Student Distinction Seminars on May 2, 2013

We are blessed this year (on May 2) to have a great opportunity to hear about the cutting edge research done by our chemistry majors.  Come support them as they seek the honor of being Distinct in chemistry.

Ryan Abdella "Molecular dynamics simulations of calmodulin indicate structural changes upon oxidation of methionine residues"

Arthur C. Sletten "Surface features of the lipid droplet mediate perilipin 2 localization"

Annelise Detlie and Libby Magnuson "Human Scent Differentiation by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)"

May 2nd, 7:00PM in Regents Hall 390 (THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL POSTING!)

Students can earn up to two seminar credits for attending all the talks on May 2, 2013

Wonderful Life with the Elements: The Periodic Table Personified

Highlighted in the 11 February 2013 C&EN book reviews, this text brings the periodic table to life for kids.  Very broad audiences will enjoy the way Japanese author and artist Yorifuji gives human characteristics to each of the elements.  Have fun seeing nitrogen personified floating above a stick of TNT, sporting a beard and mohawk. Clothing, hair and other human forms are used to indicate the elements' most common use and how long humans have known its presence as a named element.  Yorifuji is famous for his posters in Tokyo subways that depict bad manners; included in the book is a full-sized poster of the personified periodic table! “Wonderful Life” is translated into English from the original Japanese. 

Look for the book at various online outlets or from No Starch Press, Inc. 

Students Reaching Out and Making a Difference

The Science Alliance gets ready for summer:
St. Olaf Homepage Story

Student/Faculty research leads to publication

Link to the article

PAID Interships with MN Technical Assistance Program

Paid Internships Now Available! The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is seeking junior or senior college students to work on waste reduction and energy efficiency projects at companies in Minnesota. MnTAP is funding up to nine summer projects and a fall project in locations around the state.  Students will: Determine how waste is currently produced in company processes. Research and evaluate options for reducing waste. Work with the company’s management and employees to determine feasibility of different waste reduction options. Develop a cost comparison between the use of existing procedures and the new ones. Write a final report and present project results. The projects are at different companies and in different industries so project specifics will vary. Specific job descriptions are posted on the MnTAP web site (http://mntap.umn.edu/intern/student_apply.htm). As a MnTAP intern, students will have the opportunity to affect change while working full-time in a manufacturing, industrial, food processing, or healthcare facility. This experience not only prepares students for careers after graduation, but also provides an opportunity to help a company make changes to reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency, and save money! Qualifications: Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 Good oral & written communication skills A technical academic background Troubleshooting skills Appropriate majors: Chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, physics, bioproducts and biosystems engineering, food science and nutrition, and others as applicable How To Apply: Students should complete the online application form and submit it with their cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcript. Students may also complete the application in MS Word and submit it and all other required materials to: mntap@umn.edu.  Priority will be given to students who apply before March 29, however applications will be considered until all positions are filled. Cover letters should be addressed to: Linda Maleitzke, Intern Program Administrator 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 350 Minneapolis, MN 554

Ole Chem Alum Sends Summer Research Opportunity

Beckman Scholars Opportunity

St. Olaf College was recently awarded a grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to support students doing undergraduate research in biology and chemistry.  We are one of only 10 institutions nationally who received funding.  This is a very prestigious, career-enhancing opportunity for the 2-3 students who are selected as Beckman Scholars. 

In addition to summer stipends for two consecutive summers, the award includes academic year funding for 10 hours/week, supply money, and travel funding. The faculty mentors for this program are:

Doug Beussman                          chemistry

Eric Cole                                       biology

Steve Freedberg                          biology

Laura Listenberger                     biology/chemistry

John Schade                                 biology/environmental studies

Jeff Schwinefus                            chemistry

Charles Umbanhowar                 biology

Selected students must:

·            be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. 

·            commit to undergraduate research during the summers of 2013 and 2014 and 10 hours/week during the two semesters of the 2013-14 academic year.  Ideally, a current sophomore who will spend the summers before junior and senior year doing research on campus.

·            submit a research progress report at the end of each summer (by July 29, 2013)

·            travel to the annual symposium for the Beckman Scholars Program and the Beckman Young Investigators. This conference will be held July 25-27, 2013 at the Beckman Center of the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering in Irvine, California.  Expenses for attending this symposium are covered.

To apply:

Phase One:  By February 20, 2013:  submit an application form (attached) that includes a brief (one page) research proposal for a project you would like to undertake if selected as a Beckman Scholar.  We will arrange for unofficial St. Olaf transcripts for applicants.  The proposal should be written for an audience of faculty from a variety of scientific disciplines.  The Beckman Advisory Panel will review the phase one applications, and approximately four will be selected to proceed to phase two.  The students selected to compete in the second phase will be notified by February 25.

Phase Two:  Students selected for phase two will prepare a revised proposal in consultation with the proposed faculty mentor, give a short (~10 minute) presentation to the Beckman Advisory Panel, and respond to questions from the Panel in an interview format.  Revised proposals are due March 6, 2013.  Interviews and presentations will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. 

Questions?  Contact Mary Walczak (walczak@stolaf.edu), Director, Collaborative Research and Inquiry Program