SUCCESS FROM THESIS TO TOMB: PROFESSIONAL VISIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC

CAREER-PERSPECTIVE FROM A LIBERAL

ARTS COLLEGE

The 12th Annual Meeting of Women in Cognitive Science Thursday, November 15, 2012 Minneapolis

Maximizing Research Time Research Area Maintaining Creativity and

Productivity Gender Issues

Maximizing Research TimeProblem at liberal arts college, e.g., no

TAs, profs do all grading, student expectations differ

Discuss strategies with colleagues, e.g., dealing with e-mail

Stay out of office at least one day a week

Save best hours for research

Research AreaSelect on basis of significance, interest

and opportunity

Establish programmatic research, develop theoretical framework and test

Specialization aids visibility. Resist diversion from program, e.g., student projects

Visibility can be enhanced by working in important but underdeveloped area

Maintaining Productivity & Creativity

Colleges have smaller faculty (probably no researcher in your field) and fewer research

resources ($$)

Leave town on sabbaticals and some summers

Collaborate- Contact researchers doing related work

Apply for extramural research grants NIH and NSF have special programs for

undergraduate institutions

GenderWomen underrepresented in academic

science. Why? Often blamed on women’s life style

choices, namely choice of disproportionate child- and family care

Gender bias still lingers: Moss-Racusin et al. (2012). Science faculty’s subtle gender biases favor male students. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Moss-Racusin et al. (2012) Application for lab manager position sent

national sample of bio, chem. & physics profs

Same application- varied male/female name Female application rated lower on

competence, hireability and how much would mentor

Female offered lower salary liked female more than male Sex of Prof had no effect

Implications of Gender Issues

Seek out mentoring Demonstrate competence- in papers,

editorial boards, grants. Watch for gender based salary

differences