Chemistry REFS

Resources for Easing Friction and Stress

Are you having arguments with your labmates?
Is your advisor causing you stress?
Do you wish you had someone to listen to you and help you get some perspective?
GIVE US A CALL!

We are now looking for new ChemREFS! If you are interested, please attend our information session on Thursday, November 12^th from 7-9 pm.

Find the ChemREFS application here .

We are a group of chemistry graduate students trained and certified by MIT as mediators.  We are a resource for chemistry graduate students, undergraduate students, and faculty/staff as an aid in conflict discussion and resolution.  Interaction with the graduate student REFS is confidential and voluntary on the part of those requesting help.  Mediators are not judges--we do not decide who or what is right.  We are facilitators.  We have completed mediation training through MEDIATION@MIT.  We will attempt to provide direction and alternatives to dealing with problems and obstacles the members of the chemistry department may face.

For example, if there is tension between labmates, disagreement between a student and advisor, or simply an overwhelming amount of stresses accumulating for people in the chemistry department, we may be helpful in determining the important interests of the parties and possibly brainstorming solutions to the situation.  We present a forum for listening to concerns and allowing for people to determine what is most important in their interactions.  Hopefully, through this process, participants can reach a better understanding of the underlying issues they are facing, and can take stock of their options.

For other resources for support at MIT, click here.

For a comprehensive outline and description of the program, click here .

Our mediators are listed below--please feel free to contact any of the mediators via e-mail or phone to set up an informal meeting:

	Cynthia Crosswhite Organic Chemistry—Danheiser Lab B.A. 2007: Wellesley College Chemistry Joined REFS in January, 2009	crcrossw@mit.edu (617) 253-1836
	Kevin Jones Physical Chemistry—Tokmakoff Lab B.A. 2005: Yale Univerisy Chemistry Joined REFS in June, 2007	kcj@mit.edu (617) 252-2628
	Tim Kowalczyk Physical Chemistry—Van Voorhis Lab B.S. 2007: University of Southern California Chemistry and Mathematics Joined REFS in January, 2009	tkowalcz@mit.edu (617) 253-7030
	Emily McLaurin Inorganic Chemistry—Nocera Lab B.S. 2005: UCSD Chemistry Joined REFS in June, 2007	emclauri@mit.edu (617) 258-7268
	Brian Walker Physical Chemistry—Bawendi Lab B.A. 2006: Cornell College Chemistry Joined REFS in June, 2007	bwalkr@mit.edu (617) 324-1528
	Alisha Weight Biological Chemistry—Klibanov Lab B.A. 2005: Wellesley College Chemistry Joined REFS in June, 2007	aweight@mit.edu (617) 253-3105

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Chemistry REFS would like to thank Laura Howe and former REFS member Jennifer Stone help in getting this website up and running!