Undergraduate Research Opportunity at UIUC

The Chemistry Department at the University of Illinois-Urbana (UIUC) is recruiting applications to the Illinois Research Experience for Undergraduates program, with support from NSF and the 3M Foundation.  They particularly seek students who have not previously conducted research, are members of underrepresented groups (including women), or are first-generation college attendees.  Students who have completed coursework at the sophomore to junior level by June 1, 2014 are the intended scholarship recipients. 

The scholarship provides:

$5,000 stipend for a ten-week stay in their department

Housing at Europa House in Urbana, within walking distance of the School of Chemical Sciences and the rest of the campus plus $500 to support travel to and return from Urbana

$800 for subsistence

Students must have at least two semesters of organic chemistry lecture and laboratory. They should also be inclined to pursue graduate studies in chemistry.  Application may be made at the website http://chemistry.illinois.edu/reu/.  For detailed information about the research areas of individual faculty members, please see http://www.chemistry.illinois.edu/faculty/index.html. 

Students should apply as soon as possible. Applications received by February 16, 2014 will receive full consideration.

Illinois Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates

We are happy to announce the fourth year of the Illinois Research Experience for Undergraduates program, with support from NSF and the 3M Foundation. I write now to invite you to urge students to apply to come to Urbana to do summer research. We particularly seek students who have not previously conducted research, are members of underrepresented groups (including women), or are first-generation college attendees. Students who have completed coursework at the sophomore to junior level by June 1, 2014 are our intended scholarship recipients. Because of high demand for our program in prior years, neither post-freshman nor mid-year seniors will receive consideration so that the “playing field” is level.

School of Chemical Sciences

61 Roger Adams Laboratory, Box 48, MC-712

600 South Mathews Avenue

Urbana, IL 61801

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

The scholarship provides:

$5,000 stipend for a ten-week stay in our department

Housing at Europa House in Urbana, within walking distance of the School of Chemical Sciences and the rest of the campus plus $500 to support travel to and return from Urbana

$ 800 for subsistence

You may use any process you find appropriate for selecting students we might consider, but we do require that students have at least two semesters of organic chemistry lecture and laboratory. They should also be inclined to pursue graduate studies in chemistry. Application may be made at the website http://chemistry.illinois.edu/reu/. For detailed information about the research areas of individual faculty members, please see http://www.chemistry.illinois.edu/faculty/index.html.

Please have students apply as soon as possible. Applications received by February 16, 2014 will receive full consideration. Given heavy demand for our program, files incomplete at 11:59 PM on the closing date will not be kept open for consideration.

Sincerely,

Alexander Scheeline

Professor of Chemistry. Emeritus

scheelin@illinois.edu

Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity at Nebraska

The Graduate School offices at the University of Nebraska wrote to announce the 2014 Nebraska Summer Research Program.  Here's what they say:     Nebraska’s summer program offers research opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in addition to a new interdisciplinary Minority Health Disparities program doing research in and around the social sciences. A complete listing of faculty mentors and research project descriptions can be found on our website athttp://www.unl.edu/summerprogram. Students can also find information about program benefits including a competitive stipend, room and board, travel expenses, and more.   Summer 2014 programs include:  Algal Biofuels and Nanohybrid Materials  Applied Mathematics  Bioenergy Systems  Biomedical Engineering  Chemistry  Minority Health Disparities   Redox Biology  Virology  Water in the Earth System  During the Nebraska Summer Research Program, students receive first-hand exposure to research and the experience of graduate school. They work closely with faculty mentors and research teams of graduate students and other summer scholars. Students also have opportunities to participate in meaningful social and professional development activities outside of the laboratory.   Our online application makes it easy for students to apply. Priority review begins Friday, February 1 and all applications must be completed by Monday, February 17. Students historically underrepresented in graduate education and students from academic institutions where research programs are limited are especially encouraged to apply.   Questions?  Please feel free to contact:  Maggie Jobes Summer Research Program Director Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment  Office of Graduate Studies University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate@unl.edu

Caltech Announces Summer Research Opportunities

Caltech is excited to announce two summer research opportunities available to continuing undergraduate students. Questions about these programs can be directed to Carol Casey atcasey@caltech.edu or (626) 395-2887.

MURF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The MURF program aims to increase the participation of underrepresented students (such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American; females who are underrepresented in their discipline; or first-generation college students) in science and engineering Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs and to make Caltech's programs more visible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech.

Eligibility: Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors and must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required.

Competitive applicants will have completed sophomore-level courses in desired research field, have demonstrated through academic and/or co-curricular activities a passion for research, and can articulate how their research interests align with Caltech's research areas. The most competitive applicants will have prior research experience.

Support: MURF students will receive a $6000 award for the ten-week program. An additional $500 housing and travel supplement will be provided.

Application: Online applications are due January 8, 2014.

For more information, visit www.sfp.caltech.edu/programs/murf.

AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Caltech's Amgen Scholars Program is geared towards students in biology, chemistry, and biotechnology fields. Some of these fields include biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, and chemistry.

Eligibility: Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors, must be attending a four-year university, and must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required.

Support: Amgen Scholars will receive a $5500 award, round-trip air transportation, a generous housing allowance, and a food allowance.

Application: Online applications are due February 14, 2014.

For more information, please visit www.sfp.caltech.edu/programs/amgen_scholars.

Summer research opportunity

We invite your best students to apply for our NIH/NCI-funded (5 R25CA023944-30) Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program <http://www.stjude.org/poe>. The program offers a unique opportunity for pre-doctoral students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, and pharmacy to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Students participate in basic or clinical oncology research, research and clinical conferences, and a core lecture series designed specifically for them. All participants make a PowerPoint presentation on their research project and submit a report on their research project written in the style of a journal in which their faculty mentor publishes.  

The POE home page <http://www.stjude.org/poe> contains links to the program application, which must be submitted online. The deadline for receipt of all 2014 application materials is February 1, 2014. Early application is highly recommended.  Letters of recommendation sent as PDF attachments to email are requested.. Members of under-represented ethnic minority groups and women are particularly encouraged to apply, since one of our major long-term program goals is to increase the diversity of persons engaged in oncology research and practice. Our NIH/NCI-funded (2 P30CA021765-34S1) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) grant provides remuneration for additional undergraduate under-represented minority POE Program participants.

Suzanne Gronemeyer, PhD
Director, Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program
Associate Director, Academic Programs
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678

I.M. Kolthoff Enrichment Awards for Undergraduates

I. M. Kolthoff Enrichment Awards for Undergraduate Students

Applications are invited for the 2014 I. M. Kolthoff Award for undergraduate research in analytical chemistry. The I.M. Kolthoff Award is given annually to deserving undergraduates who have done undergraduate research in the field of analytical chemistry, broadly defined, in celebration of the life and accomplishments of the late Professor Izaak Maurits Kolthoff, viewed by many as the father of modern analytical chemistry.

The Kolthoff awards provide travel funding up to $750 for undergraduate students to present a poster on their undergraduate research this year at either PITTCON 2014 (March 2 - 6, 2014; Chicago, IL) or the Spring ACS National Meeting & Exposition (March 16-20; Dallas, TX). 2-3 awards will likely be made between the two meetings. Students presenting at the Spring ACS National Meeting are encouraged to present in the Analytical Division poster session.

For application details and instructions, go to the analytical sciences web pages.

Research and Education Opportunites at Mayo Graduate School

The Chemistry Department recently received the following information about biomedical research and education programs at Mayo Graduate School.  Note the deadlines for applications to these programs.

1. Mayo Graduate School offers PhD and MD/PhD training to future leaders in biomedical research and education. Training is especially distinctive for the world-class research laboratories at Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona, and Mayo Clinic's unique funding model where all PhD students are awarded 5-year internal fellowships to select the mentor of their choice with no teaching responsibilities.
   
   Mayo Graduate School particularly welcomes applications from international and underrepresented students. The Mayo Graduate School application deadline is Dec. 1, 2013.
   
    
2. Mayo Graduate School Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program offers a world-class opportunity for undergraduates to conduct a summer research project for 10 weeks while developing technical skills, networking, and enjoying special weekly seminars about current research. The SURF application deadline is Feb. 1, 2014.
   
    
3. Mayo Graduate School created and sustains the oldest competitive NIH-funded Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) in the U.S. This program enriches PhD- and MD/PhD-bound post-baccalaureate students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research, with the goal of a future biomedical research workforce whose diversity matches that of our country. Participants benefit from mentored research, graduate courses, and focused training in communication skills.
   
   The PREP application deadline is May 1, 2014. Look for more information about these remarkable training programs on the Mayo Graduate School website.

Match Corps Opportunities for Life After Graduation

ATTENTION SENIORS – do you:

a)      Want to be a highly effective educator in urban schools?

b)      Want to volunteer for a year before grad school, law school, or medical school?

c)       Want to get involved in education reform or public policy?

d)      Want to transition into a career in the non-profit or education sector?

If so, consider committing a year to the Match Corps, a one-year urban education service fellowship. Corps members serve full-time in one of our charter schools in Boston, tutoring and mentoring a small caseload of students. We also offer the Match Teacher Residency, so that in addition to tutoring full-time, Corps members can train and earn certification to become full-time teachers in other high-need urban schools. We are currently accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year on a rolling basis (while spots last). To learn more about Match Corps: Boston and MTR and/or to apply, visit httP:://matcheducation.org/applymc

Last year Match Corps partnered with the University of Chicago to bring the Match Corps tutoring model to twelve traditional public high schools in Chicago. We will be accepting applications for our Chicago location later this year. Please e-mailrecruiting@matcheducation.org if you want to be notified when the application becomes available.

We recruit from all majors; candidates do not need to have a background in education. We seek candidates with strong content backgrounds – math, science, English, history, etc, and those who share our passion for social justice and education reform.

All of the details about our programs can be found here: http://www.matcheducation.org/apply

If you have any questions or clarification, please e-mail me, Trish Borrell, atrecruiting@matcheducation.org

American Chemical Society Job Fair!

Graduate School in Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Mayo Clinic’s Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Program (MPET) in the Mayo Graduate School has sent the following information to the chemistry department.

Are you seeking Ph.D. training for a career that melds the unparalleled thrill of discovering basic biological mechanisms with the excitement of translating those findings into the novel therapies for human diseases?  The Mayo Graduate School attracts outstanding students from across the world for a variety of reasons:

Exceptional Student Outcomes

Examples of our student’s successes include -

• Tremendous productivity during student training—Ph.D. (and M.D./Ph.D.) students graduating in the last 20 years averaged 5.6 publications, with publications in some of the very best journals in the world (e.g., Molecular Cell, Nature Immunology, Nature Genetics, Nature Cell Biology, PNAS, Neuron, Journal of Cell Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Genes & Development, Nature Biotechnology).

• More than 90% of students go on to academic postdoctoral training at top-notch institutions.

• Former students now have careers as leaders in academia and industry.

• Funding of a highly competitive, peer-reviewed NIH pre-doctoral pharmacology training grant (T32GM072474)

• Students complete Ph.D. training in an average of 5.2 years.

Committed Mentors

Our faculty members are committed to fostering the intellectual development of students into future leaders in biomedical science (as demonstrated by our student outcomes!).  Our world-class investigators and mentors receive a total annual research budget of over $500 million every year. Students receive exceptional and focused mentorship and benefit from our outstanding 1:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Cutting-Edge Research

Our research program in pharmacology is firmly rooted in basic science research that integrates across the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, structural biology, materials science, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, and systems pharmacology.  The goals of these programs are to discover the basic mechanisms of disease and to translate these findings into novel therapies. 

• Cancer Biology and Therapeutics – Discover the molecular underpinnings that drive cancers and new approaches to treat these diseases

• Regenerative Medicine – Harnessing bioengineered stem cells as an individualized in vitro platform to discover, diagnose, and ultimately treat mechanisms of degenerative diseases such as cardiomyopathy.

• Pharmacogenomics and Genetics – Employ cutting-edge genetic technologies to discover, at the molecular and genetic levels, why humans have vastly different responses to drugs

• Drug Discovery—Use supercomputers and chemistry to discover and develop mechanism-based drugs

• Neurobiology and Genetics of Addiction—Develop sophisticated genetic models and methods to understand and treat addictive behaviors

• Cardiovascular Biology and Therapeutics—Identify molecular mechanisms and genetic defects that contribute to heart disease and develop improved therapies

Full Student Financial Support

• Annual stipend of $26,750 per year
• Full tuition scholarships are given to all admitted students (valued at $24,000 per year)
• Tuition scholarship and stipend are guaranteed by Mayo Graduate School for 5 years

To Apply

Applications are due by December 1, 2013. (Be sure to indicate MPET as your first choice!)  http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/phd-admissions.html

To learn more about the MPET program and mentor’s research programs http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/mpet.html

NDSU Graduate Visitation Day

NDSU Graduate Visitation Day
Saturday, October 26th

RSVP by October 21^st

Dear Colleague

This email follows up a recent mailing sent by the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Chemistry and Biochemistry Department regarding our NDSU Graduate Visitation Day. 

We appreciate your help in getting this information out to your students. If possible, please forward this email to your Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology undergraduate students.  Anyone looking for a M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is invited to attend this event. 

To view our brochure, which outlines the details of this event, click on the attached link:    

http://www.ndsu.edu/chemistry/files/Visitation%20Day%20Brochure%202013.pdf

The RSVP deadline date is Monday, October 21^st. To reserve a spot, we ask that student’s contact the department’s administrative secretary, Wendy Leach, by email, wendy.leach@ndsu.edu or by phone, 701-231-8751.   

Thank you for your time and effort to help us make this a successful event.

_______________________________________
Sivaguru Jayaraman, Associate Professor

Graduate Admissions Chair
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Could YOU be an EXROP nominee?

The Exceptional Research Opportunities Program (EXROP) links the resources of HHMI's Science and Science Education departments to provide bright, motivated undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds (from an under-performing high school or low income family) and groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences (such as Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans) with outstanding summer research experiences. HHMI continues to work with EXROP students after their summer study programs to encourage them to pursue careers in academic science.

St. Olaf chemistry faculty members are currently looking for interested and eligible students for possible nomination for an EXROP position. Students should be current sophomores or juniors and fit the eligibility requirements highlighted above.  Talk to any chemistry faculty member if you are interested.

3M "Regulatory Analyst" Positions Available

Job Summary
3M Medical Department Material EHS is searching for individuals to be part of a team that provides product EHS business process support globally to 3M business units and international subsidiaries. The primary duties for a Regulatory Analyst include completing human health hazard assessments and authoring material safety data sheets, labels, and transportation documents.

Candidate Profile
 Have excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
 Self motivated, highly productive and result‐oriented.
 Must be a team player.
 Possesses problem solving skills.
 Must have excellent computer and database skills.
 Must have the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
 Ability to follow standard operating procedures to provide support to product EHS business processes.

Education
 Bachelor’s degree in a natural science with at least two years of chemistry coursework including organic chemistry.

Experience
 The following are not required but will be considered a plus:
     o 0 – 1 years of experience in product EHS.
     o General knowledge and understanding of regulatory compliance at local, state, federal, and international levels.
     o Advanced degree in a discipline related to product EHS (toxicology, industrial hygiene, safety, environmental health, etc.).
     o Knowledge of 3M laboratory, manufacturing and EHS related information sources or data systems.

Contact
 These positions are contingent worker positions located at the corporate headquarters in St. Paul, MN.
 Accepting candidates now. Interviews will start the first week of October with start dates in early November.
 Contact Ann Thompson, Ph.D, Technical Manager, for additional information on the hiring process and vendor contacts
     o athompson@mmm.com
     o 651‐736‐8089

Student Contractor Position at USEPA - Duluth, MN

The US EPA Mid Continent Ecology Division laboratory in Duluth, MN has posted a student contractor position.  

The Mid Continent Ecology Division (MED), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking individuals, at least 18 years of age who have completed a Bachelors degree with biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental science, toxicology, pharmacy, physiology, neuroscience or a related fields of study to provide services under a contractual agreement to assist in aquatic toxicology research such as: developing methods and models for assessing and predicting the bioaccumulation and effects of chemicals in aquatic organisms.

For more information about this position, click here.

For more detailed information regarding the Mid Continent Ecology Division, visit the MED home page.

A job opportunity at 3M

I need to hire 9 new contingent workers into my group at 3M in the next couple of weeks. I just hired two Oles from the recent graduating class and have other Oles on my staff as well. Due to the timing, we need to hire people who have already graduated with a degree in a natural science with at least two years of chemistry through organic and will likely not be able to wait for someone who is finishing mid-year.

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,

Ann '76

---

Ann Thompson, Ph.D. | Technical Manager - Material EHS
3M Medical Department
3M Center, Building 220-06-E-03 | St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
Office: 651 736 8089 | Mobile: 612 207 8030 | Triminet: 736 8089
athompson@mmm.com | www.3M.com

This week's chemistry seminar (Sept 19th), Regents Hall 310 at 3:00

This week's chemistry seminar, Thursday Sept. 19th, Regents Hall 310 at 3:00

Science of Rock ’n’ Roll 

- Single Molecule and Nanoparticle Imaging in Biophysical, Surface, and Photocatalysis Studies 

Prof. Ning Fang 

Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy and Iowa State University 

The research in the Fang Laboratory aims to open up new frontiers in chemical and biological discovery through the development and use of novel optical imaging platforms, which provide sub-diffraction-limited spatial resolution, high angular resolution, excellent detectability, and/or nanometer localization precision for single molecules and nanoparticles. 

• Rotational Tracking: The knowledge of rotational dynamics in and on live cells remains highly limited due to technical limitations. The single particle orientation and rotational tracking (SPORT) technique has been developed for visualizing rotational motions of anisotropic plasmonic gold nanorods under a differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope. The SPORT technique is capable of extracting important information (including rotational rates, modes, and directions) on the characteristic rotational dynamics involved in complex biological processes, such as endocytosis and intracellular transport. 

• Fluorescence Super-Resolution and High-Precision Tracking: A fully automatic calibration and scanning prism-type total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) and scattering (TIRS) microscope has been constructed for high-precision tracking of single molecules and nanoparticles. Stable signals from non-blinking quantum dots under the automated TIRF microscope allows for continuous super-localization of single quantum dots with sub-10-nm precision in both lateral and axial directions. This system is also being used to reveal the nature and photocatalytic properties of the surface active sites on single Au-CdS hybrid nanocatalysts. 

A job opportunity...

This job posting comes from Phil Beardsley-Schoonmaker '13, Green Corps Field Organizer.  He is happy to field any inquiries at
Phillip@greencorps.org or 503-562-9914

Early Fall Application Deadline: October 11, 2014

Click here to learn more about Green Corps’ paid environmental organizing fellowship.

Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the
biggest environmental challenges of our day.

In Green Corps’ yearlong paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — global warming, deforestation, water pollution, factory farming and many others — with groups like Sierra Club and Food and Water Watch. And when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups.

For more information, read on or visit http://www.greencorps.org/findoutmore.

In your year with Green Corps:

Be trained by the best: Green Corps organizers take part in trainings with leading figures in the environmental and social change movements: people like Adam Ruben, Political Director of MoveOn.org, and Bill McKibben, author and founder of 350.org.

Gain experience across the country: Green Corps sends organizers to jumpstart campaigns for groups such as Rainforest Action Network, Power Shift, and Environment America in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and dozens of other places in between.

Make an impact on today’s environmental challenges: Green Corps organizers have built the campaigns that helped keep the Arctic safe from drilling; led to new laws to support clean, renewable energy; convinced major corporations to stop dumping in our oceans; and much, much more.

Get paid! Green Corps organizers earn a salary of $24,000. Organizers also have a chance to opt into our health care program with a pre-tax monthly salary deferral. We offer paid sick days and holidays, two weeks paid vacation and a student loan repayment program for those who qualify.

Launch your career: Green Corps will help connect you to environmental and progressive groups that are looking for full-time staff to build their organizations and help them create social change and protect our environment.

The application process:
In the next few months, we‘ll invite 35 college graduates to join Green Corps in 2014 -2015. We’re looking for people who are serious about saving the planet, people who have taken initiative on their campus or community, and people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for change over the long haul.

If you think you’re one of those people, visit www.greencorps.org to apply to join the 2014-2015 class of Green Corps’ Field School for Environmental Organizing.

Green Corps’ yearlong program begins in August 2014 with Introductory Classroom Training in Boston, and continues with field placements in multiple locations across the U.S. Candidates must be willing to relocate.

For more information, visit www.greencorps.org or contact Charlotte Bartter, Recruitment Director, at jobs@greencorps.org.

A tradition like no other...

Join us today at 2:45 on the plaza outside Regents Hall for the annual

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social.















Enjoy chemistry at its best.

Chemistry/Biology/Environmental Studies Seminar

Chemistry/Biology/Environmental Joint Seminar

Thursday in RNS 310 starting at 7:00 p.m. with snacks served during seminar and ICE CREAM SUNDAES after the seminar, (served by SOCS).

Val H. Smith, Ph.D.

Professor

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Kansas

The Ecology of Algal Biofuels

One of the greatest hurdles to algal biofuels scale-up is achieving high yields of the algal feedstock's from which these fuels are created.  The reliable and sustainable mass cultivation of microalgae is a key limiting step for the entire commercial enterprise, and successful crop protection against undesirable biomass losses will be a critically important component of these cultivation efforts.   As is true of the terrestrial plants that are cultivated for domestic agriculture, large-scale algal growth facilities will be susceptible to invasions by a diverse array of highly undesirable competitors, plant-consuming pests, and pathogens that can dramatically reduce achievable yields.  I will identify and discuss several core principles of community ecology that have direct relevance to successful large-scale algal biofuels production:  nutrient limitation of crop production, protection of the crop against losses to invertebrate grazers, and protection of the crop against losses to algal pathogens.