All Entries in the "STEM Fields" Category
Research Reveals the Best and Worst Colleges and Universities for Women Studying STEM
In the United States, women represent some 60 percent of all undergraduate students. However, they remain severely underrepresented in many STEM fields of study. A new report from Washington Monthly has ranked which colleges and universities are the best and worst schools for women pursuing educations in ten different STEM disciplines.
Differences in Muscle Tissue May Explain Disparities in Sports Injuries Between Men and Women
Some sports injuries, such as tendon and ligament tears, are more common in women, while others, such as muscle strains, are more common in men. A new study led by scholars at the University of Oregon has found sex-based differences in muscle tissue could explain this phenomenon.
Caltech’s Freshman Class Is the First in School History to Have More Women Students Than Men
Originally founded in 1891, the California Institute of Technology did not admit women students until the 1970s. Five decades later, the freshman class of 2028 is the first in school history where more than half of its students are women.
Harvard Study Reveals How Mothers Influence Their Daughters’ Choice for Field of Study
New research from Harvard based on a sample of over 2,000 middle school students has found parental influence regarding their children’s choice for field of study may be contributing to the persistent gender gaps in male-dominated STEM fields and woman-dominated humanistic fields.
In Memoriam: Charis Eng, 1962-2024
Dr. Eng made significant research contributions in the field of genetics and genomic medicine, including the discovery of a connection between the PTEN gene and Cowden Syndrome. She was also committed to advancing medical education and clinical research through her several leadership roles at the Cleveland Clinic.
Megan Koster Receives National Recognition for Advancing Respiratory Care Education
Dr. Koster currently serves as chair of the department of respiratory care at Boise State University in Idaho. Her research focuses on the tangible benefits of earning a graduate-level degree in respiratory care.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education Awards Its Highest Honor to Diane Burgess
For the past 30 years, Dr. Burgess has been a faculty member with the School of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut. Her research in pharmaceutics has led to nearly 300 publications and 10 U.S. patents.
Two Women Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards From the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior has recently awarded its Helen Denning Ullrich Annual Award for Lifetime Excellence in Nutrition Education to Mary Murimi of Texas Tech University and Diane Smith of Washington State University.
Amy Goldberg Appointed Chair of the American Board of Surgery
Dr. Goldberg has spent more than 35 years with the Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, holding several academic leadership positions. She has conducted extensive research on trauma injuries and the impact of gun violence prevention.
Barbara Reisner and Joanne Stewart Honored for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry Teaching
Dr. Reisner and Dr. Stewart were honored for participating in the creation of the Interactive Online Network of Inorganic Chemists, a supportive community for inorganic chemistry faculty members.
Jessica Bolton Honored for Early-Career Research Contributions in Psychology, Neurology, and Immunology
Dr. Bolton, an assistant professor at Georgia State University, focuses her research on how stress in early-life experiences affects the developing brain.
Study Reveals Women Are Less Likely Than Men to Receive Pain Medication During Emergency Room Visits
Even when they report the same level of pain and distress, medical providers are less likely to prescribe pain relief medication to women than men with similar conditions. This pattern was consistent regardless of the medical provider’s gender.
Quality Prenatal Mental Healthcare Results in Longer Gestation and Healthier Babies
The new study investigated the efficacy of MomCare, a program that provides simple, brief interpersonal psychotherapy for expecting mothers. Participants who enrolled in MomCare were more likely to have longer pregnancies, resulting in healthier babies.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
Jennifer Van Mullekom Receives Outstanding Mentor Award from American Statistical Association
For the past eight years, Dr. Van Mullekom has overseen the Statistical Applications and Innovations Group, the statistical collaboration center for Virginia Tech faculty and staff. In this role, she guides graduate statistics students through various internal and external projects.
Emory University Names Pamela J. Bjorkman Inaugural Recipient of Max Cooper Prize in Immunology
Dr. Bjorkman, a professor of biology and biological engineering at CalTech was honored “for discovering key details about how T cells recognize antigens and eliminate virally infected cells and tumor cells.”
Study Finds Women Academic Psychologists Are Less Likely to Win Prestigious, Senior-Level Awards
Although the gender gap in women’s share of academic psychology awards has significantly closed over the past 50 years, gender disparities remain among prestigious, senior-level, and shared awards.
Spelman College Establishes Research and Teaching Partnerships with Three Nigerian Universities
Spelman College has recently signed a partnership agreement with three Lagos-based universities in an effort to strengthen the educational ties between the United States, Nigeria, and other African communities.
Neha Vapiwala Will Head the American Society for Radiation Oncology
Over the next four years, Dr. Vapiwala will serve one-year terms as the national organization’s president-elect, president, chair of the board of directors, and immediate past chair, respectively.
Two Women Scholars in STEM Receive Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowships
The Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship is the U.S. Department of Defense’s flagship single-investigator award for basic research. Two women, Domitilla Del Vecchio and Emilia Morosan were among this year’s cohort of 11 scholars from universities across the country.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
Ruby Perry Receives Lifetime Achievement Award From the American Veterinary Medical Association
Dr. Perry is a professor of veterinary radiology and dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University. She has the distinct honor of being the first-ever African American woman board-certified veterinary radiologist.
Alexandra Newton Honored for Outstanding Research in Protein Science and Human Health
Dr. Newton is a Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego. She also serves as director of Cell Signaling San Diego, a collaborative center for molecular mechanism research.
Study Reveals Surprising Prejudice Against Women in Science
A new study has revealed a prejudice known as “the reverse Matilda effect,” where both men and women view any given STEM field as less attractive if they are aware that women have made significant contributions to that field.
Women’s Representation Among Ophthalmology Faculty Has Slowly Progressed Over the Past Fifty Years
A new study has found women’s representation among academic ophthalmologist has seen slow progress since the 1960s. This underrepresentation was particularly found among tenured professors and department chairs.
In Memoriam: Maxine Frank Singer, 1931-2024
Dr. Singer was pioneer in the field of molecular biology. She held several leadership roles with prestigious research institutions, and was influential in advancing diversity in STEM.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
The American Chemical Society Presents Its Highest Honor to Frances Arnold
Dr. Arnold was honored for developing a bioengineering method known as directed evolution. She first developed the method in the 1990s. Today, it is used by laboratories across the globe to make effective and sustainable chemical and biological products.
Lauren Gardner Recognized for Developing AI Systems to Discover and Track Potential Pandemics
In January 2020, Dr. Gardner, was essential in creating a web-based COVID-19 dashboard at Johns Hopkins University that was used as a global resource for tracking the pandemic. She teaches at Johns Hopkins as the Alton and Sandra Cleveland Professor in civil and systems engineering.
Study Investigates Factors Leading to Perinatal Suicide in the United States
Perinatal suicide, a leading cause of death among pregnant women and new mothers, is especially prominent in the United States compared to other developed countries. A new study has found mothers who die from perinatal suicide were more likely to experience mental health disorders, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence.
In Memoriam: Mildred Stahlman, 1922-2024
Dr. Stahlam began her career at the Vanderbilt University medical school in 1951 and remained on the faculty until her death. She was a pioneer in advancing the treatment for lung disease in premature infants and established one of the first newborn intensive care units dedicated to treating babies with respiratory complications.
Telling Students to Follow Their Dreams May Contribute to the Persisting Gender Gap in STEM
According to a new study from the University of Washington, when women undergraduate students are given advice to “follow their passions” in choosing a college major, they are significantly less likely to show interest in a STEM field compared to their male peers.
Black Women in Texas Are Twice as Likely to Experience Severe Maternal Morbidity Than White Women
Severe maternal morbidity cases are considered “near misses” for maternal death because they could have resulted in maternal mortality if they were not properly identified and treated. A large majority of the Black-White SMM gap can be attributed to disparities in untreated preexisting health conditions.
American Medical Association Advocates for More Women and Gender Minority Populations in Clinical Trials
“The lack of participation of women and SGM in clinical trials has clear impacts on the care these populations receive. Despite changes in the regulatory environment, inequities in clinical trial participation and outcomes persist today,” said American Medical Association board member, Dr. Toluwalase Ajayi.
