ACS Short Video & Flame Challenge

The American Chemical Society has produced two new short videos highlighting chemists that have changed the world and chemical insights to solving everyday challenges.  Enjoy taking a few moments during break or at any time to check them out on the ACS YouTube Channel or by clicking on the links adjacent to the descriptions.

Chemistry Life Hacks: One part Mendeleev, one part MacGyver, this video shows how to brew the perfect cup of coffee, clean stubborn skillets, and solve other dilemmas.  Click “subscribe” and you’ll have a new episode of this award-winning video series Reactions (formerly Bytesize Science) to share with friends each week.


Five Black Chemists Who Changed the World: Features contributions of Percy Julian, Mae Jemison and three other notable African American chemists.  It’s co-produced for Black History Month by ACS and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).

Are you a gifted communicator of science?  Test yourself and enjoy trying to provide a scientifically appropriate answer to the Flame Challenge question using vocabulary and ideas that an 11 year old can understand.  Check out the Chemistry Ambassadors link at the ACS to watch the video and see the descriptions of this unique program.

REU in Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE) at Georgia Tech

Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE) at Georgia Tech is a summer undergraduate research program that gives students the opportunity to perform research with our faculty in the Schools of Biology, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. 

Our program website is http://www.biology.gatech.edu/reu/

and includes program details, application process, and contact information.

The application deadline is February 15, 2014.  The full-time, 10-week program will start May 18 and run until July 25.  Participants will receive a stipend of $5000 plus accommodations with kitchen facilities in university housing, and help with travel expenses to and from Atlanta. Go to our website to get more information and to apply.  Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program is eligible, unless they have already been part of an NSF-REU program in Ocean Sciences or unless they will graduate before this summer.

Our research theme of Aquatic Chemical Ecology is broadly interpreted.  We have 3 core areas of research for students to choose from: Biological and geochemical transformations of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems; Sensory biology and ecology of aquatic chemical communication; Ecological roles and consequences of chemicals in aquatic environments.  This program is an excellent choice for undergraduates majoring in any field of biology, chemistry, earth/ocean science, civil engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, and related bioengineering areas who want to apply their classroom learning to an interdisciplinary research environment to solve complex scientific problems and learn about the importance of chemically-mediated processes.  

Undergraduate Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin sponsors a 10-week paid internship program.  The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) www.mcw.edu/spur is accepting applications for SPUR 2014.  This program provides students with a hands-on intensive research experience.  If you are currently a sophomore or junior with an interest in a summer internship you are encouraged to apply http://www.mcw.edu/graduateschool/programsSPUR/SPUR-Application.htm

Minnesota Green Chemistry 2014: Connecting Policy, Technology, and Economy

Today (Thursday, 16 Jan 2014) I attended the Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum Conference in Minneapolis.  The program focused on connecting policy, technology and the economy, and the event featured prominent members of the green chemistry business community.  In the not too distant future, videos of the major plenary and panel sessions will be made available at the MN Green Chemistry Forum web site.  If you'd like to read some quick snapshots from the day's events, simply go to Twitter and search the hashtag, #MGC14.  Minnesota has tremendous potential to make even larger contributions to ecologically linked chemicals through its rich biological resources, including human capital.  Check out some Minnesota companies, such as Segetis, BioAmber, NatureWorks, and Aveda.

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