Events
The primary function of the GWE is to provide a means for women graduate engineering students to meet, network and support each other throughout their academic tenure at Berkeley. This is achieved through a number of initiatives but is most obvious in the activities we have as a group. We coordinate a number of special events including seminars, receptions and recruiting activities.
Fall 2009 Events
This fall, the Graduate Women of Engineering (GWE) in collaboration with the College of Engineering's Graduate Academic Diversity Program, COINS and the Department of Mechanical Engineering's Initiative on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion continue our speaker series "Mental Toughness: Women in Engineering." All students are welcome to attend. The group is also planning a welcome reception and social activities. Check back soon for upcoming events. You can sign up for event updates on the GWE mailing list.
General Meeting
When: Friday, September 18, 2-3pm
Where: Shephard Room (Etcheverry 3117)
What: Come to the Graduate Women of Engineering's first meeting of the year. This is a great opportunity to meet and catch up with students from all engineering disciplines. We will discuss the events being planned for this year, as well as take suggestions for other events. Plenty of time will remain for socializing. Coffee/tea and treats will be served!! Event sponsored by the Graduate Assembly.
Thriving in a Male Dominated World: Gender and Race during the Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings
Who: Maria Echaveste, Boalt School of Law
When: Tuesday, September 22, 4:30-6pm
Where: 310 Sutardja Dai Hall (CIRTIS Auditorium)
What: Women in engineering will continue to find themselves in male-dominated academic and work environments. One of the challenges is how to be forceful and successful in our endeavors while integrating into a male environment. Ms. Echaveste, a lecturer at Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, is a CNN commentator and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff under President Clinton. She will speak of her own experiences and challenges of being a lone woman in the room and her observations while serving as a regular CNN commentator during the Sotomayor hearings which focus on gender and race. A catered reception will follow. This event is co-sponsored by the College of Engineering Dean's Office.
Preparing Your NSF Graduate Fellowship Application
When: Wednesday, September 23, 5-6:30pm
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: All first-year graduate students and interested seniors are encouraged to apply for this three-year prestigious fellowship. Join a panel of NSF Fellows for tips on how you can strengthen your application.
EAPSI Infosession
When: Wednesday, October 7, 4-5pm
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: This is an information workshop about the East Asia Pacific Summer Institute program, sponsored by the NSF. Find out about summer research opportunities in Japan, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Korea, New Zealand, or Australia. There will be a quick presentation followed by a Q&A panel with previous program participants.
Applying for Academic Positions
Who: Ting Xu, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
When: Tuesday, October 13, 4:30-5:30pm
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: Professor Xu will give a presentation and then lead a candid discussion on the faculty job search. She will provide a recent hire's perspective on the process of applying for an academic position and share her insight on how to put together a strong application.
Download Prof. Xu's presentation here.
The Fundamentals of Networking: Workshop and Social
Who: Andrea Sparrey MBA, Sparrey Consulting
When: Thursday, November 5, 4:30-7:00pm
Where: Women's Faculty Club
What: An often-overlooked element of the engineering education, networking is becoming a necessary skill for all academics and professionals to ensure access to the best job opportunities and funding. Ms. Sparrey will focus on the fundamentals of networking and introduce methods for initiating conversation, communicating your message, and building and maintaining your network. A wine and cheese social with Berkeley Engineering alumni will follow the workshop- this is a great opportunity to put your new networking skills to work!
If you attended this event, please respond to the brief (5 minutes) survey to provide feedback to the speaker.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8gv3wiJNegyB9QEruj74rw_3d_3d
Download Ms. Sparrey's presentation and handout.
Mentor or Advisor - Is There a Difference?
Who: Amy Herr, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering
Andrew Szeri, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dean of the Graduate Division
When: Thursday, November 12, 5-6PM
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: As a graduate student you will face a variety of new challenges, from finding a research advisor, getting funded, course selection, to future career planning. Faculty are great resources because they have gone through the process themselves and have many experiences and connections to draw from. Come and learn what the difference is between a mentor and advisor. The speakers will discuss best practices for mentoring and advising, how to choose a mentor/advisor and establish the relationship, and reveal answers to questions you never thought to ask.
Download Professor Herr's Mentoring Presentation.
Additional Information:
Best Practices for Faculty Mentoring of Graduate Students
Stuff most students never ask about grad school
Lunch with WICSE
When: Friday, November 13, 11:30-12:30
Where: Wozniak Lounge in Soda Hall
What: The Women in EECS (WICSE) have invited GWE members to join them for lunch. Besides being an opportunity to socialize, the purpose of this lunch is to improve ties between these two graduate women in engineering groups and discuss opportunites for collaboration. Lunch will be provided.
The Nuts and Bolts of Changing Lab Advisors
Who: Steve Conolly, Associate Professor of Bioengineering
When: Monday, November 16, 5-6PM
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: For some graduate students, one of the most difficult decisions to make is whether or not to change labs. Professor Conolly will discuss how to make that decision, address common fears, and provide tips for making the transition go smoothly.
How to Get a Post-doc Position
(Date to be Announced)
Where: 3110 Etcheverry Hall
What: For many graduate students, the next step in an academic career is a post-doc. A panel of Berkeley post-docs and National Laboratory representatives will provide their insights into finding and securing the right position and applying for funding. This workshop is targeted towards advanced engineering graduate students.
Other Upcoming Events:
Leadership Skills
Lunch with WICSE
Past Years
Please click on the link below to find out about prior GWE events.
If you are interested in participating in any of these activities or would be interested in heading up an event, please contact one of the co-chairs of the GWE.