Chemformation

The Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 17, Number 21

Friday, November 2, 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

COMBATING TERRORISM

Professor John Deutch, Institute Professor and Former Director of Central Intelligence, will give a lecture on "Combating Catastrophic Terrorism" on Tuesday, November 20, 2001, at 4:00 PM in Room 26:100.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ELEONORA SEROTEK: The Department is delighted to welcome Eleonora Serotek, who joins the Department as Administrative Officer, the position formerly occupied by Marc Jones. Eleonora brings with her a wealth of valuable experience in planning and organization, having for the past few years been Director of Operations of Variagenics Inc., an MIT spin-off bio-tech start-up in Cambridge. One of her main responsibilities at Variagenics was to oversee the construction of a new laboratory, so she is not unfamiliar with the trials and tribulations of renovations! She is also no stranger to MIT, having previously worked in a consulting capacity as Project Administrator for the Center for Space Research. Eleonora is located in the Headquarters office of the TFO's. Feel free to drop by and say hello to her either in English, German or Russian. She is fluent in all three. Her telephone number is 3-1802 and her email address, serotek@mit.edu.

Marc Jones' Farewell luncheon was held on Monday, October 29, 2001 in the Moore Room. It was very well attended by both faculty and staff. He leaves the Department after 14 wonderful years of service to join the School of Science as Assistant Dean for Operations. He is pictured here with Steve Lippard, Department Head, receiving a gift and well phrased farewell card.

DCIF: The DCIF is pleased to announce that the Bruker 600 MHz NMR is being made available to all researchers in the DCIF. Those interested in getting checked out on the 600 should contact Jeff Simpson at jsimpson@mit.edu.

CONFERENCES

CONFERENCE ON DRUG DISCOVERY BY DESIGN

IBC USA Conferences, Inc. will hold a conference on Drug Discovery by Design: Advancing Medicinal Chemistry through Biology and Technology on November 5-8, 2001 in Boston. This meeting offers a reduced academic rate. Attendees will get to view the exhibition hall, as well as view the latest scientific findings in this area in the poster hall. More information is available at www.LifeSciencesInfo.com/drugdesign

LIBRARY NEWS

Science Library to Host Open House

It's finished!

The Science Library staff invites the community to tour the new layout, meet new staff members and learn about new electronic resources at an open house to be held in the library, 14S-100, Thursday November 8 from 2-4pm. The installation of compact shelving begun last May is complete, the collections have been reorganized, and all current issues of journals are now shelved in a more open, central area.

Virtual renovation has occurred as well. This summer the Libraries unveiled a new interface to the catalog, Barton, as well as a new web site and several new electronic products. All are welcome to drop in for refreshments, a tour and an update on materials in the sciences. Door prizes and a raffle to boot!

For further information contact: Howard Silver, hsilver@mit.edu, x3-9319

MIT Libraries subscribe to a new type of electronic resource called knovel, a database of some of the leading engineering reference handbooks, databases, and conference proceedings. knovel is a provider of aggregated engineering and applied science data that utilizes proprietary tabular analysis tools.   Publishing partners include McGraw-Hill, CRC Press, Reed Elsevier, ASME, SPE, ASM International, and Butterworth Heinemann with almost 200 handbooks online so far.

Examples of reference and handbooks in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering include CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Lange's Handbook of Chemistry and Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook.

Other subject areas include Adhesives, Sealants, Coatings & Inks, Aerospace & Radar Technology, Ceramics & Ceramic Engineering Environmental Engineering, Concrete & Asphalt, Food Science, General Engineering References, Plastics & Rubbers, Safety, Health & Hygiene, Semiconductors & Electronics, Surface Engineering.

Access these reference books at http://www.knovel.com/ or through Vera at http://libraries.mit.edu/vera/

If you have any questions or comments please contact the chemistry librarian Erja Kajosalo, kajosalo@mit.edu

FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS OPPORTUNITIES

MCKNIGHT ENDOWMENT FUND for Neuroscience is soliciting letters of intent for the 2002 McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Awards. These awards encourage and support scientists working on the development of novel and creative approaches to understanding brain function The Endowment Fund is especially interested in how technology may be used or adapted to monitor, manipulate, analyze, or model brain function at any level, from the molecular to the entire organism. The program seeks to advance and enlarge the range of technologies available to the neurosciences and does not support research based primarily on existing techniques. Collaborative and cross-disciplinary applications are invited. Letters of intent must be received at the Foundation by December 3, 2001. More details on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

22^ND VANNEVAR BUSH AWARD: The National Science Foundation is seeking nominations for the 22nd Vannevar Bush Award, which recognizes an individual who, through public service activities in science and technology, has made an outstanding "contribution toward the welfare of mankind and the nation." The recipient of the award is honored at an awards dinner in May and receives a bronze medal struck in the memory of Dr. Bush.

The nominee must be a senior statesperson who is an American citizen and who meets two or more of the following criteria:

• who has distinguished him/herself through public service activities in science and technology;
  
  
• who has pioneered the exploration, charting and settlement of new frontiers in science, technology, education and public service;
  
  
• whose leadership and creativity have inspired others to distinguished careers in science and technology;
  
  
• who has contributed to the welfare of the Nation and mankind through activities in science and technology;
  
  
• whose leadership and creativity have helped mold the history of advancements in the Nation's science, technology and education.

Nominations are to be made by letter, and should be accompanied by two letters of support/reference and a current CV (without publications). Nominations and references must be postmarked by December 14, 2001. For more information, contact Karen Drew in the Office of Foundation Relations, at 3-6326.

BECKMAN INSTITUTE FELLOWS: Applications are invited for appointments as Beckman Institute Fellows at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The fellowship is intended for recent Ph.D.'s or students in their last year of graduate study in the behavioral and biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, physics, and computer science. Fellows will receive a stipend of $48,000 per year, plus a full-fringe benefits package. These fellowships provide an excellent opportunity for young scholars to initiate a post-Ph.D. career of independent research in a stimulating and supportive interdisciplinary academic environment. Details on application packets may be obtained from Chemistry Headquarters. Deadline January 4, 2002.

MASS MEDIA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FELLOWS PROGRAM: Increasing public understanding of science and technology is one of the principal goals of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. AAAS has improved coverage of science and technology in mass media for more than twenty years through the Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program. AAAS selects 20-30 Mass Media Fellows each summer. The AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows work for 10 weeks during the summer as reporters, researchers, and production assistants in mass media organizations nationwide. Fellows collaborate with media professionals at radio and television stations, newspapers and magazines. The student-scientists and their host journalists strive to make science news clear and comprehensive to the public. Fellows are provided a weekly stipend of $450 as well as travel expenses to and from AAAS and their sites. Deadline for receipt of applications is January 15, 2002. More information is available in Chemistry Headquarters.

INTERNATIONAL PRECIOUS METALS INSTITUTE: is accepting nominations form faculty members for its 2002 Student award Program. The Awards will be made to students who have started or plan to do research or development projects in the field of precious metals and will not have graduated before June 2003. The IPMI Graduate Student Award, sponsored by Gemini Industries, Inc. is $5,000. There is also be five IPMI Student Awards for 2002 in the amount of $3,000 each for undergraduate or graduate students. Each recipient will be provided complimentary registration to the IPMI 26^th Annual Conference to be held in Miami, Florida, June 15-18, 2002 and up to $1,000 in travel expenses. More information may be obtained from Chemistry Headquarters.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences offers awards for postdoctoral scientists and engineers at participating federal laboratories. These awards provide generous stipends (ranging from $34,000 - $61,000, depending on the laboratory), and the opportunity to conduct independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the country. For detailed information and application materials, prospective applicants should visit the NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at: http://www.national-academies.org/rap. Faculty may also be interested in the NRC Senior Associateship Programs, which include both sabbatical and summer faculty opportunities. There are three application review cycles each year, with postmark deadline dates of January 15, April 15 and August 15. Applicants should begin a dialog with prospective Advisers at the laboratory as early as possible before the application deadline. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND COOPERATION: The Center for International Security and Cooperation is a multidisciplinary community dedicated to research and training in issues of international security. CISAC's Science Program offers fellowships for scientists and engineers to explore the policy dimensions of a research topic of their choosing in an interdisciplinary environment. Fellowships are available for postdoctoral fellows and mid-career professionals. Stipends are awarded for an eleven-month period and are determined on a case-by-case basis commensurate with experience. Deadline for applications is February 15, 2002. More information is available in Chemistry Headquarters.

2002 MCKNIGHT SCHOLAR AWARDS: The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience invites applications for the 2002 McKnight Scholar Awards. Since 1977, the McKnight Scholar Awards have encouraged emerging neuroscientists to focus on disorders of learning and memory. Applicants for the McKnight Scholar Awards must demonstrate interest in solving important problems in relevant areas of neuroscience, including the translation of basic research to clinical neuroscience. Awards are given to exceptional young scientists who hold the M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree and who are in the early stages of establishing an independent laboratory and research career. Traditionally, successful candidates have held faculty positions for at least one year. Up to six McKnight Scholars each will receive three years of support, beginning July 1, 2002. More information may be obtained from Chemistry Headquarters.

NATIONAL DEFENSE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS: As a means of increasing the number of U.S. citizens trained in disciplines of science and engineering of military importance, the Department of Defense plans to award approximately 200 new three-year graduate fellowships in April 2002. National Defense Science and Engineering Application information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER - 2002-2003 JILA VISITING FELLOWSHIPS: Founded in 1962, JILA has played a role at the forefront of research in technology and physical science ever since. Staffed by scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado at Boulder, this unique partnership between a major university and a Federal agency is internationally recognized for both creative science and its application. Successful applicants from the USA and abroad will begin their Fellowships at JILA between September 2002 and April 2003. Each Visiting Fellowship carries a stipend and a Visiting Faculty Appointment at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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 Martha Lugo e-mail mlugo@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

Information on all positions on file in Chemistry Headquarters

* Kalamazoo College: invites applications for a tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in Analytical Chemistry.

* Oklahoma State University: seeks to fill two tenure-track faculty positions. One position is in the area of Analytical or Inorganic Chemistry at the Assistant Professor level. The second is an open position as an Assistant/Associate Professor.

* Washington State University: invites applications two tenure track Assistant Professorships in the area of Experimental Physical Chemistry and in Synthetic Organic or Inorganic Chemistry.

* McGill University: invites applications for a tenure-track position at any level. Applicants with interests in any aspect of modern Experimental Polymer or Physical Chemistry are encouraged to apply.

* University of Northern Iowa: invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor level in Biochemistry.

* University of Northern Iowa: seeks a faculty member at the Assistant Professor level in the area of Biochemistry.

* Wright State University in Dayton, OH: invites applications to fill an open position in Environmental Chemistry.

* Syracuse University: seeks candidates for a tenure-track appointment in Organic Chemistry.

* Kenyon College: seeks candidates for a tenure-track appointment in Chemistry whose postdoctoral experience and research interests lie at the interface of Physics or Biology.

* Cornell University: invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in Physical Chemistry.

* California State University, Chico: invites applications for two tenure-track positions in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry.

* California State University, Long Beach: invites applications for a tenure-track faculty opening in the area of Chemistry Education.

* The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry.

* Boston University: invites applications for an Assistant Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry.

* California State University, Long Beach: invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Chemistry or Chemistry Education.

* Angelo State University: invites applications for two tenure-track positions at the Assistant Professor level in the areas of general chemistry and biochemistry.

* Florida Tech: invites applications for an Assistant Professorship position in Organic or Bio-organic Chemistry.

* California State University, Stanislaus: invites applications for a tenure-track faculty Assistant Professor position in Organic Chemistry or a closely related field of Chemistry.

* Wellesley College: seeks candidates for a tenure-track position in Analytical Chemistry.

* Oregon State University: seeks candidates to fill one or two full time tenure-track positions as Assistant Professor in the areas of Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry.

* The University of Oklahoma: seeks candidates to fill a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professorship in Physical Chemistry.

Postdoctoral Positions

Information on all positions on file in Chemistry Headquarters

* National Institute of Standards and Technology: has several postdoctoral research opportunities in the Laser Applications Group.

* University of California, Irvine: seeks candidates for a postdoctoral position to carry out experimental studies of fundamental reaction processes on metal oxide ultrathin films and transition metal surfaces.

* Tulane University: seeks candidates for two postdoctoral positions. One position is in the area of pulsed laser deposition (PLD); the other is in the area of chemical dynamics.

* University of California, San Francisco: seeks candidates for two postdoctoral positions, which involve structure/function studies of metal ion reductases, with an emphasis on mercuric ion reductase.

Other Job Listings

* The Black Student Fund: is conducting a search for Teachers, Administrators, and Counselors interested in working preK-12 independent schools that are seeking to diversity their staff in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

* Sigma XI, a leading international scientific society, headquartered in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is seeking an exceptional leader as their new Executive Director.

* NIH: The biophysics and chemistry integrated review group at NIH currently has 2 openings for scientific review administrators. One position is to run a new panel (ZRG1-F04) that reviews fellowship applications (http://www.csr.nih.gov/events/fellowship_ss/fellow_ss.htm) The other is to run a panel (ZRG1-SSS-6) that primarily reviews small business applications in analytical chemistry and biophysical instrumentation. A minimum of 7 years of independent research experience beyond post-doctoral training and a year of administrative experience is required. These are civil service positions at the GS-12 to GS-14 level in Bethesda, MD. Further information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

* Industrial Economics, Incorporated: OPEN HOUSE Looking for a job in consulting? Friday, October 19, 2001, 2-5:00 p.m. . 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA (between Davis and Porter Squares). College Seniors with an interest in environmental or economic consulting are invited to hear reports by current Research Analysts on their projects in Environmental Policy, Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Financial and Economic Analysis, and Environmental Litigation and Enforcement. Refreshments provided. Register: www.idecon.com. Tel: (617) 354-0074. Email: Slally@indecon.com. More information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

* National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):A position for a Health Scientist Administrator (program director) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, the Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology Research Branch is now open. As a Health Scientist Administrator at NIDA, you can have a very large impact on the direction of science. The successful applicant will be responsible for the overall direction and administration of a broad and comprehensive program covering several areas of molecular biology and genetics research related to drug abuse studies. This includes administering research grants, training grants, fellowship grants, and research development contracts in this area; providing technical leadership to other personnel in the Institute, as well as to investigators throughout the country.

* GeneOhm Sciences, San Diego, CA: currently seeks outstanding candidates to fill four positions. This is a new; rapidly growing pre-IPO biotechnology company that is developing medical diagnostics to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA isolated from medical patients. The company was founded by scientists at CALTECH and has recently established its facilities in San Diego. More information is available on file 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 positions. E-mail your resume to info@primeorg.com. Prime Organics provides custom synthesis, contract R&D and manufacturing.

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.

CLASSIFIEDS

Sweet-natured, house trained, one-year old neutered male, pure white Husky/Shepherd, mix needs a good home. Presently owned by a student who is no longer able to accommodate him. Would love to be with other pets. Good watchdog. For more information, please call (617) 438-2579.

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

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Comments and questions to lhowe@mit.edu