Chemformation

The Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 18, Number 6

Friday, March 29, 2002

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

SAVE THE DATE

Professor Stephen J. Lippard and the Department of Chemistry
MIT Department of Facilities
and
The Association of Alumni and Alumnae of MIT
cordially invite you
to a departmental reception
and
tour of Chemistry Campaign 2000 renovations
Saturday, August 17th, 2002

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Questions? e-mail: deptofchemistry@mit.edu

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

Women in Science Confab (WiSC 2002)
Brown University
April 13 and 14, 2002

When: Saturday, April 13 (9 AM - after dinner)
Sunday, April 14 (8:30 AM - 6 PM)
Where: Brown University, Providence, RI
What: Women in Science Confab (WiSC 2002)

Cost: Free! (Thanks to the gracious hospitality of NSF VIGRE and WiSE.) How to register:
Send an email to Kathryn Leonard (kathryn@math.brown.edu) no later than Saturday, April 7. Attendance is limited, so register early! Please include the following information:

Name (Last, First, Middle initial):
Email address:
Phone number:
School:
Field:
Graduate student or Postdoctoral fellow?

After you register, you will receive more detailed information about the conference. There is also more information on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

DREYFUS CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES RENOVATION PROJECT

TRAFFIC IN THE WEST CORRIDOR AND ELEVATOR LOBBY

The designated passenger elevator will be used to bring small quantities of construction materials into the Phase 2 area. It will also continue to be used to remove limited quantities of construction debris. Construction activity will be taking place between 6 AM and 2 PM Monday through Friday.

DUST CONTROL

Dust barriers will be erected in the West corridor in the Phase 2 area whenever the existing corridor walls are being demolished.

CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH ELECTRICAL CLOSET

Work continues on the installation of the main electrical distribution service for the Phase 2 and 3 new labs and desk areas. Electricians will need access to the area between 6AM and 2 PM Monday through Friday. Please minimize the use of the remaining East corridor whenever possible during these hours.

CORING OF FLOORS

Coring of floors will be taking place to allow for the installation of piping and electrical conduits. A moderate to high level of noise is associated with this activity.

EXTERIOR

Concrete restoration and waterproofing of the exterior East elevation including in the areas of the occupied desk areas has resumed. Noise associated with chipping and powerwashing of the exterior surfaces can be expected for the next several weeks. This activity will be taking place Monday through Friday from 7 AM until 4 PM.

FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS OPPORTUNITIES

BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY has created the Gertrude and Maruice Goldhaber Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships Program with funding from Battelle Memorial Institute and Stony Brook University, partners in Brookhaven Science Associates. The prestigious Fellowships are awarded to candidates with exceptional talent and credentials who have a strong desire for independent research at the frontiers of their fields. The fellowships are three-year appointments and will each carry a starting salary of $70,000 per annum. See website: www.bhl.gov

THE TAKEDA TECHNO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD: In 2002, the Takeda Foundation will present six awards for R&D activities that will lead to a commercialized product in the near future. Each award will be up to 10 million yen (approximately US$80,000) per year for up to three years. Two awards will be made in each of three application fields: social/economic well-being (information and electronics), individual/humanity well-being (life sciences), and world environmental well-being (world environment). More information about the award process and timeline can be found on the Takeda Foundation website.

WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION: The Sea Grant Program is now accepting applications for the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, a one-year program open to any student enrolled in a graduate or professional program in marine-related studies. The deadline for applications is April 9, 2002.

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 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.

LIBRARY NEWS

The MIT Libraries now subscribe to CrossFire Gmelin giving electronic access to information about inorganic and organometallic compounds. It uses the same interface as CrossFire Beilstein - a database of mostly organic compounds.

With Gmelin you are able to search structures, properties, and citations in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Its coverage includes data from the Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry (1772-1975) and from major inorganic, organometallic, and material science journals abstracted since 1975. It contains 1.4 million compounds, including coordination compounds, alloys, solid solutions, glasses and ceramics, polymers and minerals.

Gmelin's data structure contains over 800 different chemical and physical property fields. The database's detailed information on organometallics also makes it an invaluable tool in synthetic chemistry. Because of its strength in materials, CrossFire Gmelin is a good choice for researchers in materials science and electronics as well.

If you already have Beilstein CrossFire installed on your desktop you can access Gmelin now by switching your database selection from Beilstein (BS0104AB) to Gmelin (GM0104SF). To install the required software or upgrade your current software to 2000 version go to http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/cheatsheets/crossfire/index.html

If you have questions or comments, please contact Erja Kajosalo, Librarian for chemistry and chemical engineering (kajosalo@mit.edu or x 3-9795)

SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Information on all positions on file in Chemistry Headquarters

Pfizer Discovery Technology Center (Cambridge, MA) has summer internship opportunities for students studying in the following disciplines:

- Organic Chemistry

- Biomedical Engineering

- Biochemistry

- Bioinformatics

- Biology

- Computer Science

- Molecular Biology

- Graphic Design

Further information at: dtcinternships@cambridge.pfizer.co

The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University is pleased to announce summer research opportunities in chemistry and chemical engineering for undergraduate students. The program will couple research experiences in graduate research laboratories with a program of tutorials and seminars designed to provide perspectives on career issues in the chemical sciences. Participating students will receive a stipend of $3000, and will be provided with dormitory accommodations, a $500 meal plan and health services. Some assistance with travel to Richmond is also available. Further information can be found at http://www.people.vcu.edu/~sruder/reuhome.htm.

The Center for Micro-Engineered Materials at the University of New Mexico will be a site for the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Applications from undergraduate students in their sophomore through senior years majoring in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or Ceramics are sought. The students will spend 10 weeks on campus from May 28 to August 2, 2002 and will receive a stipend of $3,800 and a travel allowance up to $500. Further information can be found at http//www.unm.edu/~cmem/reu.html.

Maryland Sea Grant College Summer Undergraduate Fellowships in Estuarine Science: The College will offer up to fourteen undergraduate students who have completed at lest two years of study towards a bachelor's degree and are still undergraduates in the fall of 2002 the opportunity to work with university scientists on major marine research programs that focus on the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Sea Grant program will provide each fellow with a stipend of $3,600, dormitory costs and round-trip travel expenses. More information can be found at www.mdsg.umd.edu/education/reu.

University of Southern California: Announces the NSF/REU summer undergraduate research program. The ten-week program is an opportunity for students to conduct research in residence in the Chemistry Department. Housing, meals, medical coverage, and travel costs are covered by the Department, and students will also receive a $3,000 stipend. Sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply online by visiting http://chem.usc.edu/undergraduate/reu_prog.html.

Faculty Positions

Information on all positions on file in Chemistry Headquarters

* California Polytechnic State University: invites applications for full-time lecturers for the 2002-2003 academic year in the area of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

* Emory University School of Medicine: invites nominations and applicants for the position of the Chair of the Department of Biochemistry.

* University of Nebraska: seeks nominations and applications for a tenure-track position in the field of Biophysical Chemistry.

* Utah State University: invites applications for a Lecturer position in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for the 2002-2003 academic year.

* University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy: is conducting a search for one or two tenure track positions at the Assistant or Associate Professor levels in its Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

* Virginia Commonwealth University: invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Organic Chemistry.

Postdoctoral Positions

Information on all positions on file in Chemistry Headquarters

* University of Georgia, Department of Chemistry and Center for Metalloenzyme Studies: A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the laboratory of Donald M. Kurtz, Jr., Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia to investigate the structure, function and catalytic mechanisms of bacterial non-heme iron proteins involved in dioxygen metabolism.

* Kansas State University: A postdoctoral research position is available immediately to focus on the synthesis, characterization and reactivity studies of nitrogenous derivatives of polyoxometalates. A Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry or Organometallic Chemistry is required, as is expertise in the acquisition and interpretation of multinuclear NMR spectra. Previous experience in the techniques of cyclic voltammetry and/or air-sensitive manipulation is desirable.

* Chembiotek Research PVT. Ltd., Calcutta: seeks postdoctoral researchers. Website information: www.chembiotek.com

* Technical University of Denmark: has postdoctoral positions for a project "Towards a Hydrogen-based Society".

* CEA-Saclay, France: The French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a center of excellence in Surface Science and in Nanotechnology. Its Materials Science Division (Saclay, 20 km south-west from Paris) offers two postdoctoral positions in Surface and Nano-Sciences. One position is available now, the other one will be open in September 2002. Applicants should have experience in Surface Science and Nanoscience, especially in Near Field Scanning Probes (STM, AFM, SNOM) and related techniques. Other experimental techniques will also include photoelectron spectroscopies and x-ray diffraction

Other Job Listings

Information on all positions is on file in Chemistry Headquarters

* Yale University: Chemical Instrumentation Specialist. Yale University's Chemistry Department seeks an instrumentation specialist to provide an X-ray crystal structure service, operate X-ray diffractometers, assist researchers in use of crystallographic database and molecular modeling software, and oversee the use of mass spectrometers, including GC-MS, LC-MS and MALDI-TOF instruments. An M.S degree in chemistry and two years experience in X-ray crystallography and/or mass spectroscopy, and Linux/UNIX skills required. Visit www.yale.edu for information on Yale University's outstanding benefit program. Please mail or fax a cover letter and scannable resume, referencing Source code EACEN7672 to Ms. E. Dubois, Yale University, Department of Human Resources, PO Box 208256, New Haven, CT 06520-8256. Fax 203-432-9817. E-mail jobs@yale.edu.

* Hoku Scinetific Inc.: seeks highly motivated individuals to join its research team. It is currently developing a proprietary fuel cell design for use in a variety of applications. The company is also working with the National Science Foundation to develop a new fuel cell membrane. More info at www.hokuscientific.com.

* ImmunoGen, Inc., Cambridge seeks talented scientists with experience in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry. Chemists at all levels (B.S., M.S. or Ph.D's) are welcome to apply. Details of positions available are on file in Chemistry Headquarters.

* Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., La Jolla, California: seeks Research Assistants in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Pharmaceutical industry laboratory experience preferred.

* A San Diego recruiter has the following positions:

• Chemistry Scientist - located in Salt Lake City, UT. More info at workwonders@earthlink.net
• Research Scientist - located in Los Angeles, CA. More info at workwonders@earthlink.net
• Regulatory Affairs Director - located in Lansing, MI. More info at workwonders@earthlink.net

* 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

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

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