August 25, 2008

George Bush is Detrimental to Science and Medical Research!?

America never faced such a crisis of govt & Federal funding for Science and medical research than in the last several years during Bush's regime. While billions and trillions of dollars have been wasted in the name of war, not even a fraction of such amount is allocated to scientific and medical research?.

During this time, the developing or underdeveloped countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China and even the poverty ridden India been promoting better science and research with considerable amount of funding to research.

Here is the latest Higher Ed Report on Federal Funding and it's
aftermath of Scientific research in USA.

©Istockphoto/Dr.Heinz Linke

‘Unprecedented’ 2-Year Decline for U.S. Science Funds

The numbers will not surprise anyone who has closely tracked federal budget discussions about science and technology in recent years. But that won’t make the data released Friday by the National Science Foundation any more palatable for those concerned about the American research enterprise.

But the extent of the downturn is stark, the NSF reports: For the second year in a row, federal funds for academic research in science and engineering failed to outpace inflation. That situation is “unprecedented,”

the science foundation notes; never before in the 36 years that the NSF has produced this report have there been two consecutive years in which federal science spending has declined in current dollars.As seen in the table below, colleges and universities spent $49.431 billion on research and development in the 2007 fiscal year, up 3.5 percent (or 0.8 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars) from 2006.

Federal support rose to $30.441 billion, up 1.1 percent in current dollars and
down 1.6 percent once adjusted for inflation.

That follows a 0.2 percent decline in inflation adjusted dollars from 2005 to 2006:

For complete story, click the topic linked to the original article.

August 12, 2008

Fixing the structural ills of US biomedical research

This news piece is a good analysis about Michael Teitelbaum's article on policy changes to fill the cracks in academia?.

Fixing the structural ills of US biomedical research

By Jonathan M. Gitlin | Published: July 31, 2008 - 01:03PM CT

Although the US biomedical research endeavor might appear to be in great shape, it faces some significant problems. The rapid doubling of the NIH budget started during the Clinton administration was followed by several years of flat funding, and this has exposed structural cracks in the way that we're training and employing researchers. Here at Ars we've been banging that drum for a while now, and today in Science, Michael Teitelbaum, vice president of the Sloan Foundation, joins in with a policy forum article on the topic that contributes a list of suggestions for policymakers.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080731-fixing-the-structural-ills-of-us-biomedical-research.html

August 08, 2008

INTERVIEW with a PostDoc- OKi, Mathew O'Connor


some of the PostDocs Pics, courtesy: from PRO/UAW website

Breaking PostDocs News!!!!
PostDocs at the University of California Campuses are getting closer to Unionization!!.
One more step and they will be finalizing unionization of PostDocs at the UC campuses.

After a long fought out struggle to get recognition and respect, postdocs in UC came long way to get to this state of unionization, and it is worth looking at their plights, organizational efforts that lead to a successful majority card sign up.

At the time of this interview with one of the PostDoc activist and spokesperson OKi, UC Postdocs were waiting for the local labor board certification.

Oki popularly known is a postdoc, who's real name Mathew O'Connor, he is one among the postdoc organizing committee members and the spokesperson for the PRO/UAW. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the field of Bio-Engineering at the University of California, Berkley campus.
Oki, like other active postdocs at UC campuses are part of this organizational movement that is ongoing as of now in UC campuses. In an effort to bring the postdocs together to make their voices heard by the administrators and faculties.

PRO/UAW organizers recently submitted the petition to the PERB and waiting to hear from the labor board for the next step to officially announce their unionization and plan for negotiating a contract that would make postdocs life much better in UC campuses. If finalized this will be the second "POSTDOC UNIONIZATION" in US and in the world.
I Interviewed Oki on the phone a couple of weeks ago, here is it:-

Dr.Muni: I have read the news about 5000 PostDocs joining PRO/UAW, what is happening at the UC, can you tell me briefly about this news??.
Oki: Thank you for your call and I am very happy to be talking to you the poineer's of PostDoc unionization at the UCONN Health center. It is an exciting moment for us, what we have now is the majority of the postdocs about 3000 or more signed up for the union cards. This is good because now we can seek the PERB approval for joining the union.
Dr.Muni: Isn't this card sign up was going on for a while!, what happened in the earlier efforts to get postdocs sign the card?
Oki: Well, prior to this event, there were only 100 cards about two years ago. Which is very smaller number for us to do anything with it, also, about 600 of the signatures were disregarded as the "title" of PostDocs were changed to some other titles that was not in favor of a postdoc to get into such activities. This title change was one of the reason why we did not get majority sign up and we withdrew the petition last time, but now the organizing process is much more evolved and it is in a better condition now than ever.
Dr.Muni: This is a huge change and progress from the previous attempt?
Oki: Postdocs from all the campuses came forward to sign up. PostDoc's awareness, willingness to participate in union got better and better. Actually, they volunteered in huge numbers into this effort, so we have lot more postdocs with solidarity in thinking and working together, this involvement is a must for unionization process to grow up. So, the postdocs and the union UAW members worked together to get the majority cards signed up.
Dr.Muni: Now you have the cards in hands, what is next?
OKi: We have filed a petition for the approval from PERB, and are waiting for the PERBs decision for our next move.
Dr.Muni: What is PERB, and what is it's role?. Do you have to go for a campus election?
OKi:PERB is the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) of California, this is the authority to decide on the cards signed, the board will check the details of the postdocs, legiteacy, appointment verification and finaly certify that we are employees and we have a majority signed up the union card.
Dr.Muni: Once PERB is approved, do you have go for election?.
OKi:No, No election is required if PERB authorizes our cards. It is different from the Uconn Health Center labour board recognition, where a election was required to prove the majority. In PERBs case, once cards are in majority, this is in itself an approval to join the union. [check the PRO/UAW website for updates: Updates from the PRO/UAW Organizing Committee, Fellow Postdocs]
Dr.Muni: Good, so the next process is to announce the unionization and work on the policies
OKi: Yes
Dr.Muni: Why do you seek a Unionization and what are you going to achieve?
OKi: Union is a voice, we are hopeful that this will bring us a equal voice in the administration where we will participate on decision and policy making, this establishes a power relation with the university.
Dr.Muni: Is there any other Postdoc Union in US or in the world?.
OKi: Uconn Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut is the only Postdocs in US, and it is the only postdoc union in the world. As of today, to my knowledge this is the only postdoc union in the world and ours will be the second, but ours will be the largest PostDoc union in the world once we complete this process.
Dr.Muni: What is your understanding about Uconn Postdoc union and did you learn anything from them?.
OKi: Uconn PostDocs are the pioneers, they had set a president by unionizing, going through all the struggle for recognition and better treatment of PostDocs, this is a great model for postdocs community all over US and the world, what they achieved is phenomenal success and it is a great inspiration for us.
Dr.Muni: One last question, what is next and what is to expect in the coming weeks?.
OKi: Well, we are waiting for the PERB approval, once we hear their decisions, we will formulate the PostDoc union and move on on to negotiate our first contract, just like how the Uconn Postdocs got their very first best contract signed and approved within 6 months time. We will go from there.
Dr.Muni: Thanks Oki, I appreciate your time and this happy news with me.
Oki: Thank you Dr.Muni, we are happy to share this news with the pioneers of postdoc unionization, looking forward to chat with you soon about the progress

August 07, 2008

Is Modern American Science Strangling Its Young Talents In the Cradle?

Sheril Kirshenbaum is a marine biologist at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke. She blogs at The Intersection with Chris Mooney.

Thanks Sheril Kirshenbaum for touching this neglected topic of Postdoc Plights, the current academic structure and the way it functions need immediate change otherwise, soon US science might face lot more crisis that what are we are seeing now.
STEM EDUCATION

Plight of the Postdoc

Is Modern American Science Strangling Its Young Talents In the Cradle?

Particularly in the biomedical field, this opportunity gap between young and old is a quirk of politics. When NIH funding doubled between 1998 and 2003, many new Ph.D. positions were created, which in turn allowed established investigators with more students to submit better proposals. But then in 2003, NIH funding leveled off.

Older scientists now had a successful history based on the funding boom, and fallout today reveals significantly more scientists over the age of 70 finding support compared to those under the age of 30.
Perhaps the situation is best summed up by NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, who wrote in a recent Science magazine Policy Forum article, “Like farmers during difficult times, we should not ‘eat our seed corn,’ but protect it.”

Featured Post

Univerisity of Washington PostDocs Forming Union- Latest University PostDocs to Unionize!

University of Washington, yet another top notch higher education/research institute known for an impressive history and record setting, rig...

UC System & the Number of PostDocs?

How many PostDocs work at the UC system, this is one of the largest PostDoc group in US and probably in the world, what happens here can be a great event!. When things said and done on the PostDoc unionization, they will join the only Unionized PostDocs, the Uconn Health center Postdocs. Here is the latest numbers from the UC postdoc society website?

Postdocs in Numbers
UC Berkeley 1150
UC Davis 800
UC Irvine 344
UC Los Angeles 1110
UC Merced 20
UC Riverside 200
UC Santa Barbara 300
UC Santa Cruz 148
UC San Diego 907
UC San Francisco 1100
Total 6059

The above numbers are approximate and were correct to within 10 in
March 2008.


NeuroMonitoring- My Professional Blog

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Academic Productivity, a Blog about Academia???

Academics salaries lower than automobile industry worker salary?

Though, a comparision between an academician and a autoworker is not the right choice to do a salary or work related benefits, it certainly brings an issue of importance. What exactly academic people get as a benefits is a daunting task?. Read further about the disparity of salary for academicians and the following thoughtful comments by readers of the blog.


From Mark J. Perry’s blog, I just learned that the average UAW worker with a high school degree earns 57.6% more compensation than the average university professor with a Ph.D. Considering that there are plenty of academic positions that do not enjoy the average salary mentioned in the blog post, this is something to worry about. Average Postdoc salaries according to the NSF are nowhere closer to this figure, and you have to add the uncertainty of these positions (they are always short-term) and mobility demands (expect to move to a different university sooner or later). And of course, academic work longer hours and suffer a lot more psychological stress than car factory workers.

PostDocs Out There!

What PostDocs Favor?

Postdocs favor top biomedical research institutes
Several of the world's top biomedical research institutes--including a couple run by biopharma giants--have made this year's list of the best places for postdocs to work. The annual ranking by The Scientist for the U.S. includes the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (4); U.T.'s M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (5); Genentech (6); the Fox Chase Cancer Center (7) and the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (15). Among the top international institutions ranked, the University of Cambridge in the UK jumped from 9th to first place, largely because of their focus on professional training.
The survey found that institutions which consistently rank at the top of the heap are noted for their ability to listen to postdocs' concerns "about uncertain career opportunities, work/life balance, and the need for first-rate professional development."

Some Science this Week?

cow pic LATEST HIGHLIGHT
Population genetics: Rich pastures for cattle genomics
Nature Reviews Genetics
1 April 2008
Two recent papers show how genomics approaches that are applied widely in humans can be put to use in an important livestock species. This Research Highlight discusses these advances — a new method for identifying large numbers of SNPs in cattle, and the use of SNP-based mapping to study inherited disorders in this species.

Interesting Little Piece on Diversity &

From Nature.com, Postdoc Journal

I'm an alien

Jon Yearsley is a senior postdoc in evolutionary genetics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Finding refuge in my science.

"Naturalisations en masse, STOP," is one of the more startling political posters that I pass as I cycle into work. The poster shows that the rights of foreigners are once more up for debate. This reminds me that I, as a Brit, am an alien in this European society.

When it comes to my research, the environment is as familiar as a decent pint of English ale and BBC Radio 4. The culture of science is truly international, and interesting research is exciting in any language. At the last count, my department was home to 18 nationalities, making it almost as diverse as the flowers in a Swiss alpine meadow. And rather than this turning into a Tower of Babel, science is done, null hypotheses are refuted, papers are published and impact factors are recorded.

My research gives a welcome dose of the familiar in what can sometimes be an unfamiliar culture. I wasn't brought up with alpine cows, wrapping my lips around french vowels or trying the odd yodel. The unfamiliar is fun, but I'm glad that my habitual pursuit, science, is an important one. Arguably, scientific method crosses national boundaries. I like to think that even a bug-eyed alien postdoc from a distant planet would find some common currency with earthling academics.

PostDocs Union: New Minimum Ssalary: $37, 740!!

SALARY AND STIPEND LEVELS

UCSF Graduate Division

Current University of California Office of the President, UCSF Graduate Division, and UCSF Graduate Council policies require that postdoctoral scholars receive a minimum compensation equal to $37,400 (effective October 1, 2009). This salary level was established by the UC Office of the President and was consistent with the NIH salary scale at time of announcement. [IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH PRO/UAW, THE NEW MINIMUM SALARY FOR POSTDOCS WILL BE $37,740 AS OF 9/1/10. SEE THE UCOP WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE CONTACT THE UCSF POSTDOC OFFICE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. (jeannine.cuevas@ucsf.edu or christine.desjarlais@ucsf.edu; ph 514-4852)]

UC PostDoc Union Proposal, now Public Document, Read it at the Link?

The union has been working to put together proposal to bring to the University. There was an election for the initial proposal ratification that passed in December. The union and the University have now exchanged proposals which are now public documents: 

(http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/ne
ws_events/0901-heera_notice_px.html). 

There will be opportunity for public comment on these proposals (on both sides) Jan 20th at the UC administration building in Oakland, and also Feb 3rd. Laura encouraged PD to attend and comment. The first bargaining meeting between the union and the University will be held Feb 5th and 6th. The union will be conducting bargaining surveys over the next couple of months to get PD input, however PD must sign a card to give input. They are also conducting campus working conditions surveys to collect information on good and bad practices. The union will also be seeking authorization to go on strike if necessary during the bargaining process. This will be done through an election, no date has been set. PD who would like more information or have questions can contact Laura. Chair’s note: Laura confirmed that signing a card to give input does NOT enroll a person

PostDocs in Canada Unionize, win Union Battle?

Western’s Postdocs Win Union Battle
Postdoctoral associates at the University of Western Ontario will soon be bargaining a collective agreement as the latest in a growing number of postdocs that are unionizing at universities across North America.Western’s administration oppos­ed the union move, arguing that postdocs at the London campus were independent contractors who didn’t meet the legal definition of em­plo­­yees. The issue went before the On­­tario Labour Relations Board that ruled in favour of the more than 200 workers, certifying the Pu­blic Service Alliance of Ca­nada as their bargaining agent on Sept. 30.

PostDocs in India

How often you hear about PostDocs in general, and how often you hear news about PostDocs in India or China?. Which brings a question?, are there PostDoc jobs in India and China?. PostDocs in these countries is relatively a new development, remember the first time PostDoc was introduced in USA during 1870's, it was such a luxury, it was used to gain some special expertise to expand once background and it was not necessary to have a PostDoc in order to get a Job in Academia or in other arena's?. This is not the case today, it became so important to have PostDoc experience to get a decent job, and may be more than a couple of PostDoctoral position and even after such a prolonged procrastination in Academia, there are huge number of PostDocs life is a treacherous one?.... If this is the case in USA, just imagine in India and China?. PhD holders from India and China used to migrate in huge numbers to US, the conditions of PostDocs got gradually worsened in terms of salary, benefits, child care and future career opportunities, it became like a Slavery in Academia?.
PostDoc Salary is the most debated issue of all of a postdoc's life. So much happened in the past 10 years to PostDoc activities in US. The most profound activity was the postdoc unionization of the Uconn Health Center, followed by the unionization by the largest Postdoc campus in US or perhaps in the world the University of California campuses.
No one knows how terrible could be the postdoc conditions in developing poor nations like India and China, but there is certainly no information about many European, African, Asian and South American nations. Most of the postdoc data available thus far are from US, Canada, UK and the rest of the world's postdoc data is simply redundant?.
Two of the most important countries to watch for postdocs concern or PostDoc plights are India and China, these two nations alone bulk produce two- thirds of the PostDoc pool of this world, while most of them used to move out to either west, Europe or Australia, the trend is changing, more Indians look for the green pastures right there in India, I believe the same applies to Chinese youngsters.
But, is the Indian govt or higher education bodies do their jobs to keep postdocs career equitable and respectable?.
The answer is no, there is not even a body to monitor the welfare of postdocs, at least in US, there is NIH standard and there is the National Science Foundation and various other bodies that influence policy making for postdocs. On top of All the above the new found awareness of PostDocs in US catapulted by UCONN PostDocs after they Unionized? Their unionization is greatly helping a sea change in postdocs plight. Hope the postdocs in India and China watch and learn some lessons and start tightening the policy making to benefit the postdocs....!
So, what is happening to PostDocs in India, I could not find much news, but the Nature forum has a little bit of discussion going on......

This is a public forum

Postdoc Salary in India

Saturday, 21 Feb 2009 18:36 UTC

Hello All
I am Arun, pursuing postdoc in India. I am personally not satisfied with the postdoc stipend offered in India and I believe that the handful of students doing postdoc in India might concur with my view.

The low salaries offered to Postdocs in India is one of the major factor which is impelling Indian students to either pursue postdoc abroad or to join private R&D establishments. This is slowly devolving the scientific future of India.

Read Further:

The Plight of Japan's PostDocs?

The Fate of Japan's Postdocs and their obscure future?

Japan's postdocs open to alternative work

Toshiyuki Misu1 & Akira Horoiwa1

The government and universities must highlight non-academic careers and nurture a diverse skill set, say Toshiyuki Misu and Akira Horoiwa.

Postdocs in Japan have had a tough time finding permanent positions, either in academia or in the private sector. In a 2005 survey by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) to identify postdocs' career intentions, we investigated people's awareness of and desire for non-traditional science jobs (NISTEP Report 161). We asked about 10% of the postdocs in Japan to participate, 66% of whom responded.


Rutgers PostDocs are on their way to Unionize successefully, FAQ!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I get involved with a postdoc union when I don’t plan on being around in a year?

If not you, then who? The postdocs who are currently employed at Rutgers have a vote over whether they and future generations of postdocs get to have a meaningful voice in determining their pay and working conditions. Also, any improvements we can make here can serve to raise standards for postdocs at other institutions across the country.

PostDoc Message Group

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UCLA PostDoc Union Negotiations with University?

Subject: Update on Postdoctoral Scholar Negotiations
UCLA Graduate Division

Dear Deans, Directors, Chairs, and Faculty:

As of November 3, 2008, the University of California recognized the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) as the exclusive representative for addressing wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for the following Postdoctoral Scholar title codes:
• Postdoctoral Scholar – Employee (Title Code 3252)
• Postdoctoral Scholar – Fellow (Title Code 3253)
• Postdoctoral Scholar – Paid Direct (Title Code 3254)
• Postgraduate Researcher – FY (Title Code 3240)
• Postgraduate Researcher – AY State Funds (Title Code 3243)
• Postgraduate Researcher – AY Extramural Funds (Title Code 3245
• Visiting _________ - Postdoc (Title Code 3370)

The University and the UAW have commenced negotiations on an initial collective bargaining agreement for the postdoctoral scholars unit. Below is a short summary of negotiations currently in progress.

UPDATE ABOUT POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR NEGOTIATIONS – APRIL 3, 2009

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Today's PostDoc & their Plight?

A man of his stature with the title “the NIH director”, supposed to be the highest and most respectable government authority and policy maker on issues in science/medicine writes “we should not eat our seed corn but protect it”?.

his writings underlies the fact that even this high and mighty NIH director knows the problem of the young scientists of today?, especially the postdoctoral fellows. But yet, neither he nor the scientific committee's at the NIH has taken necessary measures to help improve the current NIH funding system. This area is grossly/largely ignored or deliberately let loose without much restructuring.

The whole academia or higher education system in USA needs a careful reorganization, otherwise what you see will continue, a single faculty of 65 or 70 years old will have all the funding available and sit on it for years until his/her demented brain kills all the funding with as many as 32 grants (MOST OUTRAGEOUS DISPARITY) and

our most valuable and efficient young scientists will be struggling to meet the ends between the academia, lab and their family commitments.

What our current academic policies and atmosphere does to our young scientists is to chase the potential scientists out of labs and academia. Why blame these youngsters if they seek green Pasteur elsewhere like a “biotech job or an industry job”, they have no choice than to look elsewhere for their future.


STEM EDUCATION

Plight of the Postdoc

Is Modern American Science Strangling Its Young Talents In the Cradle?

In some cases, one can even single out

an apparent hoarding of research funds.
In 2007, two hundred scientists received six or more NIH grants, and a single investigator won 32 grants, while many others got close to ten.
An NIH advisory panel has recommended that grant awardees devote at least 20 percent of their time to each, but these numbers show a clear disconnect between intentions and reality. These multiple awards are going to established investigators—who are certainly not spending one fifth of their time per study—while younger scientists would probably devote more energies to the work. Thus, laboratories around the country are fostering a “survival of the oldest” dynamic.