Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 12, Number 36
Friday, November 22, 1996

Next issue: November December 6,1996. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, December 3rd. 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. Marisa C. Kozlowski: Harvard University; "Asymmetric Aldol Reactions with Chiral Copper (II) Catalysts"; Monday, November 25, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 2-190
Dr. Nathaniel Finney: Harvard University; "A Combinatorial Approach to the Discovery of New Asymmetrical Catalysts"; Tuesday, November 26, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 54-100
Dr. Matthew Shair: Harvard University; "Complementary Methods of Investigation of Investigation at the Synthetic Chemistry-Biology Interfade"; Monday, December 2, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 2-190
Dr. Mark Tuckerman: University of Pennsylvania; "Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Solvation and Transport of Hydronium and Hydroxyl Ions in Water"; Tuesday, December 3, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 2-105; Refreshments @ 3:30 in Moore (6-233)
Florian Schattenmann: Schrock Group; "Polyenes by Regioselective Cyclopolymerization and Copolymerization Using New Molybdenum Catalysts"; Wednesday, December 4, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 Moore (6-321)
Dr. James T. Link: University of California, Irvine; "Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products from Staurosporine-to Taxol-To Psycholeine"; Wednesday, December 4, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 4-270
Dr. Geoffrey Coates: Caltech; "New Strategies for the Synthesis of Steroregular Polymers"; Thursday, December 5, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 2-190
David W. Christianson: University of Pennsylvania; "Structure and Function of Metalloenzymes in Mammalian Nitrogen Metabolism"; Thursday, December 5, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 6-120; Seminar in Biological Chemistry; Refreshments @ 3:45
Dr. Karlene Cimprich: Harvard University; "Chemistry and Biology: DNA Damage and Cell Cycle Checkpoints"; Friday, December 6, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in Room 54-100
Danna Leard: Molina Group; "Reaction Probability of C1ONO2 + HCl on Ice Particles"; Friday, December 6, 1996; 5:15 p.m. in Room 6-120; Graduate Seminar Series in Physical Chemistry; Refreshments @ 5:00 p.m. in Amdur (6-233)
Professor Stuart L. Schreiber: Harvard University; "Conditionally Altering the Cellular Function of Proteins Using Chemical Genetics"; Monday, December 9, 1996; 5:00 p.m. in 10-250; 1996 T.Y. Shen Distinguished Lecture in Biological Chemistry; Reception in Norris Room 18-490 immediately following the lecture
Professor Stuart L. Schreiber: Harvard University; "Discovery of Ligands for Use in Chemical Genetics"; Tuesday, December 10, 1996; 4:15 p.m. in 10-250 (note room, time change); 1996 T.Y. Shen Distinguished Lecture in Biological Chemistry; Refreshments @ 4:30 outside of 6-120
Professor Michael Adams: University of Georgia; "Tungsten: a 'Hot' Element Required for Life at the Boiling Point?"; Wednesday, December 11, 1996; 5:00 Harvard, Room TBA; Harvard/MIT Inorganic Colloquia
Dr. Wilfred van der Donk: MIT; "Radical Intermediates during Mechanism Based Inactivation of Ribonucleotide Reductase"; Wednesday, December 11, 1996; 4:00 p.m. in 4-153
Professor Joseph J. Falke: University of Colorado; "Molecular Mechanism of Transmembrane Signaling by the Aspartate Receptor"; Thursday, December 12, 1996; 4:00 p.m. MIT Room 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:45; Seminar in Biological Chemistry

Call for Posters

The Second Annual Siemens/MIT Symposium on Crystallographic Chemical Analysis will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 1997. Proposals for posters that describe the use of crystallography in chemical research are now being accepted.. Titles should be submitted to Dr. Bill Davis (root@cherirx3.lms.mit.edu), or leave him a message at 3-1884.

Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry Announcement

Now in its second year, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry is directed to institutions with outstanding research efforts in environmental science. The program expects to provide up to five two-year fellowships annually for appointment of Ph.D. chemists and chemical engineers as visiting scientists. A flyer describing the program is available in Headquarters, or contact the Foundation at (212) 753-1760.

The Black Student Fund

The Black Student Fund is conducting a search for teachers, administrators, and counselors interested in working in independent schools in all parts of the country. Now is the time to submit CV's, interviews begin in December. Please call Vernice Townsend at: The Black Student Fund, 3636 16th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, D.C.20010.

Chemistry Holiday Party

The Departmental Holiday Party will be held on December 19 in the Sala de Puerto Rico on the second floor of the Stratton Student Center. The festivities begin at 3:30 PM and last until about 7:30 PM, and will feature hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and buffet dinner. All faculty, staff, postdocs, and students are invited and are encouraged to bring spouses and children. We are interested in volunteers for entertainment (music, skits, etc.) and those interested should contact Tim Swager (18-207) for guidelines. Only pre-approved performances will be accepted! Tickets will be $4 in advance and $6 at the door, children under 10 years are free. Tickets will be available after November 21 from Ms. Jean Harrington (18-207) and may be purchased between the hours of 12:30 and 2:00 PM daily.

Memo from International Scholars Office!

If you are an international scholar and if you have plans to travel outside the US, please come to the International Scholars Office, room 4-105 at least two weeks before you travel. They need to check the validity of your passport, your visa stamp, and your most current eligibility document (i.e., IAP-66 Form). Please bring those items with you when you go to their office, so they can make sure you have all the necessary documentation to travel. In some cases, they may need to issue you a duplicate document which takes 7-10 days.

Glass Blowing Services Available

Bob DiGiacomo will be coming in on Wednesdays or Thursdays to pick up any glass blowing work that you may have available. Please bring any work to room 6-031 or call Ed Utas or John Annese at 3-4505. Bob will do the work on a first-come basis.

Help Get Organized!

Call Ed Utas at 253-4505 or stop by room 6-026 if students, faculty or staff need help in organizing their MIT space!

Positions

NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD: Seeks qualified senior scientists to pursue research opportunities in residence at NASA/Goddard. Candidates would receive one year appointments as Distinguished Visiting Fellows; Reply to the attention of #VSS970 to Universities Space Research Association/Goddard Laboratory for Hydrosphere Processes Visiting Senior Scientist Program, 7501 Forbes Blvd. Suite #206, Seabrook, MD 20706.

Postdoctoral Positions

Brown University, Providence R.I.: One year position, details will depend on background and interests, but will involve the statistical mechanics of liquids or amorphous solids. Recent work has focused on the nature of the collective vibrational excitations in liquids, with particular emphasis on the implications of these excitations for ultrafast spectroscopic probes of liquid dynamics, Contact: Postdoctoral Search : Professor Richard M. Stratt, Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912.
National Institute of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD: has various postdoctoral opportunities available in the surface dynamic processes group. Application materials are available from: Associateship Programs, TJ 2114, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20418, phone is (202) 334-2760 or e-mail rap@nas.edu or http://www.nas.edu/rap
University of California at Irvine, Seeks Camille and Henry Drefus or Visiting Scientist Position in Environmental Science. The candidate will participate in research, classes and seminars in atmospheric chemistry for a period of 1-2 years. A Ph.D. in chemistry or chemical engineering is required. Research areas include: laboratory studies of heterogeneous tropospheric chemistry, field measurements of hydrocarbons and halocarbons, or laboratory studies of the interaction of oxidant air pollutants with pulmonary surfactant. Send cv, publication list, three reference names, addresses and e-mail addresses to: John C. Hemminger, Department of Chemistry, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2025

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.

The Johns Hopkins University, Department of Chemistry: seeks experimental physical chemist to establish a vigorous research program and teach both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Send materials to: Professor Dean W. Robinson, Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.
The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, seeks an assistant professor of environmental chemistry, search # 2018 for August of 1997. Emphasis on organic studies of the environment. Send resume and transcripts to: SUNY Plattsburgh, Search # 2018, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.
Mt. Holyoke College, Holyoke, MA: Invites applications to two visiting faculty Professors for 1997-98. Preference will be given for one candidate with strong organic experience while the other, any field is considered. Candidates should be prepared to join an active research program which involves undergraduate majors and M.A. candidates. Send materials to: Dr. Janice G. Smith, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01705-6407.
The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada: Three assistant professors are sought for July of 1997. The open areas are materials, inorganic and organic chemistry. Further details are available on the web site (http://www.uwo.ca/chem/) or by e-mailing Professor Petersen at scinop@uwoadmin.uwo.ca
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; An assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry/Biophysics is sought for fall of 1997. Research interests and teaching competence should emphasize molecular biophysics or physical chemistry. Send to: Professor Jon Applequist, Chair, Faculty Search Committee, 1210 Molecular Biology Building, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011.
Mercer University, Macon, GA: Visiting Professor sought for August of 1997, an organic chemist to teach organic and general chemistry, conduct research and teach scientific inquiry to entering student. Send materials to Dr. Bob Hargrove, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, or e-mail: hargrove_rj@mercer.edu
The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio: Invites applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry. The successful applicant is expected to develop a vigorous research program and obtain external funding. Send to: Chairman of the Organic Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3601.

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