[Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
Christine Szostak
szostak.1 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
Wed May 1 16:59:24 UTC 2013
Hi,
I am cognitive at OSU, who was your advisor and what aspect of perception
do you study?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gabias, Paul" <paul.gabias at ubc.ca>
To: "Blind Social Scientists List" <social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 12:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
> Hi Arielle,
>
> My degree is in Experimental Psychology, from New York University, in
> the field of perception.
>
> All the best,
>
> Paul Gabias, Ph.D., L.L.D
> Associate Professor of Psychology
> UBCO - Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences
> ART 228 - 1147 Research Road
> Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
> T: 250.807.9383
> E: paul.gabias at ubc.ca
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Social-sciences-list
> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 4:27 PM
> To: Blind Social Scientists List
> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>
> I'm ABD in social psychology right now (literally just have to write and
> defend my thesis; all the data have been collected) but I have a
> graduate fellowship that goes until June 2014, so I'm stretching out my
> graduation until I have a job offer and my fiancee has graduated so we
> can move and accept jobs. I'll be applying for jobs as an ABD. My degree
> will be in psychology but I'm interested in university positions in
> psychology, disability studies, or education where I can do empirical
> disability/rehab research, or non-academic research institutes that
> focus on disability-relevant work.
> I recall you have a social psychology background; are you currently
> working in a psych department?
> Best,
> Arielle
>
> On 4/30/13, Gabias, Paul <paul.gabias at ubc.ca> wrote:
>> Hello Arielle,
>>
>> Are you applying to Universities with a Ph.D. degree? From what
>> department?
>>
>> All The Best
>>
>> Paul Gabias
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Social-sciences-list
>> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
>> Silverman
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 4:05 PM
>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I am going to start applying for jobs this summer (so anyone who would
>
>> be willing to pass around my CV, email me offlist!) but anyway, I'm
>> very interested in this topic. For those of you who say you mention
>> blindness in your cover letter or application, I am curious how and
>> why you do this?
>> I am planning to apply for jobs where I can initiate a program of
>> social-psychological research on blindness, rehabilitation psychology,
>
>> etc. so I have no intention of hiding blindness from search
>> committees, and I have numerous references to NFB on my vita. For some
>
>> positions I think blindness might be considered an asset since I have
>> experiential knowledge of the topic I am researching, as well as a lot
>
>> of social connections with potential research communities and
>> collaborators who are blind. For other jobs I think my blindness
>> should be considered neutral and irrelevant. In the past, when I have
>> applied for jobs where blindness shouldn't matter (like teaching or
>> tutoring jobs) I don't mention it until right before my interview and
>> this has never caused problems. I once had a short-term survey
>> programming job and I didn't mention blindness at all until I met the
>> employer since it was such a short-term thing. She seemed a little
>> taken aback when she discovered I was blind and had some slightly
>> obnoxious questions about how I type and use the computer, but she
>> still gave me the job and seemed to appreciate my work.
>>
>> What I don't like doing is using blindness as an example of
>> "overcoming adversity" or as an excuse to hold me to lower standards.
>> I have had recommenders imply they would frame my blindness this way
>> in grad school applications and I was not happy about that framing,
>> even if it helped me get in, because it is not accurate. I attended
>> college on a full scholarship that provided me with lots of mentoring
>> and networking opportunities, and came from a relatively educated,
> affluent background.
>> Of course blindness presents its challenges as far as access and
>> social acceptance goes, but I don't think my education has been more
>> difficult than it has for many sighted students, such as those who
>> have had to work while going to school, first-generation college
>> students, etc. I think characterizing my life as one of overcoming
>> adversity is unfair to those of us who experienced true educational,
>> socioeconomic or medical adversity (chronic pain, hospitalizations,
>> etc.) I refuse to take advantage of employers' stereotypes about
>> blindness in order to stand out as the amazing blind employee and get
>> hired. So while I don't hide blindness, I want to be in full control
>> of how it is framed and I want to frame it as something that helps my
>> research work rather than as a barrier I have overcome.
>>
>> Best,
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 4/30/13, Gabias, Paul <paul.gabias at ubc.ca> wrote:
>>> Great!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Social-sciences-list
>>> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mazhar
>>> Mughal
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:54 AM
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks Paul. Sending you the CV & cover letter on your univ address.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Gabias, Paul <mailto:paul.gabias at ubc.ca>
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 9:27 AM
>>>
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> <mailto:social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org>
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Mazhar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If you send me your CV and general cover letter, I'll pass it on to
>>> some economists that I know at our University. They may know people.
>>
>>> It always pays to network
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> You have my contact information in the email I sent you previously.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> All The Best
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Social-sciences-list
>>> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mazhar
>>> Mughal
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:19 AM
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Paul
>>>
>>> My field is Development Economics, and I am applying in Canadian
>>> univs
>>
>>> and colleges. The two interview calls were one from a university for
>>> a
>>
>>> tenure-track position and the other was for a smallish college on a
>>> continuing position. The interviewing panel of the latter appeared to
>
>>> be quite impressed, but later on, told me that I won't be invited for
>
>>> in person interview. I wonder if my research profile wasn't more than
>
>>> what they were looking for.
>>>
>>> Mazhar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Gabias, Paul <mailto:paul.gabias at ubc.ca>
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 9:01 AM
>>>
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> <mailto:social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org>
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Mazhar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Two out of fifty? That's good! Are they Universities? Are they
>>> tenure track positions? What is your degree in?
>>>
>>> I have noticed that, with Universities, usually, if they phone you,
>>> it's because they want to invite you for an interview. I always
>>> acted
>>
>>> pleased but also, that I was assessing them, as much as they were
>>> assessing me. It's great when you have Universities competing with
>>> each other for your attention. I had that happen a couple of times.
>>>
>>> You can always use the law of numbers in your favour, for that to
>>> happen. If you apply to enough places, it will happen. Then, the
>>> law
>>
>>> of numbers gives you leverage.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best of luck
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul Gabias, Ph.D., L.L.D
>>>
>>> Associate Professor of Psychology
>>>
>>> UBCO - Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences
>>>
>>> ART 228 - 1147 Research Road
>>>
>>> Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
>>>
>>> T: 250.807.9383
>>>
>>> E: paul.gabias at ubc.ca
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Social-sciences-list
>>> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mazhar
>>> Mughal
>>> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 11:43 PM
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Christine and friends
>>>
>>> I have recently completed my PhD, and have now begun this painful
>>> process of job seeking. Have applied to close to fifty places so far,
>
>>> mentioning each time blindness in the cover letter. Have got only two
>
>>> interview calls so far. Can't say if it is due to this factor or
>>> general job market conditions.
>>>
>>> kind regards Mazhar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Gabias, Paul <mailto:paul.gabias at ubc.ca>
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:21 AM
>>>
>>> To: Blind Social Scientists List
>>> <mailto:social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org>
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Christine,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I made blindness clear in my letters of application. I applied to
>>> about
>>> 100 places each year. I moved five times before I obtained my tenure
>
>>> track position. I obtained visiting positions each time before. And
>
>>> anyway, if you don't mention blindness, your letters of
>>> recommendation
>>
>>> surely will, so you would do well to beat them to it, so that it can
>>> be discussed on exactly your own terms.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> All The Best
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul Gabias Ph.D. LL.D.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Social-sciences-list
>>> [mailto:social-sciences-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> Christine Szostak
>>> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 11:03 PM
>>> To: NFB Science and Engineering Division List;
>>> social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [Social-sciences-list] Note of Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Thanks to everyone for the very helpful responses! It seems the
>>> majority of the views deal with waiting until just before or during
>>> the interview. Again, thanks to everyone!
>>>
>>> With warm regards,
>>>
>>> Christine
>>>
>>> Christine M. Szostak
>>> Doctoral Candidate and Research Consultant Language Perception
>>> Laboratory Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area The Ohio State
>>> University Columbus, Ohio szostak.1 at osu.edu
>>> www.soundresearchconsulting.wordpress.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
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>>> h
>>> ar
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>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
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>>> ________________________________
>>>
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>>>
>>
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>> .g
>> abias%40ubc.ca
>>
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>
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