE Peer Mentor from UMB. We extend thanks to Dr. Jennifer Keane-Dawes, Dean of the Graduate School at UMES for her invitation and hospitality, and we thank Dr. Lakeisha L. Harris, for her logistics leadership. Congratulations to all of the poster and oral presentation winners, and to the faculty who won special awards.

Luncheon Photo with President Bell. Pictured, L-R (graduate students from UMBC unless otherwise noted): Eric Corbett (Human-Centered Computing), Miguel Nino (Instructional Systems Design), DeLauren McCauley (Chemistry), Nanda Cortes (Biology), Dr. Jennifer Keane-Dawes (Dean of the Graduate School, UMES), DR. JULIETTE BELL (PRESIDENT, UMES), Dr. Renetta Tull (Assoc. Vice Provost/PROMISE Dir.), Lois Oviawe (Economic Policy Analysis), Nebechi Osia (Environmental Engineering), and Kyle Edwards (Applied Sociology). 

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• Save these Spring/Summer 2013 dates! May 4: Cookout; July 9-12: Dissertation House; August 16-17: SSI (promiseagep.wordpress.com)
• Dr. Portia Taylor (CMU, QoLT, PROMISE DH Alum) talks @UMBC about motion sensors & rehabilitation: April 10, 2013 (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)