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Scientific Elites and Scientific Illiterates
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by David Goodstein, provost of CalTech. The best-written and most disturbing essay I have read on the future of academic science.
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Is Science Talent Squandered?
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We've all heard about the over supply of Ph.D.'s. This article argues that many of the most talented students leave science long before they get a Ph.D.
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Education: Rethinking PhDs
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Nature - April, 2011. "Fix it, overhaul it or skip it completely institutions and individuals are taking innovative approaches to postgraduate science training." (Requires free registration)
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Reform the PhD system or close it down
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Nature, April 2011. "The system of PhD education in the United States and many other countries is broken and unsustainable, and needs to be reconceived. In many fields, it creates only a cruel fantasy of future employment that promotes the self-interest of faculty members at the expense of students. The reality is that there are very few jobs for people who might have spent up to 12 years on their degrees." (Requires free registration)
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Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences
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Salary data for tenured and tenure-track faculty members in U.S. departments in the mathematical sciences gathered by the AMS.
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Survey Finds Small Increase in Professors’ Pay
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NY Times, April 11, 2011. "Average faculty salaries rose 1.4 percent from 2009-10 to 2010-11, even though average pay decreased at 30 percent of colleges and universities, according to the annual pay report being released Monday by the American Association of University Professors."
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Faculty Median Salaries - HigherEdJobs
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"Results of the 2006-07 National Faculty Salary Survey conducted by The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)."
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Faculty Salary Database
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Faculty salaries at public universities assembled by The Collegiate Times at Virginia Tech.
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Doctoral degrees: The disposable academic | The Economist
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The Economist, December 16, 2010. "One thing many PhD students have in common is dissatisfaction. Some describe their work as slave labour. Seven-day weeks, ten-hour days, low pay and uncertain prospects are widespread. You know you are a graduate student, goes one quip, when your office is better decorated than your home and you have a favourite flavour of instant noodle. 'It isnt graduate school itself that is discouraging,' says one student, who confesses to rather enjoying the hunt for free pizza. 'Whats discouraging is realising the end point has been yanked out of reach.'"
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Understanding current causes of women’s underrepresentation in science
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Ceci and Williams, PNAS. "We conclude that differential gendered outcomes in the real world result from differences in resources attributable to choices, whether free or constrained, and that such choices could be inuenced and better informed through education if resources were so directed. Thus, the ongoing focus on sex discrimination in reviewing, interviewing, and hiring represents costly, misplaced effort: Society is engaged in the present in solving problems of the past, rather than in addressing meaningful limitations deterring womens participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers today. Addressing todays causes of underrepresentation requires focusing on education and policy changes that will make institutions responsive to differing biological realities of the sexes."
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Succeeding in graduate school and beyond
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"The suggestions listed below come from the experiences of biologists from universities all over North America. Although the advice is mainly based on getting a job at a college or university, these suggestions apply equally to getting a governmental or NGO position. "
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Career Advice: Advice for Grad Students, part II - Inside Higher Ed
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Stephen C. Stearns outlines writing issues facing those in doctoral programs.
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Tools for Success in Graduate School and Beyond
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A guide from the University of Texas
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Greg Mankiw's Blog: Choosing a Graduate Program
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"Now is the time of year when prospective PhD students in economics are deciding which graduate program to attend. The decision is often hard. If you are in that position, here are a few recommendations about things to think about."
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To Choose an Adviser, Be an "Armchair Anthropologist" - Science Careers
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"Choosing a research adviser is as critical as any decision you will make during your scientific training. To choose wisely, you'll need to ferret out some information, both scientific and cultural."
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Choosing a Thesis Advisor
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"Choosing a thesis advisor is the most important decision of your life--perhaps more important than choosing a spouse--because your choice affects everything you will do in your career. Indeed, choosing an advisor is similar to getting married: it is making a long-term commitment."
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Writing a Winning Cover Letter
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"A good cover letter, like a good sales pitch, has several characteristics. First, like a good doctor, it does no harm; it avoids making a negative impression. Second, it demonstrates that the product suits the consumer's--your future employer's--specific needs. Third, it assures the customer that the quality of the product (you!) is superb. Accomplishing all this is easier said than done."
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Education: The PhD factory
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The world is producing more PhDs than ever before. Is it time to stop? Nature , 20 April 2011
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Wall Street Job Primer: A Comprehensive Guide for Those Aspiring to Work in Financial Services
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"I wrote this book to help those who aspire to or already work in the financial services industry. While my original intention was to help out aspiring quants (like myself a bit over 10 years ago), I have geared most all of the topics so that they will be helpful to anyone that is relatively new to the financial sector. Indeed, the content is presented in a manner that requires no prior knowledge. I have done my best to describe each topic from scratch and use examples/diagrams to illustrate many points. The first half of the book (three chapters) provides an introduction to capital markets and the financial institutions within. The latter half of the book focuses more on the actual jobs within these financial institutions. In the context of landing the right job, I discuss internships, advantages of advanced degrees, job searches, resumes and cover letters, follow-up, interview techniques, job offers, and more. I then discuss 'on the job' topics that will help you navigate the internal politics and move you along your career path. I give particular focus to what I label 'the fundamental theorem of the bonus system' which can help you maximize your compensation and promotion. Lastly I discuss strategies for career mobility since many people often might prefer jobs other than their own."
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Extraordinary ability and national interest waiver similarities and differences
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Two common obstacles for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the U.S. are the need for an employer sponsor and the labor certification requirement. There are two distinct immigration classifications which allow an alien to self-sponsor and thereby avoid both
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National Interest Waiver
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The national interest waiver (NIW) is a provision of the second preference employment-based category which allows a beneficiary to bypass the labor certification process and self-petition for permanent residence based on professional achievements he established in his field of endeavor. This waiver is available if the applicant's work is in the national interest and he has a good record of achievements in his field. The NIW is typically utilized by postdoctoral researchers, but can also be used by professors, industry researchers, artists, and business people.
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Extending H-1B status beyond six years as it relates to timely filing for permanent residence
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An H-1B visa petition is normally approved for three years, and is renewable for another three. However, the status may be extended beyond the sixth year in one-year increments under certain conditions - all of them in cases where qualifying documentation has been pending 365 days or more as of the date of the filing of the H-1B extension request
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Alternatives to H-1B Visas: J-1 Trainee Visa and H-3 Trainee Visa
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An overview of the J-1 and H-3 visas.
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Student update: STEM degree holders
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On April 4, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released an interim final rule, extending the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension is available to F-1 students with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) who are employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program. This update explains benefits this interim final rule provides to qualified foreign students as well as restrictions it imposes on such as type of employment, period of unemployment, and field of employment.
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CESTAGI - Connecting Engineering, Sciences & Technology in Academia, Government & Industry
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"Cestagi is a free software that you can use to create and maintain a biographical sketch site. The focus of the Cestagi project is to provide educators and young scholars innovative tools to manage and promote their unique credentials, enabling interdisciplinary communicative and collaborative efforts."
