Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 16, Number 12
Friday, April 11, 1997

Next issue: Friday, April 18. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, April 15. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Linda Earle Room 18-390, Department of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/253-1803; 617/258-7500 (fax) or e-mail 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

Ciaran Brennan: Keith Nelson Group; "Wavector Overtone Spectroscopy: Characterizing Potential Energy Surfaces in Crystals Through Large-Amplitude Ionic Vibrations"; Friday, April 11, 1997; 5:00 p.m. in 4-163; Refreshments @ 4:45 in 6-321; Graduate Seminar in Physical Chemistry
Cameron Haase-Pettingell: MIT Department of Biology - King Lab; "Switching from Productive Folding to Off-Pathway Aggregation: Restriction of Temperature Sensitive Folding Mutations to the Beta Coil Domain of the P22 Tailspike"; Monday, April 14, 1997; 12 p.m. in Room 68-181; Seminar in Biology
Professor Eric Oldfield: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; "Using NMR Chemical Shifts to Probe Protein Structure"; Tuesday, April 15, 1997; 4:00 p.m. in 2-105; Seminar in Physical Chemistry; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233
Professor Don Matteson: Washington State University; "Boron is Not Boring: Adventures in Asymmetric Synthesis"; Thursday, April 24, 1997; 4:00 in 6-120; Seminar in Organic Chemistry
Fred Mikulec: Moungi Bawendi Group; "Composite Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Luminescent Materials"; Friday, April 25, 1997; 5:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments in 6-321 @ 4:45
Professor Dr. Gerhard Ertl: The Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft; "Self-Organization in Surface Reactions"; Tuesday, April 29, 1997; 4:00 p.m. in 54-100; The 1997 Arthur D. Little Lectures in Physical Chemistry
Professor Dr. Gerhard Ertl: The Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft; "Electronic Excitations in Adsorption at Metal Surfaces"; Thursday, May 1, 1997; 5:00 p.m. in 6-120; The 1997 Arthur D. Little Lectures in Physical Chemistry; Refreshments @ 4:30 outside of 6-120
Shari Dunham: Lippard Group; "Structural Characterization of Platinum-Modified Oligonucleotides and Their Protein Interactions"; Wednesday, April 30, 1997; 4:00 p.m. in 6-120; Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-321; Inorganic Seminar Series

Chemistry 5.561: "Chemistry in Industry" Lecture Series

All Lectures will take place at 9:30 am in Room 6-120. (Please note that this is a revised time.)

April 29, 1997:: Dr. Cyril Mahaim, Chemical Development - Firmenich, Inc.; "Industrial Synthesis of Fragrance Compounds"
May 6, 1997:: Dr. David L. Coffen, Vice President, Chemistry - Arqule; "Automated Parallel Synthesis: A New Tool for Drug Discovery"
May 13, 1997:: Dr. Stephen W. Kaldor, Head, Combinatorial Chemistry Research Eli Lilly and Company; "From Structure-Based Design to Combinatorial Chemistry: Skill Sets for the Successful 21st Century Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry"

Please Join Us at the American Chemical Society Reception!!

All faculty, graduate students, and alumni/ae attending the spring ACS Meeting in San Francisco are welcome to attend the social hour on Monday, April 14th, 1997 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Sir Frances Drake Hotel, Room: Tudor A.

Merck/MIT Postdoctoral Fellowships Available

Ten postdoctoral fellowships are currently available through the Merck/MIT Collaboration Program. Fellows with research interest in any area of modern cell, molecular or organism based biology are eligible. The fellowships are for one year, with a stipend of $35K and $2K discretionary fund, Fellows must have completed at least two years of postdoctoral training at the time of granting the award, the fellowship is intended to be a terminal year of support for a fellow at MIT, restricted to work in a MIT or WI laboratory. The application should contain a complete CV, copies of any publications in press or submitted, a three-page research proposal and three letters of recommendation, one of which is from the supervisor. Six copies of the application should be submitted to Marilyn Smith, Bldg. 68-132. The deadline for applications is May 1, 1997 with decisions for funding is June 1, 1997. Please contact Professor Boris Magasanik with questions at 3-2637.

Merck/MIT Graduate Fellowships Available

Eight Graduate fellowships are also available through the MIT/Merck Collaboration Program for students with a strong background in math, physical sciences, and/or engineering while doing graduate studies in sub-sections of a department of engineering, physical or mathematical sciences. Doctoral students beginning their second, third or fourth years of graduate studies are eligible. Students selected will be required to take one course in biology or related science each of the two semesters of the first year of support and to participate in a symposium held typically on the MIT campus to discuss research before Merck representatives and MIT colleagues. To apply send your undergraduate research transcripts, GRE's GPA, MIT course record, and prepare six copies of: a two page description of the research proposed and two letters from MIT faculty of whom is your supervisor to Professor Dietmar Seyferth in 4-382A by April 21st. Chemistry Department faculty will review applications and send on those most qualified.

Tune-Up for T.A.'s Spring '97

On Wednesday, April 16th please join us from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the Moore Room 6-321 for "The End is in Sight!", (What's working, what isn't, and Facilitating communication between students and faculty), the last of the spring tune-up series. Refreshments will be served.

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.

Positions

Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA: Math and Science instructors one to two positions in a six-week summer residential position. The Upward Bound Program is a federally funded project to assist 65 high school students from low income and disadvantaged families in Fall River, Taunton and Attleboro who have the potential to succeed in college, but who require supplemental academic skills and motivation Will develop and teach remedial/development in biology/chemistry and advanced classes in those areas, their principles and applications; while providing tutorial assistance to project participants. Requires a BA in biology,chemistry or related field - master's preferred with a minimum of two years secondary school teaching or related experience, bilingual abilities desirable especially Spanish, Chinese or Khmer. Free room and board a stipend of $2250. from June 21st to August 2nd - live in at Bridgewater State. Please send letter of intent, resume and the names addresses and telephone numbers of three references to Mr. Tafa Awolaju at Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Ma 02720
DuPont Merck, Wilmington,DE: They have a number of openings for talented organic chemists who are finishing their B.S. or M.S. The company is launching a number of new research initiatives as a platform for their next phase of corporate growth. Candidates will synthesize biologically active molecules to support their medicinal chemistry research programs and those individuals will apply state-of-the-are synthetic and purification techniques as well as NMR and mass spectral methods to the discovery of potential drugs. Interested candidates should submit their resumes and references to: The DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, P.O. Box 80400, E400/2413, Wilmington, DE 19880-0400. Att: RSM.
Chemist: Chemist to run tests/studies on reservoir water. Testing for nutrient, phosphorus using a spectrophotometer. Ideal candidate will have experience with Perkin-Elmer 2400 Series CHN Analyzer, or Carlo Erba 1500 and 1600 Series Elemental Analyzer. Candidate will probably have background in chemistry (oceanography, ecology, or biology backgrounds may also qualify). Please contact Rich Dembowski or Brian Schuster at 1-800-803-6363.

Postdoctoral Positions

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.: A postdoctoral position in the research group of Professor Christopher B. Gorman to explore new methods for the synthesis and modification of steroregular polymers is open and expected to be filled in the next six months. An ideal candidate would possess a strong background in organic and/or organometallic synthesis and an interest in joining a young research group that is taking an aggressive approach to research and publication. Please contact Professor Gorman at North Carolina State University, Box 8204, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204 or call him at 919-515-4252 or fax to him at 919-515-8920, internet: Chris_Gorman@ncsu.edu Please send along a cv,, letter and the names of three references.

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.

Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas: Seeks a lecturer in Chemistry for one year position to teach general chemistry lecture and laboratory a possibly a lecture section in specialty area. Skills include: ability to create an atmosphere conducive to learning, ability and desire to deal tactfully with students, faculty and the public. Candidate should be dedicated to excellence in teaching and have a strong commitment to high academic and professional standards. Interest in, and ability to conduct research appropriate for undergraduates. Apply to Edgar N. Drake, II, Head, Department of Chemistry, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas 76909 phone is 915-942-2181 or fax is 915-942-2184.
Frances Marion University, Florence, South Carolina: Seeks Chairman for the Departments of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, must have a degree and possess a distinguished record in administration, teaching, scholarly activity and service. Evidence of the ability to work and communicate effectively with a variety of constituencies is essential. Successful candidate for the position will be expected to include the integration of technology into teaching and international perspectives as well as participate in distance learning and serving non-traditional students. Minorities and females are encouraged to apply. Send letter of interest, a resume and three letters of reference and three additional names and addresses of references to: Mrs. Alice C. Baker, Assistant Vice-President for Human Resources, Francis Marion University, PO Box 100547, Florence, SC 29501-0547, e-mail abaker@fmarion.edu

Index of Chemformation Back Issues