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Stem Cell research was hot in the early 2000s. Sadly, 8 years of George Bush effectively eliminated America's competitive edge in the field, primarily in embryonic stem cell research.  Consequently, it is no surprise that there is little emphasis or discussion about stem cell research in the US.  To that end, a recent Gallup Poll was conducted to determine American attitudes and perceptions of stem cell research.  The results of the poll (originally posted the the Assay Depot blog) are shown below.

The poll results suggest that over 50% of Americans surveyed believe that all forms of stem cell research are morally acceptable.  Interestingly, while increasing number of American believe that stem cell research should progress, government funding for it has markedly declined since 2009 even though the ban on embryonic stem cell research was removed.

The take home message is that Bush's 8 year band on embryonic stem cell research has seriously affected American competitiveness in the field and that it is no longer a priority of the US government.  The bottom line: I would not plan a career in stem cell research unless you are willing to relocate outside of the US.

Until next time....

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!

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A fascinating article entitled “Why Science Majors Change Their Minds (It’s Just So Darn Hard)” that appeared in the NY Times this past Sunday asserts that the decline in American science, technology engineering and math (STEM) majors can be mainly attributed to the difficulty of the subject matter as compared with non-science majors. While I agree that STEM courses may be a bit more challenging their non-science counterparts and the way that they are taught can be improved, the decline in STEM majors can be directly attributed to the length of training and earning potential for STEM jobs as compared with non-STEM ones. Put simply, persons who pursue non-STEM careers generally require less training and have a much higher earning potential than those who choose STEM career paths. And, the reason why foreign students from emerging are flocking to STEM careers is that these jobs are highly regarded in their home countries and those who pursue these career paths are well compensated for their efforts.

Rather than try and enunciate my feelings on this topic, I think a Letter to the Editor from Stuart Firestein, PhD, Chairman of the department of biological sciences at Columbia University that appeared in today’s NY Times nicely capture my sentiments:

To the Editor:

Why do science majors change their mind? They wise up.

Your article makes it sound as if American science students are stupid or lazy, unlike their workaholic Chinese and Indian counterparts. This is glib and insulting.

It is in their second year that students typically join laboratories and see firsthand that their dreams of a scientific career include low-paying and highly competitive professorial jobs, that getting grants for scientific research is increasingly difficult and unpredictable, that they are facing many years of postgraduate work at ridiculously low salaries and that they would have a hard time supporting a family.

Compare this future with that of the economics major (lots of math) who goes to business school and can look forward to million-dollar yearly bonuses.

American students change their majors because they recognize that this country has stopped providing a reasonable future for scientists, with slashed budgets for the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Institutes of Health.

For Chinese and Indian students, science remains a way out of poverty. For American students, it’s becoming the path into it.

In addition to Dr. Firestein’s comments, it is important to note that outsourcing and consolidation in the life sciences industry that has occurred over the past decade has all but eliminated the option of industry jobs for those who were unable to secure academic positions. Put simply, there are no longer enough jobs in the US to support the numbers of sciences students that we annually train.

Although I have never taken an economic course, simple supply side economic theory suggests that training fewer scientists—thereby reducing competition for a dwindling number of jobs—may partially help to solve the STEM job problem. Further, changing the way in which we train STEM students, to provide them with the requisite skill sets for non-academic career would also help. Finally, eliminating tenure, which would force increased turnover among research faculty members and regularly infuse new ideas into extant STEM curricula would help to increase the overall number of available STEM jobs and also improve America’s global competitiveness in the sciences.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!!

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The US is slipping and emerging markets are growing in competitiveness according to an annual list compiled by the World Economic Forum. Perhaps even more troubling is that the same group found that the US is lagging in the adoption of internet, computing and mobile communication technologies. After all, adopting of new technologies has been widely viewed as a means to improve competitiveness.

According to the report, the US, which topped the list in 2008, slid from number 4 last year to number 5. Surprisingly, for the third year in a row, Switzerland ranked first. The list is compiled by assessing 12 categories that include innovation, infrastructure and the world economy. The fact that many EU countries continue to improve in their ability to compete on a global scale, suggests that socialist-leaning governments may not be as bad as many free market US zealots would have you believe!

Singapore replaced Sweden for the number 2 position in this year’s list. Behind Sweden (no. 3), Finland was ranked fourth, and Germany was ranked sixth. Germany was followed by the Netherlands and Denmark. The UK was 10, France was 18^th and China moved up one place to 26 this year. Among other major Asian economies, Japan ranked ninth and Hong Kong 11^th. 

Among other major emerging economies, South Africa was 50^th, Brazil 53^rd, India 56^th and Russia 66^th.

The weaker performance of the US was attributed to economic vulnerabilities and low public trust in politicians and concerns about government inefficiency. The loss of US competitive coupled with fewer students opting for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and poorer adoption rates of new technologies suggests that the US decline will continue.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!

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There is no question that the US is lagging behind other nations in science, technology, engineering and math. While this may be troubling to some, Americans possess one skill that provides them with an unheralded advantage; that is entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial skills cannot be easily taught or learned. And while most Americans don’t know it, entrepreneurship is a passively acquired trait that most non-Americans would “kill for.” Unfortunately, the recent recession and increasing global competition had dampened Americans entrepreneurial enthusiasm to the point where risk-adverse business behavior is threatening to stifle US innovation.

Peter Sims addresses this issue in a NY Times piece entitled “Daring To Stumble on the Road to Discovery” where he laments “...our education system emphasizes teaching and testing us about facts that are already known. There is much less focus on our ability to discover, create and reinvent.”

He contends that Americans can no longer expect that jobs will be waiting for them and that everyone needs to think about “inventing” their own jobs. While this may seem unlikely for many jobseekers, he offers the following to those who may be willing to try.

“INVENTION and discovery emanate from the ability to try seemingly wild possibilities; to feel comfortable being wrong before being right; to live in the world as a careful observer, open to different experiences; to play with ideas without prematurely judging oneself or others; to persist through difficulties; and to have a willingness to be misunderstood, sometimes for long periods, despite the conventional wisdom.”

Further he offers:

“All these abilities can be learned and developed, but doing so requires us to unlearn many of our tendencies toward linear planning and perfectionism.”

In other words, take risks and dare to be different. The worst thing that may is happen is that you fail. And, if you ask many successful people what contributed most to their success, they will likely tell you about their failures and how they helped them to “get it right” the next time.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!

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A recent report issued by the US Department of Commerce reported that job opportunities in science technology, engineering and math fields (STEM) are increasing in America. The report contends that over the past decade the number of people employed in STEM jobs has increased three times as much as the growth rate for non-STEM jobs growing by approximately 7.6 million workers. Further, the report predicts that between 2008 and 2018 that STEM jobs will grow by about 17 percent as compared with roughly 10 percent for non-STEM jobs. On average, in 2010 STEM employees earned about $25 per hour almost $9 more per hour than non-STEM workers.

While this may appear to be good news, a report published last year by the President’s Council on Science and Technology indicated that less than one-third of US eighth graders are considered proficient in math and science. Further, the report also found that there is a lack of qualified STEM teachers at most schools even those that are otherwise successful. Consequently, this has resulted in a student population that is not only unprepared to fill those predicted 1.3 million STEM jobs but also uninterested in STEM subjects. In other words, unless something changes, there won’t be enough trained American workers to meet future US STEM needs; thereby reducing US global competitiveness in STEM fields like biotechnology, computing and engineering.

However, it is important to note that previous reports predicting future shortages of science and technology employees have been flat-out wrong! Nevertheless, there is no doubt that America is lagging in STEM competitiveness. However, this is likely because of the way in which STEM subjects are taught in primary and secondary schools. There is more emphasis placed on memorizing STEM concepts rather than teaching and honing problem solving skills which is the most important factor when participating in real-life STEM endeavors.

The same conclusion was reached by an 18-member National Research Council committee that recently issued a report outlining a new framework to improve science curriculums in the US. The head of the committee that issued the report, a retired physicist said “kids are expected to learn a lot of things but not expected to be able to use them.” The last time the National Research Council—the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering—weighed in on STEM preparedness was 1996.

One way to improve STEM education in the US is to hire more PhDs as middle and high school science, math and engineering teachers. After all, problem solving skills are what the PhD degree is all about and most PhDs ought to be content area experts in the subjects that they teach. Unfortunately, in most PhD and postdoctoral programs the mere mention of possibly becoming a high school teacher is invariably “the kiss of death” and may result in a student or postdoc being thrown out of a laboratory. The irony of the US STEM conundrum is stark; there is a need for more problem solvers in the class room but the people who train the problem solvers refuse to empower them to become teachers! Go figure!

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting (try teaching)

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The recent article published in the NY Times about the decline of high school student participation in science fairs resulted in many letters to the editor. Many of them were from concerned citizens and a few were from university researchers decrying the lack of government funding for research and the funding of sports over science programs. Another railed against the Bush’s Administration’s poorly crafted and ill-advised No Child Left Behind Act. However, there was one letter that surprised me. It was written by John P. Holdren, President Obama’s science and technology adviser (see below)

To the Editor:

Your article points to deep budget challenges that many school districts are facing and problems with the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind law.

But it does not mention much of the Obama administration’s extraordinary agenda for improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in this country: for example, the commitment to prepare 100,000 new math and science teachers over the next 10 years, the $4 billion Race to the Top program’s support for innovation in teaching these important subjects, and the administration’s blueprint for updating the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year.

Recognizing that government alone cannot be the answer, moreover, the president has also called upon the business community, foundations, professional societies and others to do more. Already, the president’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign has attracted more than $700 million in nongovernmental financial and in-kind support for science and math programs.

And more than 100 chief executives have responded to the president’s “all hands on deck” call to action by launching “Change the Equation,” an unprecedented program to scale up effective models for improving STEM education.

John P. Holdren
Washington, Feb. 7, 2011

The writer is President Obama’s science and technology adviser.

What surprised me about the letter is that it took an article critical of the Obama Administration’s commitment to science education to provide the American public (at least part of it) with some insight into the government’s recognition of the problem and steps that it is taking to help to correct it. Perhaps the Obama administration needs to be a bit more proactive and publicly-vocal about its plans to improve American STEM education. This would go a long way to assuage some of the concerns about America's waning global competitiveness in science and technology.

Like Dr. Holdren, I believe that government alone cannot be the answer and American corporations must get actively involved by providing ideas on how to improve American science education and the financial support to implement them. While the CEO-endorsed program “Change the Equation” sounds great on paper, it is time for those CEOs to actually step up and do something about the problem. Many of these same CEOs have been complaining for decades about the lack of STEM preparedness of the American workforce. As somebody once said “Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words!”

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Teaching!!!!

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Most job pundits and career analysts believe that millions of jobs will become available in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by 2018. Yet, despite ongoing initiatives the next generation of American employees may be unprepared and not qualified to take advantage of these new opportunities. A recent report from the Information Industry Technology Council, indicate that US children are falling behind their international peers in all aspects of STEM education!

Further, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that although women currently make up more than 50 percent of the American workforce, they hold only 14 percent of all engineering positions and 25 per cent of mathematics positions. While it previously was believed that women were less academically-capable in STEM disciplines, new data clearly shows this not to be the case. The differences in achievement only become apparent when lower expectations and distorted perceptions of likely success affect motivation levels and confidence. In other words, there are no genetic differences between men and women that explain why there are disproportionately lower numbers of women in STEM jobs. 

With fewer men and increasing number of women graduating from college, it is incumbent upon STEM educators and employers to devise new strategies to encourage and help women purse careers in science, math and engineering. Like it or not, women will have a significant role to play in the future when it comes to American ingenuity and innovation. 

The “gold ole boys” days are thankfully drawing to a close and will continue to do so as we move further into the 21^st century.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!! 

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A recent study conducted by University of California San Diego Extension ranks careers in the health and life sciences fields at the top for recent college graduates. Sandy Bloom of GreatDegree.com recently wrote an article (see below) that provides insights and tips on how recent college graduate may be able to “snag” one of these up and coming hot jobs!

Hot Careers for College Graduates in 2010

By Sandy Bloom

For college graduates, landing a first job can be daunting, especially in hard economic times. But a recent report released by UC San Diego Extension, “Hot Careers for College Graduates in 2010,” shows that for certain career paths, finding a job may be easier than you think.

Nearly half of the top careers listed in the study stem from the health and bio fields, including the areas of health information technology and health law.

After earning a health degree or online biology degree, you can soon be working in one of these hot jobs, too.  Here’s how:

Health Information Technology

The report ranks careers in health information technology at the top because physicians and hospitals must update their medical records systems to be completely electronic in the coming years. Health information technicians are responsible for organizing these medical records, ensuring the records are accurate and complete, and updating the patients’ files electronically. According to the Department of Labor, employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20 percent over the next eight years.

Those looking to work in this high-demand profession should earn an associate’s degree with coursework in health information. Most employers prefer hiring credentialed medical record and health information technicians who have passed a credentialing exam. Experienced medical records and health information technicians advance their careers by earning bachelor’s or master’s degrees in biology, math, chemistry, health, and computer science.

Clinical Trials Design and Management For Oncology

The second ranked “hottest” career is clinical trial managers, specifically for cancer drugs. According to the report, “as the population ages, diseases are becoming more prevalent” and cures for those diseases are in demand. Clinical trial managers must oversee researchers who dedicate years to researching and testing before getting experimental drugs approved and brought to the market.

To become a clinical trial manager, you should earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or another life science. Then, receive a post-baccalaureate certificate to be certified by the Academy of Clinical Research Professions. Those working toward this in-demand career should partake in observation study courses or internships to observe a clinical trial in progress. Lastly, sign up to take online computer science courses to become familiar with Clinical Trial Management Systems.

Geriatric Health Care

According to last census in 2000, some 14 million seniors ages 65 and older report some level of disability that needs extra care. That means there is a huge demand for elder care professionals such as nurses, doctors, and nursing care professionals specializing in geriatric health care. In addition, because of the increasing incidence of mental illness among the aging, there is also a high demand for psychology professionals trained to treat older patients.

Training to be a nurse, a doctor, or psychiatrist or psychologist requires a bachelor’s degree in science as well as completion of board exams and residencies.

Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (OHSS) analyze work environments to prevent injury by studying trends or patterns of injury and illness. They then suggest policy changes and develop and implement programs to improve conditions or practices that are dangerous. Environmental health and safety officers, ergonomists, health physicists, and industrial hygienists all perform this type of work.

To become an occupational health and safety specialist, you should earn a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering discipline or a Master’s degree in science or in public health. All specialists must be trained on the law and inspection procedures through classroom and on-the-job training.

Other careers to consider include synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, stem cell research and medical devices including molecular diagnostics.

Hat tip to GreatDegree.com

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!

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Stemcyte, a Taiwan-based company engaged in embryonic stem cell research announced yesterday that it would locate its East Coast operations in NJ. The company already has a research facility in California and is establishing operations in India. Earlier this year, Stemcyte inked a deal with Rutgers University to provide financial support and embryonic stems cells for research conducted by Dr. Wise Young, a long time spinal cord injury researcher and champion of embryonic stem cell research.  New Jersey induced Stemcyte to locate its facility in the Garden State by offering the company $589,000 in business development incentive grants. The new facility is expected to create new jobs and initially employ about 12 people.

This is a small but significant step in New Jersey’s quest to establish itself as leader in embryonic stem cell research. As many of you may know, last fall, New Jersey voters defeated a statewide referendum that would have allowed the State to spend almost $500 million on embryonic stem cell research initiatives. California passed similar legislation several years ago.

The defeat had little to do with the ethics or morality and everything to do with the oppressive property taxes in New Jersey. In case you’re wondering, New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the US!  Many voters simply didn’t want the State to increase its already staggering debt to borrow more money to fund stem cell research (and raise property taxes).

After the announcement, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, and former head of the investment firm Goldman Sachs, suggested that he is considering reinstating the referendum for a second vote. However, he noted “not until the economy shows some improvement”.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!!

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According to the Eye on FDA blog, FDA has announced an upcoming meeting on stem cells.  This excerpt was recently published in the federal register...

"On April 10, 2008, the committee will meet to discuss scientific considerations for safety testing for cellular therapy products derived from human embryonic stem cells. , the committee will meet to discuss updates on the following topics: (1) Research management related to the September 29, 2005, review of research programs of the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; (2) 's Somatic Cell Therapy Letter; and (3) recently released FDA guidance documents."

I am not sure what they will talk about given the Bush administration’s intransigence on embryonic stem cell research. Don’t you just love it when Federal agencies waste your tax dollars to hold meetings when there is nothing to talk about? Go figure……

Until next time….

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!!

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