Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 12, Number 29
Friday, October 4, 1996

Next issue: October 11,1996. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, October 8. 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/

Welcome Chemistry Visiting Committee!!

The faculty, staff, and students of the Department are pleased to welcome the Chemistry Department Visiting Committee on the occasion of their biannual visit to the Institute on Monday and Tuesday, October 7-8. The MIT Visiting Committee system was established in 1875 and has had much influence on the course of education and research at MIT. Operating as advisory groups to the Corporation, visiting committees provide the Corporation, senior MIT administration, faculty, and students with advice and insight on each academic department and certain major activities at the Institute. Members help to maintain a close relationship between academic procedure and professional practice, and also provide expert comment on current and proposed departmental programs. In this forum, recommendations are made to improve the Department's infrastructure including facilities, space, and services. At the conclusion of each visit, the Committee reports to the MIT Administration providing suggestions with regard to the overall state of the Chemistry Department.

Visiting committees typically include 17 members: 5 Corporation representatives, assigned by the Chairman of the Corporation, 6 alumni nominees, nominated by the Alumni/ae Association, and 6 Presidential nominees, nominated by President Charles Vest. The Visiting Committee Roster for 1995-1996 includes (Chairman) Mr. Richard Simmons, Chairman and CEC of Allegheny Ludlum Corporation; Dr. Theodore M. Bednarski, Dr. Barry Bloom, Dr. Burton Christensen, Mr. Paul M. Cook, Dr. Frank Douglas, Mr. William Edgerly, Dr. Joseph Gordon, II, Mr. L. Robert Johnson, Dean James L. Kinsey, Professor Jerry Mohrig, Dr. David Morse, Dr. Paula Olsiewski, Dr. Maxine L. Savitz, Mr. Reginald D. Tucker, Dr. Robert Wickham, Mr. Elliot K. Wolk, Dr. Robert Young, Mr. J. Kenneth Jamieson, and Dr. George W. Thorn. (Members who are unable to attend this meeting include Dr. Burton G. Christensen, Mr. Paul M. Cook, Dr. Frank Douglas and Mr. Kenneth Jamieson). We look forward to a productive and energetic visit!

Department of Chemistry Visiting Committee Agenda

Monday, October 7, 1996: Amdur Room

9:00 - 10:30: Continental Breakfast and Review of previous Visiting Committee Recommendations and Overview of Department; Professor Stephen J. Lippard, Chairman
10:30 - 10:45: Break
10:45 - 11:30: Tour of Research Laboratories
11:30 - 1:30: Lunch and discussions with Senior Faculty (Norris Room)
1:30 - 1:45: Break
1:45 - 2:45: Overview of Educational Program; Professor Rick L. Danheiser, Associate Chair
2:45 - 3:30: Meet with Undergraduates Students
3:30 - 4:00: Meet with Dean Birgeneau
4:00 - 5:00: Meet with Postdoctoral Associates
6:00: Cocktail Reception and Dinner; After dinner speaker: Professor Mario Molina

Tuesday, October 8, 1996: Amdur Room

8:00 - 10:00: Continental Breakfast and Faculty Research Presentations by: Professors Cummins, Williamson, Swager and Bawendi
10:00 - 10:15: Break
10:15 - 11:30: Meet with Graduate Students
11:30 - 12:45: Lunch and discussions with Junior Faculty (Norris Room)
12:45 - 1:00: Break
1:00 - 2:00: Executive Session
2:00 - 3:00: Report to Senior Administration

SEMINAR CALENDAR

Professor Yongqin Chen: University of California at Berkeley; "Perturbation of Molecular Potential Surfaces by Ultrashort Laser Pulses - Possible Application of 'Femto-Catalyst' "; Tuesday, October 8, 1996; MIT Room 2-105 @ 4:00 pm; Refreshments @ 3:30 in Room 6-233; Seminar in Physical Chemistry
Chris Morse: Professor Davison Group; Title TBA; Wednesday, October 9, 1996; MIT Room 6-120 @ 4:00 pm; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321; Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry
Professor Clifford P. Kubiak: Purdue University; "Electron Transfer on the Vibrational Time Scale in Inorganic Charge Transfer Complexes and the Resistance of Individual Molecules"; Wednesday, October 16, 1996; Harvard University @ 5pm; MB-23 (Pfizer Lecture Hall); Harvard/MIT Inorganic Seminar
Dr. Alex Harris: Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies; "Holography for Optical Data Storage: Has Its Time Come?"; Thursday, October 17, 1996; MIT Room 6-120 @ 5:00 pm; Refreshments @ 4:30 in 6-233; Physical Chemistry Series; Harvard/MIT Seminars @ MIT
Professor Laura L. Kiessling: University of Wisconsin, Madison; "Exploring Carbohydrate Function with Synthetic Molecules"; Thursday, October 24, 1996; MIT Room 6-120 @ 4:00 pm; Refreshments @ 3:30 pm, 18-490; Seminar in Organic Chemistry
Professor Ann McDermott: Columbia University; Title TBA; Thursday, October 31, 1996; 4:00 pm in 6-120; Refreshments in foyer of 6-120 @ 3:45; Seminar in Biological Chemistry

Positions

Bristol Myers Squibb: Princeton New Jersey and Wallingford CT: The Associate Research Scientist will synthesize compounds in the laboratory within either the oncology, metabolic diseases, or combinatorial chemistry departments. Requires a B.S. in chemistry with 1-2 years relevant experience or an MS with no experience. Should have working knowledge of organic chemistry and hands-on experience in conducting a variety of synthetic reactions. Contact: Mary Cannon at Elcalibur Human Resources, Inc. 800-922-5427 extension #28.

Fellowships

National Science Foundation Research Fellowships for 1997: Applications can be obtained via the internet send request to:on the home page which is URL: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov For questions please call Dan Hofherr, Division of Information Systems, NSF, telephone 703-306-1142 ext. 4686, e-mail to Felapp@nsf.gov Printed materials may be obtained by direct request to: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) PO Box 3010, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-3010 or telephone at 423-241-4300 or fax 423-241-4513 or electronic mail: nsfgrfp@orau.gov
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO: Offers a postdoctoral fellowship program in Clinical Chemistry, a unique program which offers training, technical and management training in clinical chemistry while pursuing research. The program is highly competitive with 2-4 applicants admitted per year. Please contact: Dr. Jack Ladenson, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8118, St. Louis, MO 63110-1093. Phone is 314-362-3186, fax is 314-362-1461 or e-mail: ladensn1@visar.wustl.edu There is also a brochure in the blue book in headquarters.

Postdoctoral

University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK: Postdoctoral position for a candidate with a Ph.D. in either physics or chemistry to collaborate with Dr. KW Kolasinski (School of Chemistry) and Professor RE Palmer (School of Physics) in the exploration of the origin of optical emission properties of size-selected, deposited Si clusters and thereby grow new nanophase Si materials with controlled optical properties. The successful candidate will have some experience in some combination of: high resolution electron energy loss, spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, cw and pulsed lasers and or cluster deposition. Send materials to: Dr. Kolasinski and submit and application obtained from: Mr. AB Buckley, Staffing Services, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT. Telephone is 44-121-414-3847 and e-mail is: A.B.Buckley@bham.ac.uk and informal inquiries made be made to Dr. Kolasinski at K.W.Kolasinski@bham.ac.uk
Amherst, College, Amherst, MA: A position is available immediately in bioinorganic chemistry. The research involves biochemical and spectroscopic investigations of an iron-sulfur protein involved in radical generation. Should have a strong interest in metallobiochemistry. Contact; Professor Joan B. Broderick, Dept. of Chemistry at Amherst College, 2243, Amherst College, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000.

Faculty Positions

Please note, unless otherwise specified, most faculty positions require a resume, short description of research plans and to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the specific university or college.

Michigan State University, East Lansing MI: Seeks applicants for two junior faculty positions in physical chemistry. Particularly interested in solid state chemistry, both experimental and theoretical. Submit materials to: Professor Gerald T. Babcock, Chairman, Dept. of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1322.
The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Il: Seeks an outstanding candidate in organic chemistry for a tenure-track position. For full consideration send information by November 1st to: Chairman, Organic Search Committee, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7061.
State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York: Invites applications for two-tenure track positions in organic chemistry for fall of 1997. The area of research is open, excellent opportunities exist for collaborative studies with other disciplines such as Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology. Send applications to: Chair, Organic Search Committee, Dept. of Chemistry, State University New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA: Inviting applications for assistant professorships in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. All supporting materials and application should be sent no later than November 1st to: Professor David Evans, Chairman, Dept. of Chemistry, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Invites applications for three assistant-professor positions, for analytical, organic and physical chemistry. The review of applications should begin on November 8th. Clearly label application to the targeted field and send to: Search Committee, Dept. of Chemistry, CB#3290, Venable Hall, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599-3290
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio: Seeks applicants for organic professor positions, beginning August of 1997 with emphasis on bioorganic chemistry. Possible subdisciplines include: biomimetic, combinatorial, medicinal, and supramolecular chemistry. Contact: Search Committee: Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056.
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas: Applications are sought for faculty positions (open) for September of 1997. Areas of experimental or theoretical chemistry are encouraged to apply and consideration will be given to research in areas of material science, optical spectroscopy, chemical dynamics and biophysical chemistry. Contact; Professor Emile A. Schweikert, Dept. Head, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.

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