Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 12, Number 16
Friday, April 19, 1996

Next issue: Friday, April 26,1996. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, April 23 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 email 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. Carol Carter: SUNY, Stony Brook; "HIV Capsid Assembly: A Target for Drug Design"; Monday, April 22, 1996; 12:00 p.m. in 68-181; Macromolecular Structure Function Seminar
Professor John Straub: Boston College; "Computational Methods for the Study of Biomolecular Systems"; Tuesday, April 23, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 2-105; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233; Physical Chemistry Seminar
Shane W. Krska: MIT, Seyferth Group; "A Molecular Ball and Chain: New Polymeric Materials Through Organosilicon Chemistry"; Wednesday, April 24, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321; Inorganic Seminar
Dr. Ann Savoca: Air Products, Inc.; "Functionalized Organonitrogen Compounds: Catalysis for the Production of Polyurethanes"; Thursday, April 25, 1996; 9:30-11:00 a.m. in 6-120; Chemistry In Industry
Alex Brodsky: MIT, Williamson Group; "Solution Structure of an HIV TAR RNA - Arginine Complex by NMR"; Monday, April 29, 1996; 12:00-1:00 p.m. in 68-181; Macromolecular Structure Function Seminar
Professor Charles L. Brooks III: Scripps Research Institute; "Molecular Simulations of Protein Folding and Unfolding: An Interface Between Simplified Models and Experiment"; Tuesday, April 30, 1996; 4:00 in Room 2-105; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233; Physical Chemistry Seminar
Professor Dewey Holten: Washington University; "Ultrafast Electron Transfer in Mutant Photosynthetic Reaction Centers"; Tuesday, May 7, 1996; 4:00 in Room 2-105; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233; Physical Chemistry Seminar
Dr. Michael D. Hopkins: University of Pittsburgh; "Conjugation in Transition-Metal Chemistry"; Wednesday, May 8, 1996; 5:00 p.m. Mallinckrodt MB-23; Refreshments @ 4:30 in MB-9; Harvard/MIT Inorganic Colloquium
Professor Richard H. Holm: Harvard University; Lecture I: "Molecular Clusters from Extended Solids"; Lecture II: "Adventures with Biologically-Related Metal Clusters"; Wednesday, May 15, 1996; Thursday, May 16, 1996; 5:00 p.m. in 6-120; A.D. Little Lectures in Inorganic Chemistry

Biological Chemistry Added as a Required Course for Chemistry Majors!

Recent breakthroughs in biological chemistry, molecular medicine, and biotechnology have altered our lives. In recognition of the increasing importance of biochemical principles to society, and particularly to preparation for professional careers and graduate study in all areas of chemistry, the Department has revised the requirements for the Major in Chemistry. Biological Chemistry (Chemistry 5.07) will be a required lecture subject, and 5.64 (Biophysical Chemistry) will be added to the list of restricted electives.

Biological Chemistry 5.07 provides an introduction to the structure, reactivity, and mechanisms of biological macromolecules found in living organisms. Emphasis is placed on the structure of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and membranes, the relationship of conformation to mechanism, thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, the biochemical mechanisms and logic of metabolic pathways, and the mechanisms of information transfer in the living cell. Next fall 5.07 will again be taught by Professors Klibanov and Stern.

Biophysical Chemistry 5.64 covers protein and nucleic acid structure, introduction to X-ray crystallography and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of protein folding, and principles of protein-nucleic acid interactions. Jamie Williamson and Carl Pabo will be teaching 5.64 again next fall. Biological Chemistry 5.07 will be required beginning with the Class of 2000, and 5.64 will be included as a restricted elective beginning with the Class of 1996.

The revised requirements for the Chemistry major are:

Required Lecture Subjects

5.03 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry

5.07 Biological Chemistry

5.11 Principles of Chemical Science

5.12 Organic Chemistry I

5.13 Organic Chemistry II

5.60 Thermodynamics

5.61 Physical Chemistry

Required Laboratory Subjects

5.311 Introductory Chemical Experimentation

5.32 Intermediate Chemical Experimentation

5.33 Advanced Chemical Experimentation

Restricted Electives (two of four are required)

5.04 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry II

5.43 Advanced Organic Chemistry

5.62 Physical Chemistry

5.64 Biophysical Chemistry

Congratulations to Lillian T. Chong!

Ms. Lillian T. Chong has been awarded a 1996 Chinese-American Chemical Society Scholarship. The New England Chapter of CACS will host an award meeting, during which an award of $1,000 and an award certificate will be presented to Ms. Chong.

Faculty Positions

Oaklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK: Seeks applications for a tenure-track professorship in experimental physical chemistry and for the Managerial position of the new Statewide Shared NMR Facility. The Manager position should be a Ph.D. spectroscopist experience with nD NMR of biologica macromolecules to design, execute, and interpret experiments on liquids NMR spectrometers. Contact Dr. Warren T. Ford, Department of Chemistry, Okalhoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078. The Chemist position seeks a Ph.D. in experimental physical or related field is required. The successful applicant will be expected to teach at the graduate and undergraduate level and to develop an independent research plan. Please send to Physical Chemistry Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 748078-0447.

Positions

Consulting Resources Corporation, Lexington, MA: is a specialized management consulting firm serving the chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. They seek a chemical or biological science graduate, at the bachelor's or master's level to join their staff as a Research Associate. Qualified junior undergraduates will be considered for a summer internship program. Position involves business research and analysis relating to industrial (and some consumer) markets, competitors and strategies. Interested candidates should send letter of interest and a resume to: Mr. Roger E. Shamel, President, Consulting Resources Corporation, Six Northbrook Park, Lexington, MA 02173.
L.K. Jordan and Associates, Corpus Christi, Texas: Invites applications for a senior development associate in Houston, Texas.. One to five years industrial experience preferred. Will conduct laboratory testing, write technical reports, present papers, develop new products: evaluate application suitability using computer simulations to model fluid dynamics. Contact: Susan Upshaw, L.K. Jordan and Associates, Corpus Christi, Texas (512) 884-9700.
Continuum, Santa Clara, CA: a world leader in the manufacture of pulsed lasers for the scientific industrial and medical markets, has a number of job openings, please contact: Kat Caturegli, 3150 Central Expressway, Santa Claraa, CA 95051 Fax: (408) 727-3550: Jobs include: Custom Laser Engineer, Field Service Installation Engineers, Laser Product Engineers as well as mechanica, analog and electrical manufacturing engineers.

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