Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 12, Number 10
Friday, March 8, 1996

Next Issue: Friday, March 15, 1996. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, March 12. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Linda Earle, Room 18-393, Department of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/253-4080; 617/258-7500 (fax) or e-mail to lkn@mit.edu. Back issues of Chemformation can be accessed via the Chemistry Department Website.

Visit the Chemistry Department Website at http://web.mit.edu/chemistry/www/

SEMINAR CALENDAR

Dr. Richard Cavanagh: National Institute of Standards & Technology; "Time and State Resolved Measurements of CO/CU(100): When Qualitative Pictures are Not Good Enough"; Tuesday, March 12, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 2-105; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233
John Badding (zur Loye group): Pennsylvania State University; "High Pressure Synthesis of Covalently Bonded Materials and Intermetallic Compounds: Chemistry of 'New Elements'"; Wednesday, March 13, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321
Professor J. Michael McBride: Yale University; "Solid State Substituent Effects: Molecular Mobility in Fatty Acid Peroxides"; Thursday, March 14, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 Norris Room
Tim Warren: MIT; "Borylamides as Ancillary Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry"; Wednesday, March 20, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321
Professor Steven Chu: "Studies of Polymer Dynamics with Single Molecules of DNA"; Thursday, March 21, 1996; 5:00 p.m. MB-23 ar Harvard; Harvard/MIT Physical Chemistry Series; Refreshments @ 4:30 in MB-23

Forum on the Graduate Program in Chemistry

Tuesday, March 19, 1996

4:30 pm in 18-490

The American Chemical Society recently sponsored a conference at Columbia University to discuss the goals of doctoral education in chemistry (see C&E News, Dec. 11, pp 65-66). What are your views on the recommendations of this conference?

Graduate Students! Join faculty to discuss possible changes in the graduate program in chemistry! Questions for discussion include:

Courses: Are sufficient advanced courses being offered in the department? Should specific courses or a minimum number of courses be required for the degree? Is it advisable for students to take courses outside of their area of specialty?
Do we provide chemistry grad students with adequate opportunity to develop their oral and written communication skills? Should all students present a research seminar as part of their Ph.D. training?
Is teaching experience an important component of graduate education? Should TA'ing be required of all graduate students?
Can the cumulative exam system be improved?
Should all students be required to prepare and defend an original research proposal as part of their training?
What should be the role of the Thesis Committee? Should the Thesis Committee meet regularly with graduate students to review progress toward the degree?
Should training in scientific ethics be part of the graduate educational program?
Should the Ph.D program be limited to five years? A number of chemistry departments set a five-year limit for how long grad students can receive support!

For more information, contact Rick Danheiser (danheisr@mit.edu, 253-1842)

Key Organizational Meeting for MIT Chemistry Outreach Program

Do you want to visit area high schools to perform chemistry demonstrations? So far, 48 high schools have responded to our mailing, and we hope to visit as many of these schools as possible. Please think about joining us on Monday, March 11 at 5:30 PM in the Moore Room (6-321) as we eat pizza, divide into teams, and choose which schools we will visit. Also, bring suggestions for new demonstrations. Questions? Contact Kathy Lee (kllee@mit.edu) or Melanie Bartow (msbartow@mit.edu), 18-267, x3-1836.

Attention All Graduate Students: Looking for Roommates?

Interested in having one of the incoming grad students as a roommate? If so, place an ad in our first ever classified page going out to all 1996 entering graduate students. Just print out the form below, complete it, and return it to Melinda Cerny, Rm. 2-325 by March 29.

Description of apartment/house:
Rent: $______/mo.
Utilities: __included __extra
Parking: __on-street __driveway __garage
Parking charge: __no __yes: $_____/mo.
Pets: __yes __no
Smoking: __yes __no
When available:
Contact:
Phone:
E-mail:
Additional Information:

Faculty Positions

University of Minnesota, Morris, MN: Applications are being sought for a one-year full-time position in chemistry beginning September 16th, 1996. The selected candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate chemistry courses including organic and general chemistry and to engage in scholarly activities. Some limited service activities may be required. Appointment will be at the Assistant Professor level for those having the Ph.D. and at the Instructor level for others.

Postdoctoral Positions

Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory: Richland, WA: Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Postdoc position available to investigate the tumor formation in small rodents (mice) after exposure of the animals to toxic chemicals will be investigated with in vivo and in vitro MRI and MRS on the animals and excised tissues in an external field of 11.7 Tesla. The second project involves the development and applications of NMR microscopes, operating in external fields of 11.7, 17.6 and 23T, and capable of MRI with a subcellular resolution and MRS of small cell clusters. E-mail: info@NW.AWU.ORG

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