Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 13, Number 39

December 12, 1997

The next issue of Chemformation is December 19th. Deadline for submission of material is Tuesday, December 16th. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. 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

Special Holiday Closing

The Institute will close at noon on Wednesday, December 24 in addition to being closed on the official holidays of Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26. Christmas Day is one of the twelve holidays observed by the Institute. In 1997, the day after Christmas has been designated as the Institute's twelfth holiday. The noon closing on December 24 is a special holiday closing (see section 5.9 of the Personnel Policy Manual). A memorandum will be issued shortly clarifying the separate pay policies for these closings. If you have any questions regarding holiday pay practices, please contact your Personnel Officer.

Lawrence Livermore National Labs Hiring for Several Positions

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories has a variety of positions open including a postdoctoral fellowship and staff positions. Please check the binder in Headquarters for more detailed information and see the sign-up sheet in the hallway outside.

Chemistry Department Holiday Party on December 18!

Yes, it is that time again! Please come and join us in the fun and festivities for the annual Chemistry Department Holiday Party which will be held on Thursday, December 18, 1997, 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Sala de Puerto Rico Room at the MIT Student Center. There will be no admission charge this year so we are asking that each secretary in the department please get a head count (including students, friends, wives, significant others, and children) as soon as possible!! This information should go to Jean Harrington via e-mail harngtn@mit.edu (no later than Tuesday, December 16th), so that final arrangements (i.e, food, setup, and beverages) may be as accurate as possible. Hope you will be able to join us for this festive event!

Third Annual MIT/Bruker Symposium to be Held on January 31, 1998

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the third annual MIT/Bruker (formerly Siemens) Symposium on Crystallographic Chemical Analysis to be held on Saturday, January 31, 1997 beginning at 8:45 a.m. in Room 6-120. Topics that will be discussed are crystal growth, problem structures and strategies for the resolution of twinning problems. A free catered lunch will be available and there will be a $500 prize for the best poster!! Pre-register by e-mail to Dr. Bill Davis at wmdavis@mit.edu or to Linda Earle at lkn@mit.edu. The aforementioned e-mail addresses may be used to enter poster competition.

The Third Annual Bruker/MIT Symposium on Crystallogrpahic Chemical Analysis

11:30-1:00: catered lunch and poster session

Message to International Scholars from International Scholars Office

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 and visa stamp, and your most current eligibility document (i.e., IAP-66 Form). Please note that you may need to renew your US entry visa at a US Consulate abroad before returning to the US.

Please Don't Forget The United Way!!

The MIT United Way Campaign is well under way. A Clothing and Canned Good Drive will be held for two weeks beginning on Monday, December 8 and ending on Friday, December 19. Wish List: clean warm winter clothing, men's and women's coats, gloves, hats, socks, towels and sheets, babies and children's clothing. This year, "non-perishable" canned goods and packaged goods will be accepted (cake mixes, spaghetti, etc.). Drop-Off Locations: E52 (Sloan School lobby); Bldg. 50 (Walker Memorial, Beaver Room lobby); E23 (Medical Department lobby); Bldg. 7 lobby (main entrance at 77 Mass. Ave.). Agencies to be helped: CASPAR, Salvation Army, Shelter Inc. Anyone who would like to make a financial contribution to the United Way, remember the size of your contribution matters not - just a willingness to make a difference by making a donation will be appreciated. Please send your pledge cards to Marsha Myles, 18-284.

Updating Our Mailing List

Now that "Chemformation" is on the web, we are trying to keep papercopies to a minimum. Please e-mail Linda Earle at lkn@mit.edu if you would like to be removed from the mailing list, otherwise we will continue to keep you on it. Thank you for your cooperation.

Help Get Organized!

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

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.

Faculty Positions

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

• Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA: Has an opening for an assistant professor in chemistry beginning in the Fall of 1998. It is a full-time position with annual renewable contracts (up to 3 Years) is designed to diversify further the subdisciplines represented by the current staff and to address areas of high student demand. The successful candidate will teach organic chemistry and introductory biochemistry to assist in building up their biochemistry program. Send materials to: Dr. Victor J. Tortorelli, Dept. of Chemistry, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426-1000.

• The University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL:Invites applications for a position in experimental physical chemistry. Seeking applicants with research emphasizing application of laser systems to chemical and materials sciences. A Ph.D. with postdoctoral experience is preferred. Send materials to: Dr. Glenn Cunningham, Chair, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 38216-2366.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

• I wish to invite applications for postdoctoral research in my laboratory at NIST for quantitative and ultrasensitive laser-based gas analysis. The combination of NIST92s unique mission to support industry, the depth of our personnel and our well-equipped facilities guarantees a rewarding postdoctoral research opportunity. The appointments will be granted by the National Research Council for a period of two years. The starting salary is at least $45,500/year, plus fringe benefits that include moving expenses, a professional travel allowance, and cost-shared health insurance. Awardees must be U.S. citizens and must have held a Ph.D. for less than 5 years. As part of the application, the candidate must select a research project and submit a brief proposal. Candidates are encouraged to contact me to discuss projects of mutual interest. A list of possible project areas includes:20 B7 Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) using cw diode lasers and pulsed systems B7Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS).
  The goals of this research are directed toward detection of stable species, radicals and ions for: B7 semiconductor/plasma processing, B7 environmental/emissions monitoring B7 humidity and atmospheric chemistry . I seek a candidate having a strong desire to advance innovative research in a multi-disciplinary scientific program.20. The applications must be postmarked by January 15, 1998. The final version of the proposal and letters of recommendation must be received at the NRC by February 15, 1998. Postdoctoral appointments will be announced in April 1998. Awardees may negotiate the starting date but must assume tenure by January 31, 1999. Application materials may be obtained directly from: Associateship Programs (TJ 2114), National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418 (Tel. 202-334-2760, E-mail: rap@nas.edu). Potential candidates are encouraged to contact me as soon as possible. I ask you and your colleagues to inform well-qualified students of this research opportunity. Dr. Joseph T. Hodges-Process Measurements Division- Tel: 301-975-2605 Fax: 301-869-5924 E-mail: joseph.hodges@nist.gov http://fluid.nist.gov Note: for further information about applications including plasma and process diagnostics you may contact Dr. David S. Green old E-mail:dsgreen@enh.nist.gov, or new E-mail: david.green@nist.gov

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