The second edition of “Mom the Chemistry Professor”, published by Springer, features personal accounts from women who have balanced academic careers with motherhood.  While the number of “Mom the Chemistry Professor” role models is on the rise, there are still many female graduate students and post-docs who may not seriously consider a career in academia due to the perception that the professoriate is not compatible with motherhood.  The editorial team will describe some of the general themes that emerged as they reviewed 40 authors stories, the diversity of contributions, the common challenges faced and the variety of paths, and approaches adopted by the authors.  The team will address common questions that they are asked by young women considering a career in academia and a family, such as: How many women pursue an academic career in chemistry? What are the backgrounds of chemistry professors who are mothers?  When should I start a family?  Will I be able to plan my pregnancies, childbirth, or adoptions to occur at just the right time?  How do I minimize the risks of working in the lab while pregnant or breastfeeding?  What kind of positions allow for being a professor and mom?  How can I find a position if my partner or spouse is also looking for a position?  What kind of family structures work for being a chemistry professor mom?  What do I do about childcare?  What if I face a hostile work environment?  How do I find work-life satisfaction?  How do I find mentors?  What policies are in place to support motherhood in academia?<br/>

An introduction to “Mom the Chemistry Professor”

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.