Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year, I am incredibly thankful for my family, my friends, my community (physical and online) and my job. This year, I'm thankful for my coworkers and I'm really looking forward to a fun and interesting next year. 

I am still incredibly thankful for you, my readers and commenters. Thank you for your reading, your advice, your e-mails and your brilliant, insightful comments. I am genuinely grateful and touched that you folks are still reading this tiny little corner of the internet, and I hope that I will continue to earn your readership. 

This year, I am particularly thankful for Bluesky, where I have made a comfortable new home. If you ever liked Twitter in 2010 or so, it is that experience these days on Bluesky. What I like most about it is that it is a straight chronological timeline with only the folks that you follow. Join me on chemsky there.

[An additional note: if you would ever like to meet for a cup of coffee or a beer, please reach out to my e-mail address. I hope to find myself in many different places in 2025 (including Houston :-), and I love to meet readers of the blog.] 

My family and I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and if you're not in the United States, a happy Thursday and Friday! 

Job posting: Senior Process Chemist III, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Shelton, CT

From the inbox: 

MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, a business of Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI), is renowned worldwide for its commitment to revolutionizing the electronics industry. With a legacy spanning over a century, we have continually set new benchmarks for excellence, reliability, and sustainability in electronic materials.

Who are we looking for?

The selected individual will be responsible for transforming compounds and chemistries developed by the R&D team into commercially viable products. Key objectives include: (1) developing scalable production methods to enable larger batch quantities—initially for testing, followed by commercial manufacturing—and (2) establishing synthetic routes that prioritize safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This role requires a balanced mix of theoretical expertise and hands-on experience. The ideal candidate will split their time between laboratory and production environments, conducting small-scale testing and reaction evaluations in the lab and facilitating successful large-scale implementation in the plant. Close collaboration with chemists, engineers, and operators is essential to drive innovation in product and process development. Additionally, this chemist will oversee the transfer of new products to the Pilot Production Laboratory and support the scale-up to High Volume Manufacturing (HVM), ensuring a seamless path to market.

Who are You?

• PhD degree > 3 years and or MS > 7 years of relevant experience, preferably in chemistry, or related field.
• > 3 years of formulation experience in electroplating or other wet process is preferred, especially in the Semiconductor or Printed Circuit Board industries.  
• Strong experience in chemical separation/purification such as filtration, evaporation, distillation, chromatography, and chemical characterization techniques (such as GPC, HPLC, LC-MS) that are used to analyze separated species. 

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 418 research/teaching positions and 61 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 418 research/teaching positions and 61 teaching positions. 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On November 28, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 461 research/teaching positions and 49 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Go to the first open thread. 

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 112 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Heather LeClerc and Daniyal Kiani) has 112 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions. 

Here is a link to the open thread for the year.

CSB update on the BioLab fire in Conyers, GA

Via NBC, I see that the CSB has released its preliminary update on the Conyers, GA fire: 

Washington D.C. November 22, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an investigation update into the chemical reaction and toxic gas release on September 29, 2024, at the Bio-Lab, Inc. facility in Conyers, Georgia, that resulted in a massive fire and plume of toxic smoke that threatened the surrounding community and the metropolitan Atlanta area.

The reaction involved materials stored in a warehouse that generated heat, which led to the  decomposition of the product, the release of toxic vapors, and fires.  The primary substances involved in the reaction were trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCA), along with bromochloro-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BCDMH).  The resulting massive plumes of toxic smoke contained chlorine and other hazardous substances and caused significant offsite impacts. 

No major root cause updates as of yet, but the brown/red smoke is most likely from the bromo compound. Full report here.

Have a great weekend

Well, this turned out to be a darn good week, so I'm not going to complain about the medical procedure I have heading my way, lol. I hope that you had a good week, and that you do not have any procedures heading your way any time soon. I hope you have a great weekend, and we'll see you on Monday. 

Washington University (St. Louis) chemistry professor accused of sexual harassment

Via a Google News search for "chemistry", this news via Student Life, the newspaper of Washington University: 

Amidst allegations of inappropriate, non-consensual touching from multiple students, Associate Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Barnes is no longer teaching his section of organic chemistry for the rest of the semester, as of Nov. 14. 

Student Life spoke to four students who allegedly experienced non-consensual touching from Barnes on the arms, lower back, and upper thigh. Three of the students are currently enrolled in Barnes’ organic chemistry class, and one took the same course two years ago. Barnes has taught the class three times prior to the Fall 2024 semester since his hiring in 2016. 

Three of the four students have been granted anonymity due to concerns for their safety. Sources referred to throughout the article exclusively by their first name have been given pseudonyms to protect their identities. 

According to Barnes’ attorney, Christopher Combs, Barnes was temporarily relieved of teaching duties, following University policy, in order to “ensure all parties feel safe and supported,” but Barnes is still employed by the University and is continuing to carry out his research with students. Neither the University nor the Chemistry Department wished to comment on why Barnes, who was given tenure last year, is not teaching the organic chemistry course anymore.

Read the whole article here.

Postdoctoral posting: Experimental Investigation of Reactivity of Solid/Liquid Interface, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Via C&EN Jobs: 

The Geochemistry and Interfacial Sciences (GIS) Group in the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) invites outstanding applications for a postdoctoral research associate to conduct experimental research focused on reactivity of solid-liquid interfaces, including on mineral nucleation and growth from aqueous solutions as well as interaction with carbon dioxide.

You will conduct experiments while making in situ observations as well as elevated temperature and pressure and analyzed ex situ. Experimental techniques might include X-ray/neutron scattering, atomic force microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation measurements, optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, or other techniques.

The GIS group functions as a team, so you are a team player who enjoys collaborating with the other personnel in the GIS group, as well as personnel at ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), the Spallation neutron source (SNS) and the high-flux isotope reactor (HFIR).

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct independent research using experimental techniques and multi-modal microscopy characterization, which will include developing/optimizing methodologies for mineral analyses.
• Perform mineral nucleation, growth and carbonation experiments.
• Collaborate with ORNL researchers on the design and execution of microscopy and X-ray/neutron scattering experiments and subsequent characterization.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Colorado state water quality lab reports problems with metals testing

Via KUSA: 

DENVER — The EPA has revoked a testing certification for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) water quality lab, after an investigation found a chemist intentionally disregarded protocol in a method that tests for traces of metals, 9NEWS Investigates has learned.

The investigation into the chemist’s actions began in February, according to the state health department, but wasn’t made public until 9NEWS Investigates started asking questions about it last week. State health officials said the data problems may impact as many as 3% of the state’s 2,000 public water systems...

...According to the health department, in February, a managing chemist discovered anomalies in test results relating to one water quality method, method 200.7, which tests for metals and trace elements of barium, copper and chromium in drinking water. When the anomalies were discovered, the acting chemist was removed from all laboratory testing and the department launched an investigation, according to Hope Shuler, interim communications director for the department.

But CDPHE had not notified the EPA of the lapse until early April, according to a letter from the EPA to the state health department revoking CDPHE’s certification to test for that method. The letter from mid-April also noted that CDPHE did not have a timeline to determine the scope of the investigation or a communication plan to let the impacted water systems know about the issues with the testing data...

It's hard to know what happened here, but another report has a comment from the state about an "intentional disregard of protocol." I suppose we'll have to wait for more reporting before we'll know what happened...

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 415 research/teaching positions and 58 teaching positions

 The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 415 research/teaching positions and 58 teaching positions 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On November 21, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 455 research/teaching positions and 47 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Go to the first open thread. 

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 111 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Heather LeClerc and Daniyal Kiani) has 111 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions. 

Here is a link to the open thread for the year.

C&EN: "Is Europe running out of chemistry teachers?"

Via Chemical and Engineering News, this surprising article (article by Vanessa Zainzinger): 

...In the 2023–24 school year, schools in England were able to recruit only 65% of the teaching staff they needed for chemistry, according to NFER research based on UK Department for Education data. That’s a lot better than staff recruitment for physics, which reached only 17% of its target, but worse than biology—an outlier among science subjects—for which schools recruited 93% of the teachers needed.

Young chemists have many reasons to avoid a teaching career. The most obvious one, Worth says, is that chemistry graduates can earn more money in the chemical industry. On average in the UK, entry-​level chemistry teaching positions start at £32,500 ($42,000) per year. That matches the average starting salary in the chemical industry, but a gap between career paths forms after a few years.

“The starting salary might be relatively attractive, but teachers reach the top of the scale after about 5 years,” says Andy Harvey, national officer for education at the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), a union that represents educators in Scotland. Young teachers soon find themselves without opportunities for promotion, Harvey says. “The thing with chemistry teachers is, they do have marketable skills. They can get better pay elsewhere.”

Unions like the EIS are unimpressed by some widely publicized UK government recruitment schemes, such as grants of up to £28,000 ($36,000) for those enrolling in chemistry teacher training courses and an extensive “Get into Teaching” media campaign. These efforts might lure people to the classroom, but they won’t make them stay, Harvey says. Retention rates are terrible. EIS’s most recent school survey found that 40% of chemistry teachers working in Scotland are considering leaving the profession within the next 5 years.

I guess I don't think about teacher numbers in the UK or Europe (in chemistry or otherwise), but I didn't know the situation wasn't particularly great. It doesn't sound like things are much better in Germany, either. Read the whole thing. 

Have a good weekend

This was a fun week, but you never know what you might find in an Indiana cornfield. I hope that you had a great week, and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. See you on Monday. 

Sad news from Corteva

Multiple sources have indicated that Corteva Agriscience chemistry (both process and discovery) has suffered a pretty large layoff. That's pretty bad news, and I'm sorry to hear that, especially since Indianapolis does not offer many chemists the opportunity to get a new job without moving. 

Best wishes to all affected. 

Job posting: Associate Research Scientist, Dyes, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York

Via C&EN Jobs, this position: 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

As the Associate Research Scientist, you will perform analyses and conduct research on natural and synthetic dyes as found in textiles, drawings, prints, paintings and other works of art in the Museum’s collection.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Analyze works of art in collaboration with conservators, curators, and colleagues in the Department of Scientific Research, with a particular focus on natural and synthetic dyes.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to conduct research on dyes, their history, provenance, and their degradation mechanisms.
• Develop analytical methods to improve sensitivity and minimize sample size for dye analysis.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in chemistry or equivalent experience (required).
• 2-4 years experience in analytical chemistry (required).
• Experience working in museum environments, specifically, either with or in proximity of art objects (preferred).
• Experience in gas and liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (required).
• Experience implementing advanced statistical analysis methods on scientific data (preferred).

Salary: $105,000 - $110,000. Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Large explosion at Louisville, KY food coloring plant

credit: Michael Clevenger / Courier Journal 

Via WHII, this news: 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A large explosion was reported Tuesday afternoon in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood, and it wasn't the first time the factory experienced a hazardous materials incident.

MetroSafe confirmed a large explosion occurred in the 1900 block of Payne Street at about 3 p.m. 

Louisville Metro police advised the public to stay away from the area.

The business located at the address is the Givaudan Sense Colour company was formerly known as D.D. Williamson Company. It's known for producing the caramel color in soft drinks. 

D.D. Williams and Company started in 1865 and was bought by Givaudan Sense Colour in 2021. 

Givaudan Sense Colour also has facilities in the US, Ireland, and UK but they are headquartered in Louisville.

The Tuesday explosion is not the first time the plant on Payne Street has had issues.

In April 2003, one person was killed at the plant after a catastrophic vessel failure, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).

That building sure looks like it was a pretty bad explosion. I'd love to know what caused such a large explosion, but I suppose we'll find out eventually. 

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 408 research/teaching positions and 54 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 408 research/teaching positions and 54 teaching positions 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On November 14, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 440 research/teaching positions and 40 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Go to the first open thread. 

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 107 research/teaching positions and 15 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Heather LeClerc and Daniyal Kiani) has 107 research/teaching positions and 15 teaching positions. 

Here is a link to the open thread for the year.

C&EN: "The chemical enterprise braces for a second Trump presidency"

In this week's Chemical and Engineering News, this summary (article by Leigh Krietsch Boerner and Rowan Walrath)

With the dust settling after the US elections, chemists are trying to work out how a second Donald J. Trump presidency will affect their work and lives.

Scientists in many corners are concerned—about their funding, about the politicization of their research areas, and about their intellectual freedom. Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, says scientists in federal and state governments who work in politicized fields like climate change are worried that “their name is going on a list.”

“President Trump has promised to fire government scientists and to dismantle scientific agencies,” Jones says. “Without strong federal science, historically marginalized communities bear the brunt of policies that benefit corporate profit over people and communities.”

A scientist in the federal government, who spoke to C&EN on the condition of anonymity because they fear retribution, worries that some government scientists “might just choose to throw in the towel.” That would leave the federal government without the staff needed to assess data and enact evidence-based policies, the person says.

It will be fascinating to see if the BIOSECURE Act is passed, and if it is signed in the lame duck session. I would expect yes, but we shall see. 

Give your instruments to the museums?

Also in this week's C&EN, this letter to the editor: 

We read with much interest the article discussing options of what to do with old laboratory equipment and instruments (C&EN, June 17, 2024, page 16). The article describes an ad hoc approach to dealing with surplus equipment, which is not dissimilar to our experiences at other institutions.

The author points out that less attention tends to be paid to expensive instruments after they have been superseded, and she lists three options: “Sell, donate, or scrap.” We would like to propose a fourth option: consider archiving old documents and equipment. Science and medicine museums, such as the Wellcome Collection and Science Museum in London, are considered national treasures in the UK: 89% of adults surveyed earlier this year said museums are important to UK culture. Museums attract visitors. The Science Museum, for example, attracts nearly 3 million visitors per year and appeared in the top 10 visitor attractions in the UK in 2013 and 2023.

People experience and learn science in many different places and ways, not just at school, and science museums are informal learning experiences that help broaden people’s perception of science and medicine. They also have the potential to inspire a broader range of people and bring about more diversity in the field.d

Please consider archiving documents and equipment, and remember that a beaker or an ordinary piece of kit today might constitute a precious artifact tomorrow.

Sami A. Al-Ani and Ilaria Scaglia 

Birmingham, England

Uh, I think that the available old scientific instruments could easily overwhelm museums. But hey, you can ask!