*Concerns of Young Mathematicians* Volume 2, Issue 35 Nov. 2, 1994 An electronically distributed digest for discussions of the issues of concern to mathematicians at the beginning of their careers. PLEASE FORWARD TO ANY POTENTIALLY INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS Please, direct submissions and questions to Frank Sottile sottile@math.toronto.edu , editor for the month of November. Next issue: Wednesday, Nov. 9. Editor for October: Frank Arlinghaus frank@math.ysu.edu Editor for November: Frank Sottile sottile@math.toronto.edu Editor for December: Steve Kennedy skennedy@mathcs.carleton.edu To subscribe: Send mail to Charles Yeomans at cyeomans@s.ms.uky.edu Back issues and other information are available via anonymous FTP to ftp.ms.uky.edu, in pub3/mailing.lists/ymn-list. Table of Contents Item # Title ------ ----- 1 Editor's notes 2 Professional Development for Young Mathematicians Curtis Bennet 3 Participation in the AMS (Response to K. Yunker (26 Oct.)) Jean Taylor 4 Roommate Matching for Meetings Cary Timar 5 Joint Meetings Help Rooms 6 Closing Credits _______________________________________________________________ Item #1 Editor's notes: This week's issue deals with concerns of young mathematicians that go beyond employment distress. Curtis Bennet is initiating a biweekly column on professional development for young mathematicians. This could prove invaluable to guide us as we make the transition from graduate student to full fledged mathematician. Jean Taylor continues the discussion of AMS involvement with a fairly complete list of ways for young mathematicians to become involved in the AMS. Are there any suggestions for our other professional societies? Cary Timar has an item calling for someone to run a roommate matching service for the San Fransisco Meetings. This could significantly reduce the cost of attending the meeting; if you are looking for a roommate, you might consider volunteering. Last week, Annalisa Crandell mentioned that the JCEO is running a help room in San Fransisco, and is soliciting volunteers. I've communicated with Diane Mack of the AMS about that, and am repeating Annalisa's call for volunteers, with additional information. While we are on the topic of employment, I wanted to pass on the following advice, (which a colleague suggested I include). When I went through the process of applying for jobs last year, I found that November was a busy month. Several institutions (including Toronto, where I was hired) have deadlines of 30 November/ 1 December. There is virtue in getting your applications out on time, and this means lining up letters of recommendation, deciding on where you will apply, and preparing your application materials (CV, research summary, research proposal, teaching statement and cover letter) in the next few weeks. We often feel powerless in the face of the institutions that affect us. Here are signs of incremental change for us to take heart in. The JCEO's recommendation for applicants to use a universal application cover sheet (see recent NOTICES) is a welcome first step towards rationalising the job application process. Last month, I visited a friend who has a tenure track position at a major research university. He told me he has had a favourable response to his (radical) proposal that his department hire postdocs for two years instead of the usual one. Perhaps the best way to move forward is through many small changes. One last note: If you haven't voted in the AMS elections, this week is your last chance. Find your pink envelopes and ballots and do your civic duty. Happy reading, -Frank Sottile _______________________________________________________________ Item #2 Professional Development for Young Mathematicians Starting this week, I am going to try and start writing/editing a biweekly column on professional development for junior mathematicians. I have hesitated to try and do this since I do not feel that I am an expert on professional development, and my time commitments have started to get out of hand. On the other hand, it is clear from many of the comments I have heard recently, that there is a great need for discussion of professional development issues in the YMN. To begin with a definition, I am using the term professional development to mean the process of moving from a Ph.D. writing graduate student to a full professor at a university or to a successfully employed industrial mathematician/scientist. I think that some of the basic issues for an academic mathematician are (in no particular order): 1) Publishing -- -- Writing up results without the aid of an advisor; -- The process of submitting a paper, having it refereed, accepted or rejected, etc. 2) Disseminating research -- -- Giving talks both locally (i.e., at your own institution) and at conferences; -- Sending preprints, reprints, etc. 3) Teaching -- Pedagogic questions in teaching; -- Balancing teaching versus other commitments. 4) Committee work. 5) Other -- How to apply for grants; -- What type of grants to apply for; -- Expectations of various universities. Many of you reading this will have other questions of interest. Please send them to me at cbennet@falcon.bgsu.edu . I cannot promise that I will address all of the questions that I see, but I will try to address them in addition to what is in the above list. Next we come to the question of how I will address the issues. Whenever possible, I will be requesting submissions from more senior faculty. I will also conduct some of my own research on the issues in addition to relating my personal experiences. Curtis Bennett cbennet@falcon.bgsu.edu _______________________________________________________________ Item #3 Participation in the AMS: A response to K. Yunker's Query (26 October) asking for other ways to participate in the AMS than those listed by Mark Winstead (12 October) There are many ways to participate in the AMS other than the three listed (nominate people for Council or Nom Com, vote, and communicate with people on the Council or Nom Com). In particular, if you get ahold of the Mathematical Sciences Professional Directory (your dept office may have one? contact the AMS?) you'll see that there are 12 pages of committees listed, and a two-page index of committees after that! Now a lot of them are specialized, like committees of the Board of Trustees, or editorial committees of journals, but there are quite a few that should be open to young mathematicians. The Committee on Committees makes recommendations to the President of the AMS, and then she (and it will be she!) appoints people to these various committees. So people who are interested should contact the Committee on Committees presumably through the Secretary?), saying they are available. Also, there is the opportunity to organize Special Sessions for regional and annual and summer meetings. Reasonable proposals are rarely turned down. It is of course work to round up people to talk in your Special Session, and to schedule who talks when, etc., but most of the organizational details are handled by the AMS meeting staff, so it's not too bad. And the AMS is actually quite flexible on formats, if you don't want to follow the standard one. (Although it isn't obvious from the information you are sent!) For example, at one regional meeting I organized a special session that met at lunch time, with two speakers each lunch hour! I checked that people would be able to buy sandwiches nearby and bring them into the room, and got approval from the secretary for that region, and then just did it. I've never been involved with one, but there are local arrangements committees for meetings, and I suppose that volunteers for those are appreciated. As to assorted communications of the AMS, most have their own editorial boards, and to work your way on to one of them you should start communicating your ideas to the current boards. Sometimes people feel that they should not "burden" younger people with committee assignments; I think that people should be able to make that decision themselves, and that those who want to get involved should be welcomed with open arms. Jean Taylor taylor@math.rutgers.edu _______________________________________________________________ Item #4 Roommate Matching for Meetings: A call for Volunteers Last year I ran a roommate-matching service for the AMS+ Joint Meetings. I think that fifteen people used it. Somebody ought to do the same this year, but, since I'm not going to San Francisco, I won't volunteer. I did leave some helpful information, based on my experience last year, in a file that can be found in the YMN archives. Somebody, please volunteer! I am, however, looking for a roommate for the CMS Winter Meeting in Montreal, and, if I get more than one response, I am willing to try to match that many people. Cary Timar, ABD, Vanderbilt University cctimar@math.vanderbilt.edu _______________________________________________________________ Item #5 Joint Meetings Help Room: A Call for Volunteers Last week, Annalisa Crandell noted: "... the JCEO is going to have a Help Room in San Francisco, next to the Employment Register, to help applicants with their job hunting questions." I communicated with Diane Mack of the AMS and she gave the following response (which I have paraphrased) The Help Room will operate for a few hours each day (Wed., Thurs., Fri.) to provide individual assistance to any interested applicants on resumes, cover letters, and any other details about the job seeking process that people want to discuss. This service needs volunteers to staff it, and Diane is asking for people to volunteer their time, (and perhaps submit examples of CV's or cover letters). To volunteer, email Diane Mack at: DMM@MATH.AMS.ORG. To submit examples of application materials, please send hard copies to: Diane Mack AMS P.O. Box 6248 Providence RI 02940 _______________________________________________________________ Item #6 Closing Credits The Young Mathematicians' Network is administered by: Charles Yeomans cyeomans@s.ms.uky.edu Mark Winstead mwwinst@gcr.com Frank Sottile sottile@math.toronto.edu Vic Perera vperera@silver.ucs.indiana.edu Franklin Mendivil mendivil@math.gatech.edu Kevin Madigan madigan@math.nwu.edu Steve Kennedy skennedy@mathcs.carleton.edu Matt Hudelson hudelson@math.washington.edu Bob Dobrow dobrow@cam.nist.gov Lyle Cochran address change pending Neil Calkin calkin@math.gatech.edu Wendy Brunzie brunzie@turing.ucdavis.edu Curtis Bennett cbennet@andy.bgsu.edu Frank Arlinghaus frank@math.ysu.edu Edward Aboufadel aboufade@scus1.ctstateu.edu _______________________________________________________________ End of Journal -- Next week: The Discussion Continues