Community Engagement Graduate Assistantships for the Latham Science Engagement Initiative/Iowa Biosciences Academy Finally, CLAS also awarded two halftime Community Engagement Graduate Assistantships for the Latham Science Engagement Initiative and Iowa Biosciences Academy to Briante Najev and Kelley Withers, both PhD candidates in the Ingregrated Biology (iBio) program.
Corinne Watts, candidate for the PhD in Anthropology (third year) was also selected to serve as the editing research assistant RA, for the Journal of Archeological Method and Theory , the leading journal in its field, co-edited by Margaret Beck of the Department of Anthropology.
“While at the University of Iowa, I have continually developed my skills as an academic researcher, instructor, and writer,” shared Watts in her application. “These skills will not only serve me during my remaining time at this institution but will be necessary as I pursue work as a tenure-track professor after graduation. This assistantship is an opportunity for me to improve my skills related to research and publishing that will allow me to support my students and peers during future academic endeavors.”
In her application, Najev, who has a focus on evolution and ecology in her research under advisor Maurine Neiman, articulated the opportunity this assistantship represents: “My goals for the future are to pursue a career as a biologist for an agency that
serves the public and our public lands like Fish and Wildlife or the Forest Service. I believe that this graduate assistantship will provide major benefits for my future. Creating seminars, editing scientific articles, and polishing my own and others’ professional development skills are powerful ways of internalizing and teaching a suite of important tools. Writing is critical for virtually all science careers, so the writing opportunities afforded by this fellowship will be especially valuable.”
Withers, who is conducting her thesis research in Dr. Chi-Lien Cheng’s laboratory, described similar benefits in her own application letter: “To me, managing the editorial responsibilities of the Synthesis undergraduate journal is an exciting
opportunity to broaden my expertise in writing…I am pursuing a career in academia; therefore, it is of great interest that I develop and strengthen my skills in curriculum design, scientific publication, and undergraduate mentoring. This assistantship provides the perfect opportunity to accomplish this goal.” Awardees for this competition were selected by Christine Getz, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Outreach and Engagement, in consultation with: Danny Kalatschi, director of the Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing; Lori Adams, director of the Latham Center/Iowa Biosciences Academy; the editors of the Dance Research Journal (Nadine George-Graves Northwestern University, and Rebekah Kowal, University of Iowa) and The Journal of Archeological Method and Theory (Valentine Roux, University of Paris-Nanterre and Margaret Beck, University of Iowa); Nick Benson, director of the UI Office of Community Engagement; and representatives from the CLAS Graduate Education Policy Committee.
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