In this session, Dr. Moore will discuss some of the barriers for women of color in STEM.  Sharing the voices and experiences of her students and peers, Dr. Moore will reveal the obstacles that real women face in their daily lives within and alongside natural science programs.  She will also suggest ways that we can be more engaged in equity in our research, teaching, and mentoring within the ocean and coastal sciences and within the sciences in general and emphasize how women of color can navigate their way to personal and professional fulfillment within STEM fields. We invite you to visit Dr. Moore's website prior to the Symposium and read the linked article. 

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About the Speaker: 

Dr. Amelia Moore

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Dr. Amelia Moore is an Associate Professor of Marine Affairs in the College of Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island.  She earned her Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of California Berkeley and her B.A. in Environmental Biology from Columbia University.  She approaches her research areas through the adaptive lens of feminist studies of science and black ecologies, building bridges between critical theories of social difference, anthropology, post- and de-colonial studies, political ecology, and the socioecological sciences.

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Amelia is currently involved in projects in the coastal state of Rhode Island (USA), Indonesia, and The Bahamas, her long-term research home.

The peer review process is vital for ensuring research is published in its best form, and this relies on good reviewers. Want to avoid being the stereotypical “Reviewer 2”? Come to this session to learn what peer reviewing entails and understand the fundamentals of writing a helpful and impactful review.

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About the Speaker: 

Dr. Colleen Mouw 

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Dr. Colleen Mouw is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Oceanography, and mentoring, professional development and personal growth enthusiast. Her academic research focuses on utilizing optical tools to investigate phytoplankton community structure, carbon cycling, and the physical drivers of these in marine and freshwater systems. Her personal and professional interests lie in mentoring, coaching, and inspiring others to discover and achieve inner excellence to thrive in their professional lives. She believes that professional skills in communication and leadership are just as important, if not more important, as technical skills and knowledge in career success, impact, and satisfaction. She teaches a graduate course on scholarly writing, co-leads a national program aimed at retaining women in science, and is trained in non-verbal communication. Learn more about Colleen at https://www.mouwlab.com/.

We’ve all heard that networking is a great way to find jobs, make collaborations, and meet new colleagues, but it can seem like an intimidating process. Good news! Conferences and networking can be fun with some simple networking tips and a handful of conversation starters. In this session, we will discuss ways to stand out in both large and small conferences, and how to gain confidence when networking.

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About the Speaker: 

Dr. Alycia Mosley-Austin

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Alycia Mosley Austin, PhD, is the Interim Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the

University of Rhode Island. Dr. Austin is a national leader in diversity and inclusion and

oversees the Graduate School's Diversity and Inclusion Badge Program. She leads courses and workshops on professional development for trainees at all career stages. While serving as Associate Director of URI's Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program she managed the

administrative operations of the graduate program and played a key role in developing a new undergraduate major in neuroscience. Dr. Austin holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brown University and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego.

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Interested in graduate school? Wondering where to begin looking for programs? This session will cover finding the right graduate program for you, the basic application materials required, and typical timelines for grad school applications.

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About the speakers: 

• Sam Setta: Sam is currently a PhD Student at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO). She holds a Master’s degree in Marine Science from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor’s degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from The University of Texas at Austin. Sam has research experience in algal biofuels, coral reef ecosystems, phytoplankton ecology and salt marsh biogeochemistry.

• Dr. Catherine Alves: Catherine Alves, Ph.D. (she/her) is a marine ecologist and social scientist who recently defended her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Dr. John Bruno. Her dissertation work focused on evaluating the effectiveness of community-based fisheries management in Belize from social and ecological perspectives. Prior to beginning her Ph.D., she spent several years working in marine conservation and education after receiving her B.A. in Biology from Connecticut College. Her passion for the ocean began at a young age, having spent the summers of her youth exploring the beaches of southern Rhode Island. In mid-December, she will begin a new position as a Fisheries Climate Change Social Scientist with a NOAA contractor. Outside of work, Dr. Alves enjoys kayaking, biking, and gardening. Follow her on Twitter @calves06 or check out her website.

• Michelle Hauer:  Michelle Hauer is a 3rd year graduate student in Dr. Roxanne Beinart's lab at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography, where they study host-microbe symbiosis at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and other so-called "extreme" environments. Prior to joining URI, Michelle received a Bachelor's degree from DePaul University in Environmental Studies with a minor in Art. Some things they like outside of science include rock climbing, backpacking, art and music.

• Jill Ashley: Jill Ashley is a first year PhD student in Dr. Hollie Putnam’s lab. Originally from New Jersey, she received her BS from William & Mary in 2019. As an undergraduate, she completed both a NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and Honors thesis at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science studying Eastern oyster physiology and environmental history. After graduation, she was an Ocean Acidification intern at Mote Marine Laboratory working on impacts of OA and temperature on bleaching recovery in corals. In the Putnam Lab, her research focuses on understanding the effects of parental environment on the physiology and epigenome of coral offspring and what that might mean for coral resilience to climate change. She is currently an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Twitter: @JillAshey 

The majority of jobs, graduate programs, and postdoctoral positions require either a resume or CV as part of the application. Want to spruce up your CV? Great! We will talk about what makes an impactful CV. Never created a resume or CV? No problem! We will talk about the components of them and what to include in the future. At the end, we will do a CV swap for anyone who wants a peer-review.

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About the speakers:

Douglas Oiumette:  ​

Douglas Ouimette is a Career Education Specialist at URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education where he provides professional skill building strategies and career coaching to undergraduate students, in all stages of their academic careers through workshops and individual advising appointments. He holds a M.Ed. in Sport and Recreational Management from Springfield College, and a B.S. in Justice and Law Administration from Western Connecticut State University. 

 

Cara Mitnick

Cara Mitnick is Director of Professional Development Director at URI’s Graduate School where she provides professional skill building strategies and career coaching to master’s and PhD students in all disciplines, in all stages of their academic careers through workshops and individual advising appointments.  She is also administrator director and a founder of URI’s Graduate Writing Center. Cara has served as assistant dean for career services at University of San Diego School of Law, as a tax lawyer for a large international Wall Street law firm, and as a research analyst for the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in DC. She holds a law degree from Northwestern, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University.

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Funding sources can come in many avenues, so join this session to hear about private funding sources, how to find them, and how to construct a successful proposal.

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About the speaker: ​

Kelly Canesi

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Kelly is a Grant Writer at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine. Before joining GMRI in December 2019, she worked at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Her experience includes hands-on research, science communication and journalism, private philanthropy and fundraising, and non-profit administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UMass Boston and a Master’s degree in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island.

Thinking about continuing a career in research and academia? A postdoc may be the next right step to gain more research, teaching, or grant-writing experience! We give an overview of both traditional research and teaching postdoc positions, where to find open positions, and what is expected during the application process.

 

About the speakers: 

• Dr. Ashley Bulesco: Dr. Bulseco earned a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology from Northeastern University, a M.S. in Marine Science and the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a B.S. in Marine Science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She conducted postdoctoral research at the Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts studying coastal carbon cycling and microbial food web connectivity. Dr. Bulseco is currently an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at Eckerd College in St. Pete, FL.

• Dr. Matt Ramirez: Matthew Ramirez is an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. He holds a PhD in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. His research broadly seeks to build an understanding of the causes and consequences of life history variation in marine species, with an emphasis on studying how environmental change and variability impact the ecology of individuals and populations. At URI he is studying how climate- and fisheries-induced ecosystem change influenced marine mammal and sea turtle foraging ecology over the past century.

• Dr. Daniela Lopes Paim Pinto: Dr. Lopes is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences (URI) where she was previously a postdoctoral fellow. She has received her Ph.D. degree in Agrobiosciences from the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italy in 2015, her M.S. degree in Genetics and Breeding from the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil in 2009, and her B.S. degree in Forest Engineering from the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil in 2007. Over the past 13 years, Dr. Lopes had investigated several aspects of plant development, including the post-transcriptional regulation, phenotypic plasticity, and the different plant morphogenic responses to in vitro culture. She has also worked uncovering the diversity of microbial eukaryotes and understanding the regulatory pathways driven by small non-coding RNAs in red algae.

• Dr. Bushra Khan: Dr. Kahn is researcher in the field of Environmental Toxicology and Biology, currently working in the government sector as a postdoctoral participant with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) at the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Her broad research interest includes identification of effects of environmental stress and contaminant toxicity using aquatic species and development of biomarker approaches relevant to risk assessment. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Zoology at the University of Delhi, India, following which she worked with the World Wide Fund for Nature on an endangered river dolphin project. She holds a PhD from University of North Carolina-Charlotte focused on the identification of stress-induced biomarker responses, changes in microbial communities and susceptibility to metal toxicity in marine invertebrates. 

Phone, Skype, informal, and panel interviews are all common interview formats jobs, fellowships, and postdoctoral positions. This session will touch on tips for success, common interview mistakes, and how to prepare for each type of interview.

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About the speaker: ​

Douglas Oiumette:  ​

Douglas Ouimette is a Career Education Specialist at URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education where he provides professional skill building strategies and career coaching to undergraduate students, in all stages of their academic careers through workshops and individual advising appointments. He holds a M.Ed. in Sport and Recreational Management from Springfield College, and a B.S. in Justice and Law Administration from Western Connecticut State University. 

 

Cara Mitnick

Cara Mitnick is Director of Professional Development Director at URI’s Graduate School where she provides professional skill building strategies and career coaching to master’s and PhD students in all disciplines, in all stages of their academic careers through workshops and individual advising appointments.  She is also administrator director and a founder of URI’s Graduate Writing Center. Cara has served as assistant dean for career services at University of San Diego School of Law, as a tax lawyer for a large international Wall Street law firm, and as a research analyst for the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in DC. She holds a law degree from Northwestern, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University.

Is the thought of job searching daunting? Don’t know where to start? This session will be focused on starting the job search- where and how to find jobs that fit your interests and skills. We will explore job options in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. We will discuss how the job application process works and what materials are needed for successful applications.

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About the speakers: ​

• Dr. Yuki Honjo: Dr.  Honjo is the Chief Operations Officer for the McLane Research Laboratories. Located in East Falmouth, Massachusetts. McLane Research Laboratories, Inc., was founded in 1983 to provide advanced time-series samplers and engineering design services to the international oceanographic community.  Dr. Honjo holds an honors degree in History from Harvard and a Doctorate in Economic and Social History from Oxford University. Please find more information about McLane Labs on our Sponsor Page. 

• Dr. Kay Ho: Dr. Kay Ho is an environmental research scientist at the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division located in Narragansett, RI. She is the technical lead for microplastic research performed under the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, and a co-lead for the EPA regional project on Quantifying Microplastic Extraction Methods for Sediments.  Her work on microplastics is a part of her emerging contaminant research which includes microplastics, pharmaceuticals and engineered nanomaterials.  Prior to her focus on emerging contaminants, she developed methods for assessing sediment toxicity and identification of the causes of toxicity in complex natural sediments. She has authored or co-authored over 100 publications in the areas of sediment assessment, method development and emerging contaminants. She holds a BS from UC Davis, and a MS from Cornell University, both in Environmental Toxicology, and a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography in Chemical Oceanography.

• Dr. Susan Driscoll: Dr. Kane Driscoll is an aquatic toxicologist with over 30 years of experience in the application of risk assessment methods for evaluating the potential effects of environmental stressors. Dr. Kane Driscoll specializes in exposure modeling and toxicity of contaminants, including metals, hydrocarbons associated with oil and gas, and persistent compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). She has directed numerous risk assessments for a variety of industrial, utility, and governmental clients. She has extensive experience designing and conducting laboratory and field studies to support the development of technically defensible solutions to environmental problems. She has worked on projects related to oil spills, industrial releases, and injuries to aquatic and terrestrial resources. Dr. Kane Driscoll has conducted expert reviews for various industrial clients and trade associations related to claims of environmental fate and effects of commercial products, including various plastics and pavement coatings.

• Heather Kinney, M.A.: Heather Kinney is the Coastal Restoration Science Technician for the RI chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She has been with TNC for 3.5 years working mainly in the marine conservation program. From an early age, Heather had an interest in marine life and nature and spent most of her free time outdoors. Her growing passion for the environment eventually drove her to turn those interests into a career. Heather obtained her BS from Roger Williams University in marine biology and sustainability studies and went on to receive her MA in marine affairs from URI. Today, she is happy to hold a career in a field she is passionate about and one that allows her to continue to spend time outside.

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Who should be in your network, what roles will they serve, and how do you find them? Hear from a successful PI and frequent SWMS mentor on how to be an effective mentor or mentee in research science.

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About the speaker: 

Dr. Kelton McMahon

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Dr. Kelton McMahon received a B.Sc. in Biology from Bates College, studying the impacts of climate change-mediated shifts in ice algae and phytoplankton on the Arctic benthos. He then received his Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography. There he developed cutting edge molecular isotope geochemistry tools to identify essential nursery habitats and migration pathways for coral reef fishes. From there Kelton completed a postdoctoral scholar position at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. He used compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) to examine the sources and cycling of organic matter fueling the tremendous biomass and biodiversity on tropical coral reefs. Kelton then went on to complete a second postdoctoral position at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Here he applied the CSIA tools he had been developing in modern ecosystems to deep sea corals, which provide high resolution, long term records of past regime shifts in phytoplankton community composition biogeochemical cycling on centennial to millennial time scales. Kelton spent two more years at UC Santa Cruz as a research and lecturing faculty before moving to the URI Graduate School of Oceanography in the fall of 2017. At GSO, Kelton is developing a molecular geochemistry lab to explore how climate change and human-environment interactions alter the sources and cycling of organic matter in past and present marine ecosystems around the World.

Funding Your Science will distill the key challenges of writing grant and fellowship proposals and offer approaches for writing more effective proposals. We will clarify important differences between intellectual merit and broader impacts and provide a dynamic example of broader impacts activities in marine science research.

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About the speakers: 

Nancy Karraker: 

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Nancy Karraker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources Science at the University of Rhode Island. Her research focuses on ecology and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. She directs the Graduate Certificate in Science Writing at URI.

 

Felicia Page: 

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Felicia Page is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Rhode Island studying sea turtle conservation in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. She is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, NSF program SciWrite Fellow, and has completed a Graduate Certificate in Science Writing at URI. 

Don’t you love watching a beautifully crafted presentation? Come learn about showcasing your own research through effective data visualization and designing presentations for all audiences. This session will be an overview about connecting design with communicating science.

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About the speaker: 

Georgia Rhodes ​

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Georgia Rhodes is a Providence-based artist by way of the Midwest. She holds an MFA in Photography from the University of Georgia and a BFA in Art Education from Michigan State University. As part of RI C-AIM, she studies the collaborative and iterative process of research that combines art + design practice with scientific methodology. As a fine artist, she is interested in observing the way people make images and record their world, and exploring the way human anxiety causes us to interact with the natural environment. She is the co-creator of Vis-a-thon, a program designed to reimagine visualization as an evolving process of inquiry.

"Lessons from science under sail: the value of merging ocean research, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration"

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Dr. Whitaker will share insights from her experience conducting education-based research under sail, with special focus on a recent collaborative scientific and educational mission in the South Pacific Ocean. 

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About the speaker: 

Dr. Kerry Whitaker

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Kerry Whittaker is the Sawyer Visiting Professor at the Corning School of Oceanography, Maine Maritime Academy where she is contributing to curriculum design for a new Coastal and Marine Environmental Science major. As recently as August 2020, Kerry was an Assistant Professor of Oceanography at Sea Education Association (SEA) and Chief Scientist for SEA Semester programs aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer and SSV Robert C. Seamans, two 134ft tall ships sailing, conducting oceanography, and offering academic semester programs for undergraduates in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Kerry received a B.A. in English and Environmental Science from Colby College (2008), and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island (2014).  Professor Whittaker’s research focuses on the ecological, physical, and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain diversity in the ocean, particularly among marine microbes. Prior to joining SEA, she was the Faculty Chair of Coastal Studies for Girls (CSG), a place-based semester school in Maine focusing on marine science and leadership education for high school girls.  She also taught marine ecology courses at Bates College. Kerry is also a Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship alumna where she worked for NOAA within the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, advancing endangered species listings under the US Endangered Species Act.  Professor Whittaker is passionate about experiential science education and developing ways to merge real-world oceanographic research and policy with undergraduate education.