Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 16, Number 25

Friday, August, 2000

Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Liz McGrath, Room 18-390, Department of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/253-4080; 617/258-7500 (fax) or e-mail to emg@mit.edu . Back issues of Chemformation can be accessed via the Chemistry Department Website.

Upcoming Seminars and Lectures

Announcements

CONGRATULATIONS to Daniel J Crawford (Class of 2000, Bachelors in Chemistry) who was one of the winners of the 2000 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Poster Competition. He presented a poster based on his senior thesis project. His research was carried out in the laboratory of Prof. JoAnne Stubbe. Daniel Crawford competed against 60 undergraduate students from all over the United States. He received a check for $100 and a certificate signed by Society President Dr. Richard Hanson.

CONGRATULATIONS to Nicole O’Bryan (Chemistry Education) and her husband Michael Gleason (Chemistry graduate student) on the birth of their daughter Alora Dianne O’Bryan-Gleason born on Sunday July 30, 2000 weighing in at 6 pounds and 6 ounces.

RECRUITMENT
Chemists and biochemists positions at Graffinity, Heidelberg, Germany.

Graffinity, a start-up biotech company in Heidelberg, Germany, will be in the Department to interview on Thursday, August 17, 2000 from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Company presentation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in Conference Room #3 across from the Department of Chemistry's Headquarters Office in the TFO. Refreshments will be served.

If you are interested in interviewing with Graffinity, please sign up on the Interview Schedule by contacting M.-T. Kouo at 3-1804 or Kitty Valleli at 3-1851, or come to the Chemistry Headquarters Office. Bring 2 copies of your résumé, with one on bond paper. Or e-mail it directly to cc@graffinity.com Information on Graffinity can be obtained from: http://www.graffinity.com

A RECRUITMENT PREPARATION WORKSHOP entitled "Strategies for a Successful Job Search" will take place on August 29 and 30, 2000. (See attached flyer).

Faculty Positions

Applications for most faculty positions should consist of a curriculum vitae, outline of research interests, and three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the specific university or college. You will find more detailed information regarding these and other positions in a binder located at departmental headquarters.

The University of California, Berkeley invites applications for outstanding candidates for a professorial position in the Department of Chemistry. The appointment may be made at any academic rank and our search is therefore directed to both junior and senior candidates. Apply by October 16, 2000 to: Chair, Faculty Recruiting Committee (#466), Department of Chemistry, 419 Latimer Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1460.

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada invites applications for a full-time probationary tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor commencing July 1, 2001. Applications are sought from excellent candidates in any area of chemistry with preference given to those with experimental skills in one or more of the following areas: synthesis (inorganic, materials, organic or polymers), bioanalytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance. This position requires a Ph.D. degree and a proven research track record, normally including postdoctoral experience. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate classes in chemistry and to develop a vigorous and creative research program with external funding. Apply by November 30, 2000 to: Professor Russel J. Boyd, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J3, Canada; tel: (902) 494-3707; fax: (902) 494-1310; e-mail: Russell.Boyd@Dal.Ca; more info at: http://www.chem.dal.ca

The University of Wisconsin, Madison anticipates openings for two or more faculty positions to begin in August 2001. Positions will be at the Assistant Professor level (tenure track) in all areas of chemistry. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in chemistry or a related field; postdoctoral experience is desirable. The position requires development of an internationally recognized program of scholarly research as well as excellent teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Apply by October 15, 2000 to: Professor James C. Weisshaar, Chair of Faculty Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1396.

Stanford University, Stanford, California seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty appointment, open rank, in the general area of Inorganic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry commencing September 1, 2001. Applicants must be strongly motivated toward creative research and committed to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Apply by October 31, 2000 and send applications in the general area of Inorganic Chemistry to: Chair, 2000-2001 Inorganic Chemistry Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080. Send applications in the general area of Organic Chemistry to: Chair, 2000-2001 Organic Chemistry Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080.

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA seeks applications for a position in Physical chemistry. The appointment level is open. Responsibilities include active participation in teaching those undergraduate and graduate courses assigned by the Department Chair; the development and maintenance of an internationally-recognized research program within the framework of her/his individual areas of interest and expertise and consistent with the goals and objectives of a university environment. Applicants must have a strong commitment for excellence in research; a desire to advise and teach a student body which is diverse with respect to socio-economic status, interests, and abilities. Junior applicants must have an earned doctorate at the time of appointment. Senior applicants must have an internationally recognized and well-funded research program leading to publications in high quality journals. Applicants with research plans in modeling, calculations or simulations of polymer, colloidal and condensed matter systems are particularly sought. Apply by November 1, 2000 to: Dr. Thomas C. Ward, Chair of the Physical Chemistry Search Committee, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0212; tel: (1-800) 828-1120.

Georgia Institute of Technology seeks to fill several tenure-track faculty positions. Exceptional candidates in all areas are encouraged to apply. Particular needs exist in the areas of analytical/bioanalytical chemistry, inorganic, and bioorganic chemistry. Outstanding candidates for advanced rank positions are encouraged. Interdisciplinary candidates will be considered for joint appointments with other departments. Apply by October 15, 2000 to: Chair, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, CA 30332-0400; fax: (404) 894-7452; more info at: www.chemistry.gatech.edu.

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas invites applications for three tenure-track positions (one in each area) in the areas of Chemical Education, Organic Chemistry and Theoretical Chemistry. A Ph.D. is required and postdoctoral experience is desired. Each successful applicant is expected to establish a nationally recognized program in the area of research and to participate significantly in the department’s teaching and service missions. Apply by October 15, 2000 to: Search Committee, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061; more info at: www.ttu.edu/~chem.

Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington seeks applicants for two tenure-track positions commencing on September 16, 2001. Applicants will be considered in all areas with those in analytical, inorganic, and biophysical chemistry especially encouraged. A Ph.D. degree is required and post-doctoral experience preferred. A commitment to teaching at the undergraduate and development of an externally funded research program involving undergraduate and M.S. students are expected. Apply by October 9, 2000 to: Professor Mark Wicholas, Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9150; more info at: www.chem.wwu.edu.

Post-Doctoral Positions

University of California, Riverside, California is seeking applicants for two postdoctoral positions in the area of surface chemistry. The positions relate to studies on the catalytic chemistry of NOX and hydrocarbon conversion reactions on metal and oxide surfaces. These studies include the characterization of the relevant chemistry by physical (RAIRS, XPS, ISS, LEED) and chemical (TPD, titrations with CO and ammonia, isothermal kinetic experiments, isotopic labeling, etc.). Extensive experience in surface science-UHV work and a good background in surface chemistry are desirable. Knowledge in infrared spectroscopy is a plus (some projects involve vacuum and non-vacuum adsorbate characterization by IR). The laboratory is presently equipped with five UHV systems, each equipped with a different combination of surface sensitive techniques (AES, XPS, TPD, ISS, SSIMS, LEED, and RAIRS), as well as a second FT-IR for non-vacuum surface infrared studies, a micro-batch reactor and other minor pieces of equipment. More information about our lab and about ongoing projects can be obtained from the web site: http://www.chem.ucr.edu/Zaera/lab.html Apply to: Prof. Francisco Zaera, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521; tel: (909) 787-5498; fax: (909) 787-3962 (Direct); (909) 787-4713 (Department); e-mail: francisco.zaera@ucr.edu.

Other Job Listings

Prime Organics Inc., Lowell, MA is looking for B.S. level chemists looking to do synthesis and maybe get some experience before going on to graduate school. E-mail: bchin@mit.edu

Departmental Services

Glass Blowing Services: 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 4-064 or call Ed Udas or John Annese at 3-4505. Bob will do the work on a first-come, first-served basis.

Get Organized! Call Ed Udas at 253-4505 or stop by room 4-065 if students, faculty, or staff need help in organizing their MIT space.