Have a great weekend

This was an adventurous week (in part) and I enjoyed it very much. I hope that you also had a wonderful week and I hope you have a great weekend. See you on Tuesday. 

C&EN: EPA proposes to delay methylene chloride rule implementation by 18 months

Via C&EN's Krystal Vasquez: 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 20 proposed to extend the deadline for laboratories to comply with its methylene chloride rule by 18 months. The rule, finalized in May 2024, bans nearly all uses of methylene chloride, a popular solvent that has been linked to adverse health effects and 85 workplace and consumer deaths.

The regulation carves out an exception for the solvent’s use as a laboratory chemical. But it requires all nonfederal labs still using the compound to implement strict workplace safety measures between May and October of this year. The first deadline, which passed on May 5, requires labs to measure workers’ initial exposure levels.

Under the May 20 proposal, labs would instead need to implement these requirements between November 2026 and May 2027.

Shortly after the initial rule was finalized, several lab safety professionals told C&EN that the short timeline could pose considerable challenges, particularly to smaller institutions with fewer resources. In its announcement of the possible extension, the EPA says it heard similar concerns from labs associated with universities and local governments.

“EPA’s proposal would avoid disrupting important environmental monitoring and associated activities, while these non-federal labs work to comply with the rule’s new requirements,” the agency says.

Having watched how the government works a little more closely over the last four years or so, this is not that surprising. Nevertheless (as one of the academics says), chemical academia is mostly ready, but I am guessing individual laboratories are not. This will be interesting to see what the Zeldin-directed EPA decides to do. 

Job posting: R&D Analytical Chemist, Sherwin-Williams, Cleveland, OH

Via Google searches, this position in Cleveland: 

Job Description

The position is an excellent opportunity for an individual to contribute to the long-term growth and development of the North American Analytical Center of Excellence. This position is primarily accountable for using scientific approaches to provide support to our applied research & product development programs and solve paint & coating problems for our North American businesses.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access to confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s staff, employees, and business relationships.

Responsibilities

In this role, there will be emphasis on providing support for field failure investigations, manufacturing issues, and physical characterization

The successful candidate will be well organized, capable of managing multiple project assignments and communicate effectively in written and verbal formats.

Responsibilities include:

• Using a variety of instruments/methods to generate valid, high quality, defensible analytical results.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

CBS: FDA to review use of azodicarbonamide in bread preparation

Via CBS News, this update: 

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to revisit its approval of the food additive ADA, the agency's top foods official announced Thursday, after longstanding questions over the safety of the so-called "yoga mat" chemical that can be a bread ingredient in the U.S. but is banned in Europe. 

Also called azodicarbonamide, the FDA previously approved ADA's use to whiten cereal flour and improve baking bread dough. 

Advocacy groups have criticized the use of this chemical in food for years, over concerns about its potential health risks. The "yoga mat" nickname comes from ADA's other uses in the manufacturing of plastics and rubbers. 

In Europe, it is illegal to add the ingredient to bread, given the possibility it could result in a possible carcinogen called semicarbazide when it breaks down into other chemicals during bread making. 

I never predicted that Va/ni Har/i would be running the FDA, but here we are. 

Trump Administration gives final federal approval needed for Idaho gold and antimony mine

Via Bloomberg, this news: 

The Trump administration granted the final federal permit for a mine in Idaho that will produce gold and antimony, a critical mineral used in munitions and other applications.

The US Army Corps of Engineers issued the Clean Water Act permit needed for Perpetua Resources Corp.’s Stibnite project in Idaho. The move was facilitated by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, according to a statement from his department.

“This mine marks a major step by this administration to secure critical mineral supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign countries, accelerate energy projects, unlock domestic resources, and drive American energy dominance on the global stage,” the department said.

Stibnite was one of 10 mine projects awarded fast-track status in April to speed the approvals process. Others included the Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, owned by Rio Tinto Group and BHP Group.

Perpetua is now focused on securing state permits and financing, the company said in a separate statement Monday. Stibnite can meet about 35% of US antimony demand during the first six years of production, the company estimates. The project is also expected to produce about 450,000 ounces of gold annually during its first four years of output.

 It will be interesting to see how long it takes before this mine actually begins producing antimony...

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 508 research/teaching positions and 100 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 508 research/teaching positions and 100 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 May 21, 2024, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 556 research/teaching positions and 86 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This is the link to the second open thread. This is the link 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. 

Job posting: assistant professor (fall 2026), Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

From the inbox: 

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Victoria invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in experimental chemistry, particularly in one of the areas of physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry or a combination of the two fields. The research area is broadly defined and includes but is not limited to inorganic synthesis, sustainable materials, catalysis, spectroscopy, nanosciences, and/or energy, including energy storage devices. The successful applicant will be offered a tenure-track appointment with an expected start date of July 1, 2026 or as negotiated. A PhD degree in chemistry is required and Post-doctoral experience is strongly preferred. 

In accordance with the University’s Equity Plan and pursuant to section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, the selection will be limited to women and gender diverse peoples. Therefore, all candidates must self-identify as belonging to one of the designated groups in their cover letter to be considered for this position. 

The salary for this position is in a competitive range of $115,000-$125,000. The candidate's qualifications, experience and overall market demand will determine the final salary. The University of Victoria is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leaves and pension plan. 

Priority date is July 15, 2025. Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

C&EN: "Bayer to slash agrochemical jobs in Germany"

In this week's C&EN (article by Alex Scott): 

Bayer is restructuring Crop Science, its agrochemical and seed business, in a bid to “ensure the division’s global competitiveness” in the face of competition from low-cost Chinese generic products, Bayer says in a press release.

Measures the firm will take include closing a site in Frankfurt, Germany, by the end of 2028 that produces active ingredients and formulations for herbicides. An undisclosed number of the 500 plant workers at the site will move to locations in Dormagen and Knapsack, Germany, or Bayer’s other pesticide formulation sites, the company says. Bayer will relocate R&D staff at the Frankfurt site to Monheim am Rhein, Germany, where the firm already conducts R&D on insecticides and fungicides.

Additionally, Bayer says that by 2028 it will “streamline” its pesticide plant in Dormagen by discontinuing the production of generic active ingredients that are available elsewhere at significantly lower prices. The changes will result in the loss of about 200 of the 1,200 jobs at the site.

The planned restructure is a response to low-cost competition, especially from China, where the spot price of pesticide active ingredients has dropped by more than 20% in recent years, Bayer says.

Following a presentation by Bayer board members, BNP Paribas stock analyst Laurent Fevre asked whether pressure on profits in Bayer’s crop protection business could get worse. Crop Science president Rodrigo Santos’s response was that he does not expect the problem to go away anytime soon. “We do see competitive pricing pressure for the next quarters, as we have a significant build-up of capacity in China,” he said.

Sales in Bayer Crop Science’s division fell 3.3% in the first quarter of the year to $8.2 billion; pretax profits were down 10.2% to $2.6 billion.

I suppose I cannot be surprised by this, but it's got to be tough for Bayer. Best wishes to those affected, and to us all. 

Have a good weekend

Well, this was a weird week, but there you are. I hope that you had a good week, and we'll see you on Monday. 

C&EN wants to know - do you want to leave the US?

Via C&EN: 

Science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity or political party,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in a May 5 speech in Paris. That’s why, she continued, “Europe will always make the case for the world's scientists to Choose Europe.”

The Choose Europe initiative, launched in Paris, includes funding of €500 million ($556 million) over the next 2 years intended to make Europe a “magnet” for researchers. On the same day, French president Emmanuel Macron pledged another €1 million ($1.1 million) to attract researchers to France specifically.

Other national governments worldwide are doing the same.

While few of the recruitment initiatives explicitly mention the US in their materials, multiple governments see opportunities to attract bright minds to their shores. Are you a chemist or chemical engineer who is considering leaving the US to take up one of these offers? Or are you already buying plane tickets?

Link to form here.

Large Hadron Collider turned lead into gold

Via the CERN website, this important news: 

In a paper published in Physical Review Journals, the ALICE collaboration reports measurements that quantify the transmutation of lead into gold in CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Transforming the base metal lead into the precious metal gold was a dream of medieval alchemists. This long-standing quest, known as chrysopoeia, may have been motivated by the observation that dull grey, relatively abundant lead is of a similar density to gold, which has long been coveted for its beautiful colour and rarity. It was only much later that it became clear that lead and gold are distinct chemical elements and that chemical methods are powerless to transmute one into the other.

...The ALICE analysis shows that, during Run 2 of the LHC (2015–2018), about 86 billion gold nuclei were created at the four major experiments. In terms of mass, this corresponds to just 29 picograms (2.9 ×10E-11 g). Since the luminosity in the LHC is continually increasing thanks to regular upgrades to the machines, Run 3 has produced almost double the amount of gold that Run 2 did, but the total still amounts to trillions of times less than would be required to make a piece of jewellery. While the dream of medieval alchemists has technically come true, their hopes of riches have once again been dashed.

I calculate the amount of gold created to be in the 0.0000030247 cents range (2.9 X10E-11 grams X $104.30/gram), which won't get you much of a cup of coffee these days. 

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 505 research/teaching positions and 100 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 505 research/teaching positions and 100 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 May 14, 2024, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 556 research/teaching positions and 86 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This is the link to the second open thread. This is the link 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. 

Job posting: assistant professor (fall 2026), Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC

From the inbox: 

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Victoria invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in experimental chemistry, particularly in one of the areas of physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry or a combination of the two fields. The research area is broadly defined and includes but is not limited to inorganic synthesis, sustainable materials, catalysis, spectroscopy, nanosciences, and/or energy, including energy storage devices. The successful applicant will be offered a tenure-track appointment with an expected start date of July 1, 2026 or as negotiated. A PhD degree in chemistry is required and Post-doctoral experience is strongly preferred. 

In accordance with the University’s Equity Plan and pursuant to section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, the selection will be limited to women and gender diverse peoples. Therefore, all candidates must self-identify as belonging to one of the designated groups in their cover letter to be considered for this position. 

The salary for this position is in a competitive range of $115,000-$125,000. The candidate's qualifications, experience and overall market demand will determine the final salary. The University of Victoria is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leaves and pension plan. 

Priority date is July 15, 2025. Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

FiercePharma: "FDA misses another approval decision target date, this time for GSK's Nucala in COPD"

Via FiercePharma, this news: 

In the wake of mass restructuring efforts across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FDA has missed yet another approval decision target date.

GSK had expected to secure an FDA nod for its IL-5 antibody Nucala in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on Wednesday, but the May 7 deadline has come and gone without a decision from the U.S. regulator.

“Based on our latest discussions with the FDA, we continue to expect approval,” a GSK spokesperson said in an email.

“The FDA is actively reviewing our submission for Nucala in COPD and we are working closely with them to help bring this important treatment option to patients as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said, caveating that the company does “not comment on ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities.”

Between the president's new executive order and this news, it very much feels like the Executive Branch is threatening pharma revenue streams directly. I can't imagine this will do anything good for hiring, especially in terms of entry-level R&D positions.  

Have a good weekend

Well, this week is just crazier and crazier but I think I am almost on top of things. I hope that you had a calmer week than I, and that you have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and we'll see you on Monday. 

TIL Iran sells methanol to China

Via Bloomberg, this story: 

...Iranian methanol exports to China — which have so far flown under Washington’s radar — may be subject to scrutiny after the US threatened to impose secondary sanctions on buyers of the country’s oil.

About 40% of China’s methanol imports, around 5.2 million tons, came from Iran last year, Kpler data show. The chemical compound made from natural gas is used as a feedstock to create olefins, which are in turn used to make plastics. Methanol-to-olefin, or MTO, plants are the biggest buyers of cargoes originating in Iran, according to price-reporting and analytics firm ICIS.

“Iranian methanol is almost the only efficient way” for MTO units to get enough supply, said Ann Sun, a senior analyst at ICIS. Around 60% of standalone Chinese MTO plants are located on the coast, and it’s those facilities that rely on imported methanol, she said.

The MTO process was developed and commercialized in China, with the world’s first such plant built in Baotou in Inner Mongolia in 2010, according to a research paper published by the American Chemical Society. Methanol has become an important alternative to traditional feedstocks used to produce plastics including naphtha...

The global supply chain is fascinating and flows in so many directions... 

Job posting: Scientist, Encapsys, Appleton, WI

Via Bluesky, this position: 

POSITION TITLE

Scientist, Encapsys

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• New capsule product solutions developed using Six Sigma and other scientific tools. 
• Leadership and management of product development, validation, and scale-up. 
• Safe processes for the handling of raw materials/finished products and production of product solutions. 
• Support of invention disclosures or patent applications. 

QUALIFICATIONS – REQUIRED 

• BS in Chemistry, Engineering, or related scientific field. 
• 5+ years of industry experience in product development/process engineering. 
• Extensive experience in and demonstrates advanced knowledge in an area of science or product technology.   
• Ability to facilitate and drive resolution of complex problems. 
• Ability and proven track record to develop products and technologies. 

QUALIFICATIONS – PREFERRED 

• MS or PhD in Chemistry or related field. 

Best wishes to those interested. 

MilliporeSigma instituting tariff charge in the US

Seen via email (emphasis mine): 

Tariff Impact and Approach

Dear Valued Customer,

MilliporeSigma's top priority is to ensure that patients, researchers, and customers worldwide continue to benefit from our innovations without disruption.

Starting in early April, we have witnessed new tariff schemes across the world. As a global company operating in many regions, we are making every effort to minimize the effect of these changes for our customers. However, like many businesses, the new tariffs are impacting our operations.

To maintain our operational integrity and continue delivering the service and quality our customers rely on, we have made the decision to implement a tariff surcharge. This temporary surcharge is in lieu of a tariff cost passthrough and protects our customers from experiencing the full impact of the broad tariff rates, some of which are very high. By leveraging a surcharge, we retain flexibility to adjust or remove the surcharge if the situation changes in the coming weeks or months.

Effective May 5, the surcharge will be applied to product orders shipped to locations in the United States which reflects the tariffs' broader impacts on our overall global supply chain processes, including production and procurement costs in addition to any direct costs on products. This charge will appear as a separate line item on quotes and invoices.

We understand that surcharges can be challenging, and we appreciate your understanding and continued support. In the meantime, we are working across our teams to reduce further impacts by strengthening our global presence, balancing investments across regions, and ensuring the resilience of our supply chain.

Sincerely,

Jean Charles Wirth

Head of Science and Lab Solutions

Well, that's not good for anyone. 

Have a good weekend

Well, this has been a wild week and it's not over for me. I hope that you have persisted through this week and I will try to as well. I hope the weather is great for your weekend. See you on Monday. 

SCMP: "Former Harvard professor convicted over China ties joins Tsinghua University"

Via the South China Morning Post:

Retired Harvard University chemist and nanoscientist Charles Lieber, who was convicted in 2021 for not disclosing his connections to a Chinese talent programme, has joined Tsinghua University as a chair professor.

Lieber, 66, a pioneer in the integration of nanotechnology for use in biology and medicine, will be researching at the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, launched by the top Chinese university in 2019.

Lieber said his goal in the next few years was to “work with everyone to build a global science and technology hub and realise more scientific dreams in the vibrant and innovative city of Shenzhen”, according to a social media post by the graduate school on Thursday.

“He is ready to start a new research journey in Shenzhen and cannot wait to get to work as soon as possible,” the post said.

Lieber told the South China Morning Post last year that he was exploring work opportunities in mainland China and Hong Kong. He said at the time that he aimed to find an institution where he could best conduct research to benefit all, and where he would best be able to aid other researchers in their work.

Can't say I'm particularly surprised, but I don't think I would have predicted this after the end of his trial. I really wonder what plea deals were on the table and if he ever wishes he had made different decisions... 

Job posting: Research Chemist, BlueHalo, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States

 Via ACS Chemistry Careers: 

The Research Scientist will join collaborative multidisciplinary team at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, Ohio. The position focuses on basic and applied research projects involving synthesis of novel organic/inorganic small molecules, oligomers, and polymers.  Primary research responsibilities will be to develop synthetic strategies and routes to produce organometallic and inorganic-based polymers.  We are particularly interested in a highly motivated, adaptable, and capable individual with a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field. 

Requirements

• This position is working within a government facility and requires U.S. Citizenship
• Ph.D. (or to be completed in next 6 mos.) in Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering or a related field
• Experience with glove boxes, Schlenk line and air-free synthetic techniques for the preparation of inorganic, organometallic, or organic molecules and polymers
• Ability to learn and develop new approaches and techniques
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• This position will require a self-motivated individual with good interpersonal skills and careful attention to details
• Adaptable to varying program objectives 

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in polymer or hybrid material synthesis, as evidenced by research publications in peer-reviewed journals and professional society conference presentations.
• Prior experience in the synthesis of oxygen free boron molecules

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.