STEM BOOMERANG News:
Do you love the idea of space as the next frontier?
Are you interested in how the internet will work between the moon, earth, and Mars? Are satellites or nanorobots cool? How about a great STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) career in New Mexico?
It might surprise many that, even in the middle of a pandemic, New Mexico’s Space and Beyond economy – from satellites and big data to cybersecurity, and nanotech – is working hard and in need of great STEM talent. It’s paradoxical – who would imagine companies that have jobs open now, when so many are working remotely? But they are hiring – from new graduates to senior researchers and the range of today’s space opportunities in New Mexico is astounding!
This year, STEM Boomerang and NewSpace New Mexico have joined forces to host the Space & Beyond Virtual Career Fair, Thursday, April 30. STEM professionals in engineering, computer sciences, math, and physics and related backgrounds can register on the STEM Boomerang website (www.stemboomerang.org).
The day-long event consists of sessions with great Space companies, describing their work and opportunities. The event (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is free, but everyone has to register. Pre-event video interviews with company representatives are on the STEM Boomerang website – so go there to see how each company plans to change the world.
Both STEM Boomerang and NewSpace New Mexico were created to meet a critical economic development need in New Mexico.
STEM Boomerang started 3 years ago, when New Mexico’s business leaders didn’t think we had a high-tech workforce. Having mentored hundreds of students, mostly at UNM, we knew that New Mexico’s graduates were well-educated and many wanted to come home or stay in New Mexico for their career, but didn’t know the opportunities available. STEM Boomerang’s goal is to support disruptive economic development by connecting STEM professionals with businesses, universities, state agencies, and other groups around the state. Everyone is welcome, but STEM Boomerang targets New Mexico graduates, who want to be here, close to home, and bring great talent and commitment to their careers.
NewSpace New Mexico (NSNM) started two years ago to help grow the space industry in New Mexico. NSNM has brought together over 80 space companies and other space organizations to foster an entrepreneurial, business-focused, commercial space ecosystem in New Mexico, enabling the connection of ideas, people, resources, and investment opportunities. NewSpace New Mexico is making New Mexico THE place for space, by connecting space companies and supporting their workforce needs.
NewSpace New Mexico and STEM Boomerang personally help connect the space companies with New Mexico’s STEM professionals. For STEM professionals, this can include helping with resumes, interviews, negotiations, and providing a better understanding of the business world. Personal relationships are key to success in New Mexico and that is how both STEM Boomerang and NewSpace New Mexico operate, helping STEM professionals and hiring managers develop strong relationships.
Why did we organize a career fair now? We knew covid-19 was going to be a game changer, so the wildest disruption we could imagine would be a Career Fair! It would lift spirits, provide opportunities, and open people’s eyes about the incredible ideas, inventions, and teams in the space industry, throughout New Mexico. We knew that graduating seniors were going to feel more disconnected than in previous years and we also knew that the career fair could help everyone involved learn about great careers in New Mexico’s Space Industry. It’s not an exaggeration to say your career can really be out of this world!
Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD, Director of STEM Boomerang, is a Regents Professor emerita in Biology from UNM. She carried out research in genetics and genomics at both UNM and Sandia Laboratories, worked at NSF and NIH, and was PI of an NIH-funded Pre-PhD program that for 15 years helped UNM students get advanced degrees and careers. She has received numerous national research and mentoring awards.
Casey Anglada DeRaad, PhD, is founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Space New Mexico (NewSpaceNM.org), a non-profit organization which aims to bring together the space stakeholders in New Mexico to grow the commercial space industry and provide a universal voice for space leadership in New Mexico. Casey was a 30-year executive of the Air Force Research Laboratory, leading academic, industry and community engagement for the AFRL and other Air Force partners on Kirtland Air Force Base.
