Panel steers science students toward career paths

For aspiring scientists, finding a job after college can be daunting. But this week, students at West Virginia University have a chance to explore and prepare for the future.

An event called "What Can I Do With a Science Major?" will take place Thursday, Sept. 13 6-7:30 p.m. in the Mountaineer Room of the Mountainlair.

Amy Keesee, a research assistant professor in the physics department and president of the West Virginia Chapter of the Association for Women in Science, said the event is geared toward helping students.

"We want to give undergraduate and graduate students the chance to learn about a few possible career paths that are available to scientists and find out what preparation is required for them," she said. "This will also be a great networking opportunity."

The event is hosted by the West Virginia Chapter of the AWIS.

Keesee said it is especially important for women to understand their career choices in the STEM fields.

"One of the panelists, a member of AWIS-New Jersey, contacted me to set up a meeting with AWIS-West Virginia members while she is in town for a software validation and verification conference," she said.

"Her position as a private consultant gave me the idea to find a panel of women scientists that are pursuing non-academic careers."

The event will host three panelists who will describe their jobs, how they chose them and the preparation required, and will answer audience questions.

The panelists at the event will be Mary Jo Egbert, PMP President of DynoVelocity, a project management consulting and computer system validation firm; Meredith Drosback, Ph.D., American Institute of Physics Congressional fellow in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and Mary Beth Adams, Ph.D., Supervisory Soil Scientist for the United States Forest Service.

Although the event will be open to all students, Keesee said she hopes certain majors will attend.

"It will be of specific interest to those considering or currently pursuing science and engineering majors and graduate degrees," she said.

According to awis.org, AWIS was formed In 1971 at a champagne mixer focused on tackling the problem of lower pay and workplace
discrimination against women.

Twenty-seven women attended the event, and they went on to found AWIS in the interests of
women in science and technology.

The event will provide refreshments and start at 5:45 p.m.