Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 12, Number 19
Friday, May 17, 1996

Next issue: May 24,1996. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, May 21 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

Joanne Yun

MIT, Lippard Group

"Modeling Studies of Magnesium-Dependent Phosphate Ester Processing Enzymes"

Wednesday, May 29, 1996

4:00 in Room 6-120

Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321

Inorganic Seminar

Congratulations to Professor Bruce Tidor on the birth of his son!

Professor Bruce Tidor, his wife, Young-Mi and son Benjamin are pleased to announce the arrival of Jonathan Bertram Tidor - 7 lbs. 11 ozs, 20 inches on - May 7th at 7:09 a.m. Mother and child are doing fine.

Glassblowing Services Update

With the retirement of Bob DiGiacomo, the chemistry department will have several options for glass blowing services in the future.

(1) Bob has indicated that he would like to continue providing his services to the department on a 2 day per week basis. Marc Jones has asked Ed Udas in the Chemistry Shop to coordinate the collection and scheduling of work. When you have need of glass blowing services, please call (3-4505) or drop by and see Ed Udas in 6-026. Give Ed a description of the work to be done, the requested completion date, and an account number to be charged. If you have a piece to be repaired or components to be assembled you may bring them to Ed who will store them in the Glass Shop for Bob. Bob has indicated that he intends to come in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He would like to make the trip for a minimum of 4 hours work. Thus, there is a possibility, though not probable, that there may be a delay until 4 hours of work is collected.

(2) Marc Jones has conducted a survey of glass blowing services in the area and has identified the following four firms that you may wish to use for jobs (there are likely other glass blowing services in the area; please inform Marc by email of any other firms you recommend).

(a) G. Finkenbeiner Inc. 899-3138 - 33 Rumford Ave Waltham. Two rates, on sight $100/hr and in his shop at $50/hr. He has a delivery service that will pickup and deliver for about $15. He will provide a quote for new work based upon a faxed drawing.

(b) Wilbur Scientific 536-2609 - 37 Leon Street, Boston (near Northeastern) About $55 in his shop

(c) Strattman Designs 266-8821 - 791 Tremont Street, Boston. About $55/hr in his shop.

(d) RVA (Ryan, Velluto, Anderson) 935-2772- 2-L Gill Street, Woburn

Please contact Marc Jones (3-1802 or mbj@mit.edu) if you have any questions.

Vacancies on the Chemical Hygiene/Safety Committee

Graduate students interested in joining the Chemistry Department Chemical Hygiene and Safety Committee are invited to submit their names to Professor Rick Danheiser (18-297; danheisr@mit.edu). Members of the Committee participate in inspections of department laboratories (approximately one inspection per month) and attend meetings (ca. 2 per year) to discuss and formulate Chemistry Department safety policy. No prior experience in safety- related matters is necessary.

Positions

• RHG, New York: A Manhattan-based consulting firm is searching for recent graduates with degrees in biology, chemistry or chemical engineering for a full-time associate level-consultant. The time will be divided according to 25% investigating new technologies and different industries--technical journals, trade magazines, 50% interviewing research and industry leaders at companies, academic institutions, financial sources and associations and 25% summarizing the information. Opportunity for overseas travel. Send resume to the attention of 1996 recruiting, RHG, 51 East 42nd Street, Suite #306, New York, New York, 10017, telephone: (212) 599-5080 or fax: (212) 599-5460.
  
  
• Genetics Institute, Cambridge, MA: Seeks students for summer job openings in organic chemistry. The individual will be working very closely with their chemists and synthesizing important molecule for their project. The candidates should have sound knowledge of organic chemistry and basic experiences in the experimental operation of synthetic chemistry. Contact: Dr. Yibin Xiang, Small Molecule Drug Discovery (SMDD), Genetics Institute, 85 Bolton Street, Cambridge, MA 02140. Telephone (617) 498-8996. e-mail: yxiang@genetics.com
  
  
• Partnerships Limited, Inc: Seeks an MS or experienced BS chemist, materials scientist or chemical engineer for hands-on laboratory work in metaliorganic synthesis, evaluation and product development. Please send your resume to: Partnerships Limited, Inc. P.O. Box 6042, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Partnerships Limited is an electronics material start up company pioneering a new technology to produce printed circuit boards faster, cheaper and without hazardous waste generation.
  
  
• Duracell Worldwide Technology Center, Needham, MA: Product Development Engineer, Smart Battery Development Group: The engineer will plan and execute firmware and electronics designs and develops products for Duracell's Smart Battery line under the supervision of the Smart Battery Development Manager. Reviews development status, evaluates results and reports recommended actions to management. Directs the utilization of engineering resources to carry to completion difficult product development. Send resume with salary requirements to Duracell Worldwide Technology Center, 37A Street, Needham, MA 02194 or Fax to (617) 449-8429.
  
  

Postdoctoral Fellowship

• The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico: is seeking a postdoctoral research assistant candidate for a position in surface science. The research project will involve the characterization of surfaces and study of surface reactions of metal-organic precursors for the chemical vapor deposition of metals utilizing a UHV chamber equipped with TPDMS, AES and XPS. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, materials science or a related field and be acquainted with manipulation of air and moisture sensitive compounds and have a working knowledge of surface spectroscopic characterization methods.
  
  
• The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico: is seeking a postdoctoral research assistant candidate for a position in the area of synthetic inorganic materials chemistry. Involves research in the preparation of characterization of metal-organic compounds that are specifically designed as precursors for the formation of metal thin films and studies of their chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Must have Ph.D. in the area.
  
  
• Polestar Technologies, Inc. (Needham, MA and the University of MA, Medical Center, Worcester), has a joint postdoctoral position available. This two year position will involve the development of a compact non-invasive deep tissue Ph monitor for medical monitoring applications. The work in this position will be focused on the development of multivariate calibration models, based on methods such as partial least squares and principal component analysis, to relate the NIR spectral data to pH values. Additional work will involve assisting in the construction of a dedicated NIR spectrometer system and collection of spectral data. The position needs to be filled by the middle of June. Contact Ron Micheels, Polestar Technologies at: (617) 449-2284, Fax (617) 449-1072.
  
  

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