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"Despite the growing numbers of successful women in once male-dominated professions like medicine and law, computer science remains overwhelmingly a boys club."

So says a recent NPR article that discusses the arrival of Marissa Mayer as Yahoo's new president and CEO. As one of Google's first employees, Mayer helped develop Gmail, Google Maps, and Google's iconic homepage. She worked at Google for thirteen years, and launched more than 100 features and products that you probably use on a daily basis.

In the NPR interview, Mayer says she never really noticed that she was the only woman in her Computer Science classes. At Stanford, Mayer studied Symbolic Systems as an undergraduate, and left with her Master's in Computer Science.

According to NPR, Mayer's success has the potential to become a source of inspiration for other women in Computer Science. What do you think? Are you inspired by Mayer's story? Why do you think there aren't more powerful women in the Computer Science field?

2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

The wonderful truth is God has given us all we need to live a godly life and we are urged to make every effort to add to our faith, to work out our faith so that we do not lose sight of the truth of how God has rescued us, how he has cleansed us. If we forget, then we’ll become near sighted and blind- ones who cannot see, unable to see ahead, stuck and not able to move forward. But we’re encouraged to make every effort to live out our calling, to move forward on the long obedient road toward God and to remember that we lack nothing in the Lord.

Response:

Let’s ask the Lord to help us believe that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. Let’s make every effort to live out our calling remembering and trusting that the Lord has given us all we need.

Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity

2013-2015

Program Description

The University of Maryland Baltimore County invites nominations and applications for the UMBC Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity. UMBC is dedicated to ensuring a diverse, scholarly environment and encouraging outstanding individuals to enter the academic profession.  The purpose of the Program is to support promising scholars who are committed to diversity in the academy and to prepare those scholars for possible tenure track appointments at UMBC. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals who are members of groups that historically have been underrepresented in the professoriate.

UMBC will appoint recent recipients of the Ph.D. as Postdoctoral Fellows for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2013.  The fellow will receive a starting stipend of $40,000, health benefits, $3,000 for conference travel and preparation of scholarly work, office space with computer, library and other privileges at the university.  During the two-year term of appointment, the fellow will teach one course a year in the host department.  All fellows are expected to be in residence during the academic year and participate in departmental seminars and related activities.  Each fellow will be provided teaching and research mentors and specialized professional development opportunities across the campus. The remainder of the fellow’s time will be devoted to pursuing research.

Successful candidates for the Program will be selected on the basis of scholarly promise and potential to add to the diversity of the UMBC community.  Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree when the term of appointment commences and must be no more than three years beyond receiving the Ph.D.  Individuals currently holding a postdoctoral or faculty position at UMBC are not eligible.

Guidelines

Fields

Applications for study in any discipline represented on the campus are welcome. Please specify your discipline of interest.

Stipend

$40,000 a year.

Eligibility

Applicants who will have completed the doctoral degree no later than July 1, 2013 and no earlier than July 1, 2010 are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Application material:

• Cover letter addressed to Ms. Autumn Reed, Program Coordinator for Faculty Diversity Initiatives
• Current curriculum vitae
• Writing samples (e.g., publications and/or dissertation chapters)
• Names and contact information for three references
• A statement of research agenda (2-3 pages)
• A personal statement that includes why you should be selected for this program and which department/programs should review your application (1–3 pages)
• A list of UMBC department(s)/program(s) of interest

Deadline

Full consideration will be given to those applicants that submit all materials to Ms. Autumn Reed (autumn2@umbc.edu) by November 16, 2012. A complete submission will consist of a cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing samples, names of three references, a statement of research plans, and a personal statement. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Review and Selection

Applications will be reviewed by the appropriate department(s)/program(s), Dean(s) and the Provost’s Selection Committee. Semi-finalists will be announced in mid-January and finalists will be invited to campus for interviews in mid-February. Awardees will be notified by the first week of March.

Contact Information

Questions regarding the program may be addressed to:

Ms. Autumn Reed, Program Coordinator for Faculty Diversity

Office of the Provost

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD 21250

410-455-1099/autumn2@umbc.edu

www.umbc.edu/facultydiversity

 Printable copy:  http://www.umbc.edu/provost/UMBC_Postdoctoral_Fellows_Program_for_Faculty_Diversity.pdf

Faculty Diversity Initiatives at UMBC: http://www.umbc.edu/facultydiversity/initiatives.html

Related articles

• Our paper on postdocs @WEPAN 2012, presented today, Columbus, OH (renettatull.wordpress.com)
• Finish the dissertation, because you can’t put “Almost PhD” behind your name (renettatull.wordpress.com)

Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity

2013-2015

Program Description

The University of Maryland Baltimore County invites nominations and applications for the UMBC Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity. UMBC is dedicated to ensuring a diverse, scholarly environment and encouraging outstanding individuals to enter the academic profession.  The purpose of the Program is to support promising scholars who are committed to diversity in the academy and to prepare those scholars for possible tenure track appointments at UMBC. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals who are members of groups that historically have been underrepresented in the professoriate.

UMBC will appoint recent recipients of the Ph.D. as Postdoctoral Fellows for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2013.  The fellow will receive a starting stipend of $40,000, health benefits, $3,000 for conference travel and preparation of scholarly work, office space with computer, library and other privileges at the university.  During the two-year term of appointment, the fellow will teach one course a year in the host department.  All fellows are expected to be in residence during the academic year and participate in departmental seminars and related activities.  Each fellow will be provided teaching and research mentors and specialized professional development opportunities across the campus. The remainder of the fellow’s time will be devoted to pursuing research.

Successful candidates for the Program will be selected on the basis of scholarly promise and potential to add to the diversity of the UMBC community.  Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree when the term of appointment commences and must be no more than three years beyond receiving the Ph.D.  Individuals currently holding a postdoctoral or faculty position at UMBC are not eligible.

Guidelines

Fields

Applications for study in any discipline represented on the campus are welcome. Please specify your discipline of interest.

Stipend

$40,000 a year.

Eligibility

Applicants who will have completed the doctoral degree no later than July 1, 2013 and no earlier than July 1, 2010 are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Application material:

• Cover letter addressed to Ms. Autumn Reed, Program Coordinator for Faculty Diversity Initiatives
• Current curriculum vitae
• Writing samples (e.g., publications and/or dissertation chapters)
• Names and contact information for three references
• A statement of research agenda (2-3 pages)
• A personal statement that includes why you should be selected for this program and which department/programs should review your application (1–3 pages)
• A list of UMBC department(s)/program(s) of interest

Deadline

Full consideration will be given to those applicants that submit all materials to Ms. Autumn Reed (autumn2@umbc.edu) by November 16, 2012. A complete submission will consist of a cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing samples, names of three references, a statement of research plans, and a personal statement. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Review and Selection

Applications will be reviewed by the appropriate department(s)/program(s), Dean(s) and the Provost’s Selection Committee. Semi-finalists will be announced in mid-January and finalists will be invited to campus for interviews in mid-February. Awardees will be notified by the first week of March.

Contact Information

Questions regarding the program may be addressed to:

Ms. Autumn Reed, Program Coordinator for Faculty Diversity

Office of the Provost

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD 21250

410-455-1099/autumn2@umbc.edu

www.umbc.edu/facultydiversity

 Printable copy:  http://www.umbc.edu/provost/UMBC_Postdoctoral_Fellows_Program_for_Faculty_Diversity.pdf

Faculty Diversity Initiatives at UMBC: http://www.umbc.edu/facultydiversity/initiatives.html

Related articles

• Our paper on postdocs @WEPAN 2012, presented today, Columbus, OH (renettatull.wordpress.com)
• Finish the dissertation, because you can’t put “Almost PhD” behind your name (renettatull.wordpress.com)

Recent UMBC Ph.D. alumnus Sanjit Karmakar ’12, physics, has been featured in a  Baltimore Sun story focusing on his work in “ghost imaging,” the process by which a picture can be taken without actually “seeing” the object which is being photographed.
The camera Karmakar designed, which Sun reporter Jonathan Pitts described as “look[ing] like a cross between an 1890s camera and a bulky steamer trunk,” utilizes the light of the sun as the source for images, which are generated on a computer using mathematics associated with quantum physics. This process can be used to generate images of objects on other continents and planets without the distortion of traditional photography, according to the piece.
Karmakar’s research has made a splash in physics research circles, the article said, and has implications in defense and other areas.
Speaking on the still-unknown aspects of the nature of light, Karmakar was quoted as saying that “[m]any people still don’t understand its true properties.”
Read the full story here.

Recent UMBC Ph.D. alumnus Sanjit Karmakar ’12, physics, has been featured in a  Baltimore Sun story focusing on his work in “ghost imaging,” the process by which a picture can be taken without actually “seeing” the object which is being photographed.

The camera Karmakar designed, which Sun reporter Jonathan Pitts described as “look[ing] like a cross between an 1890s camera and a bulky steamer trunk,” utilizes the light of the sun as the source for images, which are generated on a computer using mathematics associated with quantum physics. This process can be used to generate images of objects on other continents and planets without the distortion of traditional photography, according to the piece.

Karmakar’s research has made a splash in physics research circles, the article said, and has implications in defense and other areas.

Speaking on the still-unknown aspects of the nature of light, Karmakar was quoted as saying that “[m]any people still don’t understand its true properties.”

Read the full story here.

Recent Ph.D. Sanjit Karmakar ’12, physics, was featured in an article published by The Baltimore Sun July 13th.

The focus of the article was on Karmakar’s work in “ghost imaging,” where a picture can be taken without actually “seeing” the object which is being photographed. The camera the physicist designed utilizes the light of the sun as the source for images, which are generated on a computer using mathematics associated with quantum physics. This process can be used to generate images of objects on other continents and planets without the distortion of traditional photography, according to the piece.

Speaking on the still-unknown aspects of the nature of light, Karmakar was quoted as saying that “[m]any people still don’t understand its true properties,” something which the odd-looking camera described as “look[ing] like a cross between an 1890s camera and a bulky steamer trunk” by reporter Jonathan Pitts is hoped by the physicist to address more on for his students, as well as his own work.