Chemformation

The Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 17, Number 17

Friday, August 24, 2001

Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Liz McGrath, Room T18-390, 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.

Visit the Chemistry Department Website at http://web.mit.edu/chemistry/www/.

Upcoming Seminars and Lectures

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DCIF
The DCIF has acquired a Perkin Elmer Model 2000 FT-IR spectrophotometer. This FT-IR is a research grade instrument with a pc host computer and should serve the DCIF and the Department of Chemistry for many years to come. For more information on this instrument, contact the DCIF staff.

FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS OPPORTUNITIES

COGNIS FELLOWSHIP IN COLLOID AND SURFACE CHEMISTRY: Applicants are invited for this Fellowship which is sponsored by the Cognis Corporation and administered through the American Chemical Society's Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry. Each Fellowship carries and award of $20,000 pr year for two years of graduate work, typically the third and fourth years, toward a Ph.D. degree. One Fellowship is awarded each year. The application deadline for funding to being in Fall, 2002, is February 1, 2002. More information may be obtained from Chemistry Headquarters.

THE BECKMAN FELLOWS PROGRAM: established by The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation was initiated in 2000 to support postdoctoral research at the very highest level. Application deadline is September 15, 2001. More information may be obtained from Chemistry Headquarters.

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY FALL 2001 RECRUITING SCHEDULE: pdf file

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY SEMINAR PROGRAM: pdf file

VACANCIES ON THE CHEMICAL HYGIENE/SAFETY COMMITTEE:

Graduate Students interested in joining the Chemistry Department Chemical Hygiene and Safety Committee are invited to submit their names to Rick Danheiser, e-mail danheisr@mit.edu. Members of the Committee participate in inspections of department laboratories (approximately one inspection per month) and attend meetings (ca. 2 per year) to discuss and formulate Chemistry Department safety policy. No prior experience in safety-related matters is necessary. As a result of the recent EPA/MIT "Consent Decree", major changes will be instituted at MIT over the next year with regard to how safety training is conducted, who does inspections and formulates rules, how we order chemicals, etc. Grad student input is urgently needed as our department committee responds to proposed changes.

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 Scripps Research Institute: invites applicants for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in Organic Chemistry. More details on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

The University of Iowa: seeks candidates for three tenure-track faculty positions. One is for an Analytical Chemist and the second is Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry. The third is in the area of Bioanalytical Chemistry. These positions will be filled at either the Assistant or Associate level. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

The University of British Columbia: seeks tenure-track faculty members in the general area of Nuclear Chemistry and (pending) Bio-organic Chemistry. Further details on file in Chemistry Headquarters. In addition candidates are invited to apply for a University Faculty Award (UFA) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Candidates must be a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada on November 1, 2001; and be a woman or Aboriginal person. Further details on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Brown University: seeks applicants for two tenure-track positions as Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Organic Chemistry or a closely related field. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Georgia Institute of Technology: seeks applicants for four tenure-track positions in the general areas of analytical/bioanalytical chemistry, inorganic, and organic/bioorganic chemistry. More details on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy: The Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry (MNPC) invites outstanding applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. More details available in Chemistry Headquarters.

Caltech: The Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has an opening for a faculty member in Inorganic Chemistry. The opening is at the level of Assistant Professor and the initial appointment will be for four years. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Michigan University: seeks applicants for four tenure-track Assistant Professorships in any area of chemistry. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Bucknell University: seeks candidates for an entry-level tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Organic Chemistry. More details on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

The University of California, San Diego: invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Organic Chemistry at the Assistant Professor level. More information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

California State University, Northridge: invites applications for an Organic Chemisty. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

The University of California, San Diego: invites applications for a faculty position with strong preference for the Assistant Professor level in Physical Chemistry. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: has full-time openings at the Assistant Professor level or at the tenured level in all areas of chemistry including the interdisciplinary areas of Environmental Chemistry, Materials Chemistry and Chemical Biology. More information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products invites applications for a tenure-track position. More information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

Postdoctoral Positions

Rice University: Professor James L. Kinsey of the Department of Chemistry at Rice University is seeking a postdoctoral research associate in experimental chemical physics. The research will focus on the use of pulsed lasers and Raman spectroscopy in different applications of cutting-edge interest. The person appointed to this position will work on some combination of the following three projects: (1) Determination of continuously-scanned Raman excitation profiles (CSREP's) of gas-phase ozone. There is a possibility for associated theoretical work modeling the results of this project; (2) Development of instrumentation for obtaining CSREP's using picosecond excitation and array detection, with applications to liquid-phase species including molecules of biological importance. (3) Development and application of techniques for studying CSREP's of species adsorbed on nanotubes or other nanoscale structures. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Boston University: Candidates sought with a strong background in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. One project involves the synthesis of natural product-like molecules using combinatorial methods. Initial studies in this area have focused on the use of spiroketals as rigid core templates for elaboration using parallel synthesis techniques. Another project will lead chemistry efforts in a joint collaboration with Professor Junying Yuan's laboratory (Harvard Medical School) to synthesize novel anti-necrosis agents. The project involves synthesis of compounds and affinity reagents in order to further characterize a novel, non-apoptotic cell death process. Work in both areas will make use of equipment available for parallel and combinatorial synthesis and purification available in the Boston University Center for Streamlined Synthesis. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

John Hopkins University:. Bioinorganic and/or environmental inorganic chemistry. Synthetic models for copper and iron-containing metalloenzyme active sites. Metal-catalyzed R-Cl dehalogenation chemistry. Synthesis (ligands, metal complexes) and structural-spectroscopic characterization, reactivity and mechanistic studies. The study of copper complex and heme-copper and/or heme/non-heme iron interactions with O2 or nitrogen oxide (NOx) species is emphasized, however projects could involve use of peptide based ligands, host-guest interactions, copper-complex interactions with DNA or peptide/proteins, and reductive or oxidative dehalogenation of R-Cl containing compounds. Experience in synthesis, air-sensitive manipulation, and spectroscopic characterization is preferred, but the quality of the candidate is more important than the specific background. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Cabot Corporation: A one-year project sponsored by Cabot Corporation. The project will involve a study of controlled polymer growth upon solid surfaces and will be conducted at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (Prof. Matyjaszewski's lab). There is a very strong possibility that the postdoc will be hired by Cabot full-time after a 1-year term in Pittsburgh. The position is available immediately. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

Other Job Listings

The University of California, San Diego: invites applications for the position of Academic Coordinator. This person will work with faculty to develop online course material to enhance university-level science instruction by using state-of-the-art computer technologies and software products. As needed, enhance and modify existing software packages to adapt them to the needs of the advanced educational setting. Determine type of computer/digital technology and software best suited for a specific education need. Manage programming and other creative staff necessary to support development efforts. Coordinate development of instructional techniques adapted for computer based interactive courseware. Advanced degree in science or science education is required. Ph.D. preferred. Contact information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

ATOFINA: has immediate opportunities for outstanding Ph.D. level Chemists and Chemical Engineers at their suburban Philadelphia Research Center. Particular interest is in graduates with backgrounds in analytical chemistry, polymer processing or synthesis and physical organic or synthetic chemistry, graduates with other backgrounds, depending upon qualifications will be considered. More information is available at Chemistry Headquarters.

Harvard Medical School: The Muscle Cell Physiology Laboratory in the Harvard Medical School Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, housed at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, is looking for a Research Assistant to perform primarily bench work assessing the contractile properties of human skeletal muscle fibers. This position if funded by a 3 year NIH grant to study the effect of power training on muscle function in older women. More information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

Kansas State University: The Department of Chemistry at Kansas State University invites applications for the position of Research Associate to work in the research group directed by Professor Duy Hua. A Ph.D. in Chemistry or a related field is required and previous experience in organic synthesis and methodology development is needed. The Research Associate will be working in developing new chiral ligands and methodologies for asymmetric catalysis, and synthesizing biologically active compounds. More information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

Prime Organics, Inc. Lowell, MA. (http://primeorg.com) has an opening for B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. level chemists, full time or part time/summer positions. E-mail your resume to info@primeorg.com. Prime Organics provides custom synthesis, contract R&D and manufacturing.

GILLETTE has the following positions available:

Inorganic Chemist/Material Scientist - Ph.D. in Inorganic or Materials Chemistry or Material Science with 3 years or more experience. Design, synthesize, and characterize novel electrode materials for use in advanced batteries. Must have working knowledge of traditional and non-traditional synthetic methods such as inert atmosphere, sol-gel/ precursor chemistry, hydrothermal or solid state synthesis. Experience in basic physical characterization techniques including FTIR, DSC/TGA, XRD, SEM, SSA, PSD, and porosimetry is required.

Polymer Chemist - Ph.D. in polymer chemistry or engineering or a related field with a minimum of 3 years experience in dispersion technology and coating development including polymer selection and modification. Expertise in the development of advanced extrusion coating, roll coating, spray coating or lamination technology is highly desirable.

Research Scientist - Ph.D. or M.S. in Analytical Chemistry or Material Science. Analyze and characterize advanced materials for battery systems. Manage the operation of one or more major pieces of complex scientific instrumentation. Adapts existing and/or develops new combinatorial methods to solve difficult analytical problems. Three years or more laboratory experience is highly desirable.

Research Scientist/Engineer Material Science - Ph.D. with 3 years of experience in Material Science or Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Chemical Engineering. Experience in high vacuum systems required. Knowledge in thin films and plasma physics highly desirable. Position will be responsible for developing, evaluating and applying thin film technology.

Research Electrical Engineer - M.S. in Electrical Engineering or Solid State Physics with 1 to 4 years of experience in digital and analog circuit design and/or electronic instrument design. Knowledge and application experience of National Electrical Code standards and J.I.C., OSHA and IEC regulations a plus. Experience in visual basic and C++ highly desirable.

Research Engineer Mechanical - B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with 3 to 5 years of experience design of electro mechanical or mechanical systems. M.S. preferred. Proven ability to identify critical design issues, and to develop and implement creative solutions. Experience with 3D CAD highly desirable.

The University of California, San Diego: invites applications for the position of Academic Coordinator. This person will work with faculty to develop online course material to enhance university-level science instruction by using state-of-the-art computer technologies and software products. As needed, enhance and modify existing software packages to adapt them to the needs of the advanced educational setting. Determine type of computer/digital technology and software best suited for a specific education need. Manage programming and other creative staff necessary to support development efforts. Coordinate development of instructional techniques adapted for computer based interactive courseware. Advanced degree in science or science education is required. Ph.D. preferred. Contact information available in Chemistry Headquarters.

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 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.

To place an advertisement: email Liz McGrath, emg@mit.edu

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY FALL 2001 RECRUITING SCHEDULE: pdf file

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Copyright © 2001 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Comments and questions to lhowe@mit.edu