ACerS/TMS Emerging Faculty Symposium : Funding, Mentorship, and Growth as Faculty Members
Sponsored by: ACerS Education and Professional Development Council, TMS: Education Committee
Program Organizers: Ashley Hilmas, Air Force Research Laboratory; Tessa Davey, Tohoku University; Victoria Miller, University of Florida
Wednesday 2:00 PM
October 12, 2022
Room: 312
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center
2:00 PM Invited
Integrating Scientific Writing into Undergraduate Level Traditional Engineering Courses: Mengying Liu1; 1Washington and Lee University
As more engineering students participate in research and attend graduate school, scientific writing has become a desired skill but not yet been adequately taught at undergraduate level. Oftentimes, it can be challenging to effectively communicate the expectations, which makes students dislike the writing assignments and leaves us as faculties with the burden of providing constructive feedback. We practice this integration of scientific writing into solid mechanics and materials engineering courses at a primarily undergraduate institution. Each semester, we set aside 3-4 lectures time for writing, with each focusing on one specific topic at a time. A “flip” style is applied -- students work in groups, then we monitor and address their problems in time. This significantly reduces the amount of work for both faculties and students.After showcasing the practices, we would like to hear your story and discuss how to improve the teaching and learning experience better.
2:30 PM Invited
Funding, Mentoring and Broadening Participation: Opportunities and Pathways: Jonathan Madison1; 1National Science Foundation
In science and other STEM professions, the trajectory of one’s career is impacted heavily by the activities and productivity of the first several years. As with all endeavors – resources, infrastructure and guidance are indispensable to solidifying a strong start. In this talk, several funding solicitations available exclusively to early and mid-career researchers such as the INTERN Dear Colleague Letter, the highly coveted CAREER Award and the new Mid-Career Advancement Solicitation will all be highlighted. Funding profiles will then be discussed in terms of their relation to typical career progressions and select professional pathways. Following the discussion of funding, guidance on how to be an outstanding mentor as well as find, secure and get the most from your mentoring relationships will be provided. Lastly, strategies for building a strong cast of mentors within your workplace, beyond your institution and by means of professional societies will be shared.
3:00 PM Invited
The STEM Ambassador Program: Engaging Materials Scientists with Public Groups – Where They Live, Work, Recreate, and Gather: Nalini Nadkarni1; Andrew George1; Sara Yeo1; 1University of Utah
Creating effective bridges between science and society – especially with scientifically underserved groups – is increasingly recognized by scientists and engineers, as traditional educational venues (e.g., museums) do not reach everyone. With support from the National Science Foundation, we developed the STEM Ambassador Program (STEMAP) to guide scientists to draw upon both their research topics and their personal interests to engage community groups in the venues where they live, work, and gather. In our cohort-based trainings, “STEM Ambassadors” learn and practice skills to be responsive to the interests, values, and experiences of a specific “focal group” with whom they share common ground. Ambassadors build trust by demonstrating a willingness to listen and support the community. Over 95% of our 150 Ambassadors reported an increase in their interest and capacity to engage with new audiences, e.g., senior citizens, hunters, youth-in-custody, and faith-based communities. We now offer STEMAP to other institutions.
3:30 PM Break
3:50 PM Invited
Navigating the National Science Foundation - Tips for Early Career Faculty and Researchers: Alexis Lewis1; 1National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports fundamental scientific research, education, and outreach through grants, fellowships, and community-building activities. This presentation will describe the process of NSF proposal preparation and submission, provide insights on how best to communicate with NSF program directors, and discuss ways in which early career researchers can engage with and participate in the NSF Community. A high-level discussion of NSF policies will be followed by insights into best practices from the perspective of the Engineering Directorate. The presentation will be geared toward early-career faculty, but will include information relevant to anyone interested in working with NSF.