The Women in STEM Research Symposium highlights a range of scholarly contributions made by self-identifying women in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The day-long event, now in its fourth year, will be held Thursday, March 1, and includes poster and oral presentations, featured talks, a panel discussion, and a special keynote speaker from the Department of Defense.
Thursday, March 1
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
Mary J. Miller, who is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, is the keynote speaker this year. Miller, a UT alumna, provides leadership, establishes policy and guidance for the development and execution of the DOD Science and Technology enterprise, with an annual budget in excess of $12 billion.
Mallory Ladd, doctoral candidate and National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow in Energy Science and Engineering, said she is most excited about this year’s speakers.
“We were able to get a really impressive line-up of scientists and engineers from varied backgrounds in academia, industry, non-profits, and government. I think that their career experiences and advice will be interesting to a broad audience.”
A diverse panel will discuss “Navigating a Career in STEM”. Panelists include Anita Marshall, graduate student in the University of South Florida’s geosciences program, Maha Krishnamurthy, vice president of the UT Research Foundation; Rebecca Prosser, professor of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and head of the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Concentration; Kertesha Riley, STEM career counselor at the Center for Career Development; and Carlee McClintock, senior scientist at Pain Consultants, LLC.
Undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff from 36 STEM departments at UT and post-docs or staff from ORNL will deliver poster or oral presentations. Undergraduate and graduate presentations will be judged by volunteers from STEM departments this year.
“Every year, I am surprised by the broad diversity of research we have going on right here at UT,” said Ladd. “This year’s presentations will include work from scientists at every level exploring everything from how we can make better biofuels or superconductors to how our circadian rhythm might be linked to our environment.”
This year’s symposium was organized by Pipeline: Vols for Women in STEM in partnership with the UT Chapter of the Society for Women Engineers, Systers: Women in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Psychology Graduate Student Association, and the UT Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, which are all student organizations made up undergraduate and graduate women and men from STEM departments.
Learn more about the event and the group by following its Facebook page or on Twitter @pipelineutk.