ChemformationChemformation
Volume 14, Number 23
Thursday, September 17, 1998
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, 617/253-4080; 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/
The Department has lost a wonderful friend, colleague and mentor with the passing of Professor George Büchi on August 28th. Professor Büchi who was 77, died of heart failure while hiking in his native Switzerland with his wife Anne. Professor Büchi was an organic chemist whose research accomplishments spanned over a forty-year career and who made significant contributions into diverse areas of organic chemistry such as natural products and molecular toxicology and photochemistry. He determined the structure of some 55 natural substances and the synthesis of more than 75 complex natural products. Many of the syntheses covered in his more than 200 scientific papers produced quantities of a compound in just a few simple steps.
An avid hiker, hunter, skier and fisherman, Professor Büchi was born in Baden, Switzerland on August 1,1921, and received his diploma in chemical engineering in 1945 from Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule in Zurich and his DSc in organic chemistry in1947. Professor Büchi came to the US with his brother Heinrich to spend some time in the US before returning to Switzerland to begin careers. He won a postdoctoral Firestone Fellowship at the University of Chicago in 1948 and moved to MIT as an assistant professor of chemistry in 1951. He was promoted to associate professor in 1956 and to professor in 1958. In 1971 he was appointed to the Camille and Henry Dreyfus chair, established in memory of the Swiss-born chemists who pioneered polymer research and founded the Celanese Corporation, holding this chair until his retirement in 1991.
Professor Büchi trained over 70 Ph.D's and over 100 postdoctoral associates, many who have gone on to leadership positions in academia and industry all over the world. He was chosen to deliver the prestigious James R. Killian Jr. Lectures (named after MIT's 10th President) in 1991, where a colleague of his described him "as one of the best scientists at MIT, and one of the most human." The citation with the award said: "George H. Büchi, MIT faculty member for nearly 40 years, has set an unprecedented standard in organic chemistry. His contributions in research and education have added to the quality of life globally, and his colleagues and students have derived direct benefit from his wisdom, dedication to excellence and friendship."
In one of his Killian Lectures, Professor Büchi said he had concentrated on the "sunny side of organic chemistry" by working on flavors, fragrances and alkaloids, particularly alkaloids that had medical benefits.
The George H. Büchi Lectureship in Chemistry was established in 1988, with endowment support from coworkers and friends.
Donations in his memory may be sent to the George H. Büchi Lectureship Fund at the MIT Department of Chemistry, Room 18-390, 77 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02132, Attn: N. Tahsin.
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Tuesday, September 22, 1998 |
"On the Thermodynamic Hypothesis in Protein Folding: An Evolutionary Perspective" |
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Wednesday, September 23, 1998 |
"Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Porous Silicon Surfaces: Applications in Biosensors and Display Materials" |
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Thursday, September 24, 1998 |
"Phosphonatase: Struture and Catalytic Strategies in an Enzyme that Cleaves a C-P Bond" |
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Tuesday, September 29, 1998 |
"Chemistry and Physics in 1D: Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Quantum Wires" |
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Wednesday, September 30, 1998 |
"X-ray Crystallography of Methane Monooxygenase: Static Views of a Flexible Enzyme" |
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Thursday, October 1, 1998 |
"Chemo-Enzymatic Approach to Carbohydrate-Mediated Biological Recognitions" |
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is an international leader in management consulting and offers exciting and rewarding career opportunities for those who want to think broadly and creatively. If you are interested in learning more about BCG, please stop by your Department's Headquarters Office (18-390) to pick up more information and/or attend the following presentation: "A Career in Management Consulting: Demystifying What We Do" September 22, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. at Kendall Square Marriott. Please pass this information to anyone interested.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund's Research Travel Grants provide support for biomedical scientists and medical historians to participate in short-term research projects in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. The Fund makes about 50 grants to cover travel and subsistence expenses for visits of two weeks to six months. The final applications are due on November 1, 1998. Please contact Rolly Simpson, program associate at 919/991/5110 or send an email message to mailback@bwfund-org-type the word "menu" on the subject line for a list of programs or check their website at: http://www.bwfund.org Grants average $5400 and they make about 50 awards annually.
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 o or call Ed Udas or John Annese at 3-4505. Bob will do the work on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call Ed Udas at 253-4505 or stop by room 6-026 if students, faculty, or staff need help in organizing their MIT space.
RepliGen, Needham, MA: Has opportunities in drug discovery research as synthetic chemistrs for BS/MS in combinatorial chemistry and medicinal chemistry for experienced researchers able to apply new techniques in synthesis and analysis of potential drug candidates. Scientists will apply techniques of solid and solution phase parallel synthesis to develop methods for generating target directed and hit alalog libraries. A BS or MS in chemistry and 1-3 years additional lab experience would be appropriate. Send resume to Human Resources, 117 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02494.
Millennium, Cambridge, MA: Seeking individuals with Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry or Bioorganic chemistry and a minimun two years experience as a postdoctoral fellow. The candidate should have experience in the design and execution of multi-step syntheses, knowledge of state of the art synthetic and analytical methodolgies, excellent laboratory skills, and creative problem-solving abilities. Experience with combinatorial syntheses and or automation is desirable. Apply directly to: Ms. Marissa Halper, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 640 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139, e-mail: halper@mpi.com and telephone is: 617-679-7477, Recruting in the Department of Chemistry on October 15th, Sign up sheets will go up during 9/21/98.
DuPont Life Sciences Enterprise: Deepwater, NJ: DuPont Pharmaceuticals has openings for B.S./M.S. synthesis chemists for synthetic organic chemistry designed to discover and ultimately develop the best process for drug intermediates and final drug substance. Interested candidates should contact: DuPont Pharmaceutical Company, Chemical Process R&D, PRF (S-1), Att: 126-AN-SWN, Deepwater, NMJ 08023. Check their website at: www.dupontpharma.com
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 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA: Seeks professor in inorganic chemistry. Please send your materials to: Hai-Lung Dai, Chairman, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Phildelphia, PA 1914-6323.
The University of Illinois at Chicago, has an opening in analytical chemistry beginning fall of 1999. All areas of analytical chemistry will be considered but, an experimentalist with a bioanalytical orientation is preferred. Send materials by November 2, 1998 to: Tim Keiderling, Chair of Analytical Search, Dept. of Chemistry, 845 W. Taylor Street, 45000 SES, Chicago, Illinois, 60607-7061.
The University of Washington, Seattle, WA: Seeks two or more professors in multiple areas of chemistry including chemical biology. Send materials to: Professor Paul B. Hopkina, Chair, Dept. of Chemistry, Search, Box 351700, University of Seattle, Seattle, WA 98195-1700.
The Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: seeks biochemistry professor applicants for summer of 1999. Specific fields include, but are not limited to: bioorganic, pharmaceutical chemistry, chemistry of peptides and nucleic acids, bioanalytical, biomaterials, computational studies of biomolecules and energy transfter phenomena. Send materials to: Faculty Search Committee Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-4409.
University of Arizona: Seeks a professor for physical chemistry, for 1999. Send materials to: Professor Tim Steimle, Chairman, Physical Chemistry Search, Dept. of Chemistry and biochemistry, PO Box 871604, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604.
The University of Alabama at Hunstville, Seeks organic/organic materials scientists to teach organic and/or polymer chemsitry courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Send materials to: Professor Clyde Riley, Chair, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Alabama, Huntsville, Hunstville, AL 35800.
University of Montana: Missoula, Montana: Seeks chemist for faculty position in medicinal chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology and biochemistry to begin in August of 1999. Please check their website at: http://www.umt.edu/chemistry and send materials to: Edward E. Waali, Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Environmental Toxicology Search Committee, Dept. of Chemistry, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: Seeks theoretical physical chemist that interface with materials science, optical science and biophysics. Send materials to: Professor Joseph P. Marino, Chair, Dept, of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055.
Smith College, Northampton, MA:Seeks applicants for a post in inorganic or analytical chemistry to begin August of 1999. The candidate must be able to teach in areas of instrumental analysis, inorganic chemistry, environmental chemistry, general chemistry. Please send materials to: Professor Robert Linck, Chemistry, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, by October 15, 1998.
Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD: Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry (LBC) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases (NIDDK) is seeking candidates for a tenure-track position in bioorganic chemistry. The online link is: http://ohrm,niddk.nih.gov/vac/online.html The Closing date is September 30, 1998. Send cv and packets to: Dr. Kenner Rice, Chair, Search Committee, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Bldg, #8, Room B1-20, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0810.
University of California at Berkeley: Seeks professor in biophysical,bioanalytical,materials or synthetic chemistry to begin next summer. Please write to Chemistry Department, Faculty Recruiting Committee (#13), 419 Latimer Hall, Dept. of Chemistry, University of CA at California, Berkeley, CA 94720.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR(S) IN CHEMISTRY: Applications are invited for faculty position(s) at the level of Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Arizona. A Ph.D. is required. Applicant(s) with research interests in any area of Analytical and/or Physical Chemistry are particularly encouraged to apply. Candidate(s) must strongly motivated toward development of a vigorous and productive research program, and must have a commitment to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A curriculum vita, list of publications, description of future research plans and three letters of recommendation should be sent to: Faculty Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210041, Tucson, AZ 85721-0041. Review will begin four weeks after this advertisement appears and will continue until the position(s) are filled.
The University of Washington. Our department is in an exciting period of hiring multiple new faculty each year. We are searching in all areas of chemistry and there is an excellent chance that one or more of the new hires will have interests, at least in part, in inorganic chemistry. We believe that the University of Washington is an excellent place to do high quality research and to teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels. A wide range of modern instrumentation is available, including several high-field NMR's (200, 300, 500, and 750 MHz), and a CCD-equipped x-ray diffractometer. We recently moved into a new building with top-quality lab space. More information about the department can be obtained on our web page, http://www.chem.washington.edu
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY: Seeks postdoctoral fellow in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. One project includes discovery and development of new homogeneous catalysts, in collaboration with Paul Fagan and Elisabeth Hauptman of DuPont's Central Research and Development Department. Mechanistic studeis of organometallic complexes in aqueous solution (including pulse radiolysis studies) are carried out in collaboration with Carol Creutz and Diane Cabelli of Brookhaven's Chemistry Deparment. Should have a Ph.D. and strong background in synthetic and mechanistic organometallic/inorganic chemistry, including handling of air-syntheis compounds. Send materials to: Morris Bullock, Department of Chemistry, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973-5000. Rmb@bnl.gov or http://www.chemistry.bnl.gov
The Medical Foundation, Boston, MA: Fleet Bank and the Medical Foundation are pleased to announce the availability of application packets for the 1999 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program in the Biomedical Sciences. Funded by the Charles A. King Trust (Fleet Investment Management, Co-Trustee) and other private donors, the program will support research in the biomedical sciences. One awarded, supported by the Charles H. Hood Foundation will be designated for a fellow whose work is primarily focused on child health. Funding will be available to support ten to twelve two-year grants of up to $32,000 beginning on July 1, 1999. At the time of application (October 19, 1998) candidates holding a Ph.D., M.D., DMD, or their equivalents must have at least two years, but no more than seven years of full-time postdoctoral experience following defense of their thesis research. There are no nationality or citizenship requirements. These fellowships are for those whose research is being conducted in Mass, and can only be paid to a Mass. Institution. Applications are due in the office by 12:00 noon on Monday, October 19, 1998. The Medical Foundation, 95 Berkeley Street, Suite #201, Boston, MA 02116, telephone is: (617) 451-0049 and fax is: (617) 423-4619.
The Department of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis is seeking to fill two tenure-track faculty positions. This year's search is focused on the areas of inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry and physical chemistry. I have enclosed a copy of our recently published advertisement for these positions. We are seeking your help in soliciting suitable applicants with whom you are familiar, either in your department or at other institutions, to apply for these positions. Washington University provides outstanding resources in terms of infrastructure, facilities, intellectual environment, and start-up funds to support excellence of scholarship in research and teaching. The quality of our present Chemistry faculty is a testament to this commitment. Further information about the Department may be had by reference to our home page, http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu, which also offers links to information on the University community and the St. Louis area. Note that we will begin reviewing the portfolios of candidates on October 31 but will accept applications received after that date until the positions are filled. A postdoctoral position in theoretical chemical physics is available. The successful candidate will choose one (or more) of several planned research projects in the general fields of: (1) Molecular dynamics in intense and/or short-pulse laser fields (2) Reaction dynamics at interfaces (3) Mathematical method dev