Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 13, Number 10
Friday, March 21, 1997

Next issue: March 28. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, March 25th. 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

Melissa Hirsch Kuchma: MIT; "Group 7 Organohydrazides: Synthesis and Characterization of Technetium and Rhenium Complexes with Chelating Organohydrazides"; Wednesday, March 26, 1997; 4:00 in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321 (Moore Room); Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry
Professor Charles P. Casey: University of Wisconsin, Madison; "d°-Metal-Alkyl-Alkene Complexes: Models for Key Intermediates in Ziegler-Natta Alkene Polymerization"; Thursday, March 27, 1997; 4:00 in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 18-490 (Norris Room); Seminar in Organic Chemistry

Workshop to be Held on Teaching Survival Skills and Ethics to Emerging Researchers

The third annual workshop, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh, on teaching survival skills and ethics to emerging researchers will be held on June 7-11 in Ogelbay Resort and Conference Center in West Virginia and is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Attendance is limited, so if interested please contact: Beth A. Fischer, Survival Skills and Ethics Program at the University of Pittsburgh, 4K26 Forbes Quadrangle, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, phone is (412) 624-7098; fax is (412) 648-7081 or e-mail: survivial+@pitt.edu

Applications Sought for the Kristin E. Finnegan Prize for Outstanding Instruction in Writing to Undergraduates by a Graduate Student

This award was established in memory of Kristen E. Finnegan who was a graduate student in Architecture and an outstanding teacher of writing, both as the Phase Two reader for that department and as a Writing Fellow, teaching in the Writing Practicum. It is hoped that this award will honor her memory by both recognizing and encouraging the efforts of graduate students throughout the Institute in helping undergraduates to write well. All MIT students enrolled in any MIT affiliated graduate program are eligible, including students officially enrolled in joint/undergraduate/graduate degree programs. Any member of the MIT community may nominate a graduate student for the prize and nominations should consist of a letter describing the nominee's specific achievements in helping undergraduates to improve their writing and speaking skills, and any relevant supporting materials (e.g., student evaluations, letters from students, examples of comments on student papers). The award is for the period February 3, 1996 to February 3, 1997. Nominations should be sent to: Kristen E. Finnegan Prize: c/o the Committee on the Writing Requirement, Room 20B140. The deadline is Monday, April 7, 1997.

Tax Workshops for International Scholars and Faculty

On Thursday, March 24, 1997 from 2:00 to 4:00 in Room 9-150 a tax workshop will be held addressing tax regulations and tax forms pertinent to all international students. Also, remember that all F-1 and J-1 International students and their dependents are required to file federal tax returns. If you have been in the US for 5 years or longer, you are considered a resident for tax purposes, and you should file returns on a 1040. If you have been in the US less than 5 years, you are considered a non-resident for tax purposes, and you should file form 1040 NR or 1040 EZ and Form 8843. If you are a non-resident for tax purposes and you received any income from a US source, you are required to file a tax form by April 15th. If you are a non-resident for tax purposes and did not receive any income from a US source you can file by June 15th.

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 Udas or John Annese at 3-4505. Bob will do the work on a first-come, first-served basis.

Write or Call for Fulbright Senior Scholar Program Information

To receive a book describing awards available for 1998-99, write or call: USIS Fulbright Senior Scholar Program, Council for International Exchange of Scholars, Box GPOS, 3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5M, Washington, D.C. 20008-3009, Internet: cies1@ciesnte.cies.org or telephone: (202) 686-7877 or on the web: http://www.cies.org

Requests for Pre-Proposals for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Sea Grant Program

The WHOI Sea Grant program supports research, education and advisory projects to promote a wise use and understanding of ocean and coastal resources for the public benefit. It is part of the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a network of 29 individual programs. During the 1996-98 funding cycle, the WHOI will support 18 concurrent research projects, including those that were awarded during the special enhancement competition in 1995. Average awards for individuals are $50,000 per year. The theme areas for 1998-2000 are: fisheries and aquaculture, environmental technology, and coastal processes, however proposals representing other areas will be considered. For marine policy proposals, preference will be given to projects that fit into one of the above-mentioned theme areas. Their web site describes all their programs (http://www.whoi.edu/seagrant/). Their deadline for proposals is April 18, and a two-page summary of your research with the following format is desired: PI, Dept. Institution and project title, 1, description, 2, rationale for project, 3, innovativeness, 4. application and outreach, 5. estimated duration of project and 6. budget. Please send an original and six copies to: Dr. Judith E. McDowell, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Sea Grant Program, 193 Oyster Pond Road, MS #2, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1525, e-mail: seagrant@whoi.edu

Travel Funds Available for Minority Graduate Students

Once again, we remind you that the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has been awarded $36,000 through the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH, to support a portion of the expenses of up to 60 minority graduate students to attend the 17th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The International Congress will be held in San Francisco, California, from August 24-29, 1997.

Up to 60 minority graduate students who attend the Congress will receive (on average) up to $600 in expenses. Applicants must be members of a minority group currently under-represented in science (i.e., African-American, Hispanic-American, or Native-American). An applicant must submit an abstract for a poster or paper he or she plans to present at the meeting. ASBMB intends to pay the students' expenses on a reimbursable basis, that is, successful applicants will submit expense vouchers after their attendance at the meeting, and will be reimbursed for up to $600.

TO APPLY: By March 21, ASBMB needs a draft of the abstract the student intends to submit (keeping in mind that the final abstract deadline is April 4), along with an application letter (there is no application form to fill out). The letter should provide the following information:

academic background
experience
a statement of the student's research interests
a statement regarding the ethnic minority with which he or she identifies
the address, phone, fax, and e-mail at which the student wishes to be contacted
a statement of U.S. residency or citizenship
a letter of recommendation from a mentor

All application materials should be received in one package, including the letter of recommendation. Applicants should send their application packet to:

Minority Travel Awards
ASBMB
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3996

We strongly encourage you to seek out appropriate candidates for these awards in your departments and laboratories, and make sure they know of their availability. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Positions

Advanced Fuel Research, East Hartford, CT: Has opportunities for a motivated research chemist or chemical engineer with a background/interest in phase gas measurement and analysis by FT-IR spectroscopy. Emphasis on quantitative analysis and instrument development. Fax (860) 528-0648 or send resume to: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. Vice-President of Operations, P.O. Box 380379, East Hartford, CT 06138-0379 or e-mail to: jobs@afr-olt.com.
American Chemical Society: Has a Fellowship available in Science Policy. The Fellowship offers an opportunity for a scientist to join ACS staff and complete one or more selected science policy projects that contribute to the Society's recommendations and assist in the development of official ACS policy statements. Please contact Wanda Guice, ACS Department of Government Relations and Science Policy, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone at 202-872-4479 or e-mail at w_guice@acs.org.
Albany Molecular Research, Inc., Albany, NY: Has openings for synthetic, organic chemists who may be interested in medicinal and chemical development at their company. Positions are available for experienced as well as entry level Ph.D.'s. Please e-mail: tom@albmolecular.com or call him at 518-464-0279 or visit their web site at: http://www.albmolecular.com.
Naval Undersea Warfare Center: Seeking a polymer chemist and a polymer physicist. Qualified individuals will be expected to develop research projects in support of active and passive polymers and composites for Navy transducer applications. The areas of research are expected to include new compositions of electroactive fluoropolymers and polyurethanes exhibiting piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive properties as well as polymers for passive applications. The anticipated focus of the polymer chemist will be on synthesis of new compositions. Individual will be collaborating with a team of Navy transducer scientists and academic polymer chemists as part of an ONR funded research program to develop new and improved active and passive polymers and composites. A Ph.D. in polymer chemistry is preferred. Please contact: Mr. Frank Tito, Code 2131, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Building 1170, Room 209, 1176 Howell Street, Newport, RI 02841-1708. Telephone at 401-841-6605x35090, fax at 401-841-6513.
Thermedics Detection, Inc., Chelmsford, MA: Has openings for Entry to Intermediate Level Scientists. Concentration will be in development, debugging and application testing of prototype chemical analytical instrumentation. Please contact Eric E. A. Bromberg, Ph.D., Director, R&D and Engineering, Thermedics Detection, Inc., 220 Mill Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4178. Telephone at 508-251-2000, fax at 508-251-2091.
Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ: Has a limited term, full-time position available. Candidates should possess a Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry, knowledge of preparation and characterization of air-sensitive organometallic complexes, and a strong background in spectroscopic characterization of organometallic complexes. Please contact Dr. Bruce Cook, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ 08801-0998.
Career & Business Services, New York, NY: Seeking Organic/Polymer Chemist. Desired candidate should have a postdoctoral degree and a publication record. In addition, postdoctoral experience in polymerization with zieglernatta in synthetic and mechanic organic chemistry environment, and a record of exceptional intellectual and educational achievement. Candidate should also possess superb communication/interpersonal skills, strong documentary capabilities, and computer literacy. Please contact Career & Business Services, 925 50th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219. Telephone at 718-438-4938, fax at 718-438-3941.

Postdoctoral Positions

Associated Western Universities Incorporated: Has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral research fellow in the separations science: capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrokinetic chromatography. Its purposes are to extend capillary electrophoresis and electrokinetic chromatography into new areas by development of new and novel techniques and to improve currently available capillary electrophoresis and electrokinectic methods. Innovative approaches to separations and detection in these areas are being developed. Must be U.S. citizen, direct inquiries to: AWU NW: Attn: Postgraduate Programs #9702, 723 The Parkway, Suite #100, Richland, WA: 99352 (509) 946-3800, e-mail: info@nw.awu.org Technical inquiries may be directed to: Dr. Nate Ballou (MSIN P7-07) Battelle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA 99352
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA: Will be searching for a postdoc capable of preparing modified nucleotides, nucleic acid synthesis, metal-ion derivatives of nucleic acids and probing their physical properties. In related work, we also are studying the metabolism of metallopharmaceuticals in cells and tissues. I would very much appreciate your bringing this opportunity to the attention of exceptionally gifted and motivated graduate students or postdocs with a strong interest in these areas. Please contact: Michael J. Clarke 617-552-3624 Merkert Chemistry Center Fax: 617 552 2705 Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167-3860 E-mail: Clarke@bc.edu WWW Page: http://chemserv.bc.edu/department/faculty/Clarke/Clarke.html
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York: One project available for postdoctoral research is to use metal hydride chemistry in homogeneous catalysis and will be carried out in collaboration with Drs. Paul Fagan and Elisabeth Hauptman at Dupont's Central Research and Development Department. Another project involves collaborations with Carol Creutz at Brookhaven on kinetic and mechanistic studies of organometallic compounds in aqueous solutions. Please contact: R. Morris Bullock at Brookhaven National Laboratories, PO Box 5000 Upton, New York, 11973-5000. or e-mail lrmb@bnl.gov or telephone at 516-344-4315 Fax: at 516-344-5815
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana: Plans to award 1997/98 academic year fellowships for Ph.D. students to be held during their third or fourth year of study. Sponsors are: Abbot Laboratories, Aldrich Chemical, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dupont Merck Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company; Merck Research Laboratories, Organic Reactions, and John Wiley and Sons; Organic Synthesis Inc. Pfizer, The Procter and Gamble Company, Rohm and Haas; Schering-Plough Research Institute, SmithKline Beecham; Pharmacia-Upjohn Company; Wyeth-Ayerst Research Laboratories and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Group. Nominations should be submitted by the candidate's Ph.D. advisor and consist of a resume prepared by the candidate and two letters of reference (one from the thesis advisor) all in triplicate. Letters of reference should comment on the academic record, productivity, and career potential of the applicant. Evidence of research accomplishments will be an important factor in the selection of the fellowship holders. Applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident visa holders. Professor Philip DeShong, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 by June 6, 1997. Announcements will be made by mid-July of 1997.
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Postdoctoral positions available in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science departments. Some projects involve synthesis, characterization and self-assembly of new block copolymers. Also, the polymer group offers a wide range of capabilities and potential collaborations available to a qualified candidate. Please contact Marc A. Hillmyer, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 151 Amundson Hall, 421 Washington Ave, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0132. Telephone at 612-625-7834, 612-625-6606. Fax at 612-626-1686. You may e-mail at hillmyer@chem.umn.edu.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA: Postdoctoral positions available in Environmental Chemical Physics in the following research concentrations: Environmental Oxide Interfaces and Recreating Complex Interfaces in UHV. Interfacial studies of oxide surfaces. Thin film oxides used to study environmental mineral and materials chemistry. Aqueous ions studied via UHV model systems with novel very low energy molecular ion source. Ionic solvation, diffusion, reactions are probed, as well as electron and proton transport. Please contact James P. Cowin, M/S K2-14, Chief Scientist, Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. Telephone at 509-375-6838, fax at 509-375-6442. You may also e-mail at jp_cowin@pnl.gov.

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.

Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel: Seeks applicants for tenure-track positions in the area of protein x-ray crystallography. These individuals will form a core unit of a university-wide interdisciplinary program in structural biology to be developed with the faculty of life sciences. Areas of research include: genetics and genetic research, cell and molecular biology, enzymology, membrane biochemistry, protein chemistry, signal transduction, natural products, ecology, biotechnology, molecular modeling, computational biology and biophysics. Please sent all information to: Dr. David Gutnick, Coordinator and Search Committee Chair, Dept. of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel. Phone is 972-3-6409834; fax: 972-3-6425786 or e-mail: davidg@post.tau.ac.il
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM: Invites applicants for a full-time position in theoretical/computational physical or biophysical chemistry. Desirable qualifications include: distinction in research, exceptional promise of scholarship, potential for developing a vigorous and competitive research program, ability to direct graduate student research and an interest in participation in a collegial community of scholars. Address all inquiries to: Professor David Keller, Chairman, Chemistry search committee, Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131.
Columbus State University, Columbus, GA: Seeking an assistant professor of inorganic chemistry in any area of theoretical or experimental inorganic chemistry. Please contact: Steven W. Buckner at 706-568-2075 or fax at 706-569-3133 for more information.
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA: Seeking a Ph.D. Organic Chemist at the assistant professor level for a one-year position starting in the fall of 1997. Teaching responsibilities will include introductory chemistry as well as lecture and lab in a two semester organic sequence. Send resume, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, statement of teaching experience, and three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your experience in chemistry and teaching to: Dr. Sonja E. Hicks, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181. Telephone at 617-283-3139, fax at 617-283-3642. E-mail at shicks@wellesley.edu.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA: Seeking an assistant or associate professor for a tenure-track position in the Department Cancer Biology in association with the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School. The concentration of study will be in cancer biology. The candidate should have 3-5 years of relevant experience and possess the capability of directing a vigorous research program in such areas as cell cycle control, viral oncology, cancer genetics, tumor suppresser genes, or signal transduction. The individual will be expected to participate in the teaching programs of the Department, pathology, and in the Graduate programs in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at the Medical School. Please contact Dr. Thomas M. Roberts, Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115.
Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH: Seeking a sabbatical replacement for one semester, to teach full-time for the fall 1997 semester. Primary responsibilities would include first semester physical chemistry lecture and lab (thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry), additional responsibilities in general chemistry or physical science. Please contact Dr. George Parodi, #1672, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102.
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA: Seeking to fill two full-time, one-year temporary positions. The primary teaching responsibilities are General Chemistry with Laboratory and Organic Chemistry with Laboratory. Some teaching of upper level labs also required. Ph.D. required. Please contact Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 01610. Visit their web site at http://www.holycross.edu.

Index of Chemformation Back Issues