Breaking: sailors and Marines drink lots of beer

Looks tasty!
Credit: guidetoiceland

Via military site "Task and Purpose", this funny story about American service members in Iceland: 

Several bars in downtown Reykjavík ran out of beer while serving thirsty US sailors and marines who were in port over the weekend participating in the NATO military exercises Trident Juncture. The restaurant Sæta Svínið, The American Bar and other downtown bars reportedly finished all their beer supplies serving the 6-7,000 sailors who were in town. 

The local news site Vísir reports that the brewery Ölgerð Egils Skallagrímssonar, which makes the popular Gull, had to send out emergency supplies to the bars. According to the sources of Vísir the soldiers preferred local beers over imports, and were very willing to sample different micro brews as well as the more popular standard lagers. 

The local blogger Eiríkur Jónsson spoke to restaurateurs who said they had never experienced a similar situation. Bar owners who ran out of beer tried to solve the issue by borrowing from bars which were better stocked, while members of the delivery team from Ölgerðin were called out to help the bar owners cope, but "they were fighting an overwhelming force," as Eiríkur puts it. 

One of the owners of Sæta Svínið told Vísir that the first soldiers came in on Wednesday, the same night as the first ships came to port, and that they stayed until Sunday when the ships left port. With most of the ships and sailors out of port downtown bar owners have managed to restock after the weekend's assault.

You always hear these stories about chemists (or insert some other group of scholars here) that hit (that one place in America) and drank all the (insert institutions here) out of (insert alcohol type here.) As you can tell, I'm pretty skeptical of most of these stories, but here's an example where it appears to have actually happened. Well done, Navy, well done, Marines - way to represent the home of the brave and the land of the free. 

Well, that's scary

Also in this week's C&EN, a pretty awesome Newscripts by Bethany Halford: 

...LaQuetta Purkiss, who manages prep for Texas Tech University’s general chemistry labs, tells Newscripts she’s seen three ghosts in the school’s chemistry building. One is a young woman dressed in clothing from the 1950s who walks along one hallway. Another is a chemistry professor who will speak or nod at Purkiss. 

The basement is home to a third specter, who bears the likeness of a former graduate student. Purkiss recalls first seeing him when she was working on a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiment. “He went into the connecting room, and I ran after him because no one was to go into that room without permission. I found myself standing in the dark and getting a really creepy feeling when I realized that he had walked through the door itself.” 

Purkiss isn’t the only one to have a spirited encounter at the NMR spectrometer. Andrew R. Davis, a chemist at the Library of Congress, tells Newscripts he got an eerie error message when he was a graduate student performing an NMR experiment at 1 AM. The message read, “error code=I don’t sleep,” which Davis perceived as an “ominous warning from the troubled spirits forever trapped in the machine.”

I'm not really one for believing in ghosts, but there is that weird feeling of being in a scientific building in the middle of the night, but hearing a noise or a voice you don't expect... 

This week's C&EN

A few articles from this week's issue of Chemical and Engineering News:

• Cover: "The long road to relief from endometriosis" (by Tien Nguyen)
• This cryo-EM technique for small molecules is really amazing (by Bethany Halford)
• Write-up of the Chemical Safety Board's annual meeting (by Jeff Johnson)
• "Improving graduate education: Career paths and competencies" (by Jennifer B. Nielson, Chair, ACS Society Committee on Education)
• It's remarkable to me how the 2012 Shakhashiri report hasn't really gone anywhere - I should really revisit it, and see what has taken place (not much, I bet.) 

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 436 positions

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 436 positions.

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

On October 31, 2017, the 2018 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 399 positions. The latest weather report for the Faculty Jobs List is here.

Interested in how this is tracking overall? Check out these sweet graphics done by Andrew Spaeth.

Want to see pre-September discussion? Check out the pre-September open thread. Current discussion is on the September open thread. This thread will likely close at 300 comments or November 1. 

Otherwise, all discussions are on the Chemistry Faculty Jobs List webforum.

Faculty positions: University of Denver, Denver, CO

From the inbox, two positions at the University of Denver: 

Biochemistry: The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry seeks outstanding applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning September 1, 2019 with research interests that encompass the molecular basis for aging and age-related diseases. For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 26, 2018.

Organic: The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Denver invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in organic chemistry beginning September 2019. For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 1, 2018.

Best wishes to those interested.  

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 46 positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List has 46 positions. It is curated by Lilian Josephson (@lljosephson). 

The Academic Staff Jobs List: 23 positions

The Academic Staff Jobs list has 23 positions.

This list is curated by Sarah Cady. It targets:

• Full-time STAFF positions in a Chem/Biochem/ChemE lab/facility at an academic institution/natl lab
• Lab Coordinator positions for research groups or undergraduate labs 
• and for an institution in Canada or the United States

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

Want to chat about staff scientist positions? Try the open thread.

Queen's University grad student poisoned labmate

From the inbox, via the National Post's Nick Faris: 

...Zijie Wang, a 26-year-old graduate student who worked elsewhere in the lab, admitted in a Kingston, Ont., courtroom on Thursday that he had poisoned the researcher in an attempt to harm him, the Kingston Whig-Standard reported. Wang was arrested that last Monday in January after the camera spotted him wearing gloves and wielding a pipette around the unnamed victim’s desk, court heard, the closing act in an apparent campaign to trick the man into ingesting a toxic chemical. 

Wang pleaded guilty on Thursday to administering a noxious thing — namely, the chemical N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which scientists use to generate cancer in rats for research purposes — to endanger life or cause bodily harm, as well as to a charge of aggravated assault. He’ll be sentenced Nov. 2, a clerk at the Kingston Ontario Court of Justice said...

Other articles here and here. Terribly disturbing - best wishes to the victim.  

View From Your Hood: Silent Service edition

Credit: Scott Bagley

From Scott Bagley: "View from my med chem lab window in Groton CT across the Thames river of a submarine returning to US Naval Submarine Base New London - relatively common sight from the labs here but never gets old.  Thank you for your service!"

(Got a View from Your Hood submission? Send it in (with a caption and preference for name/anonymity, please) at chemjobber@gmail.com; will run every other Friday.)

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs List: 227 positions

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs list (curated by Joel Walker and myself) has 227 positions.

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions, but if you want to do the traditional "leave a link in the comments", that works, too.

Want to chat about medchem positions? Try the open thread.

Positions I'm not including: positions outside the United States, computational positions (this will likely change), academic positions (likely never.)

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List: 10 positions

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List has 10 positions; this is curated by the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. Want to help out? Fill out this form. 

17 new positions at Organic Chemistry Jobs

Over at Common Organic Chemistry, there's 17 new positions posted for October 24.

The Process Chemistry Jobs List: 236 positions

The Process Chemistry Jobs List has 236 positions.

Want to help? Here's a form to fill out.

Want to chat process jobs? Try the open thread. 

Does your week's schedule remind you of this?

I regret I laughed at all of these.

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 420 positions

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 420 positions.

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

On October 22, 2017, the 2018 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 373 positions. The latest weather report for the Faculty Jobs List is here.

Interested in how this is tracking overall? Check out these sweet graphics done by Andrew Spaeth.

Want to see pre-September discussion? Check out the pre-September open thread. Current discussion is on the September open thread. This thread will likely close at 300 comments or November 1. 

Otherwise, all discussions are on the Chemistry Faculty Jobs List webforum.

Job posting: Tenure-Track or Tenure-eligible Investigator (Chemical Biology), NCI, Frederick, MD

From the inbox, this position: 

The Chemical Biology Laboratory (CBL), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is accepting applications for both Tenure Track and Tenure-eligible Investigators in Chemical Biology. Ideal candidates will establish independent, dynamic, collaborative programs that develop and apply chemical methods, tools and materials to define and manipulate the biological processes that impact cancer. Tenure track candidates are expected to establish an internationally recognized program. Tenure-eligible candidates will have already established an internationally recognized program. 

Candidates must possess a Ph.D. in Chemistry or related Physical Science. The position is located at the NCI campus in Frederick, MD. This location offers state of the art Chemical Biology laboratories, as well as core facilities including mass spectrometry; NMR spectroscopy; protein expression and proteomics; electron, optical and small animal imaging and other advanced technologies. The position provides salary and full funding for a research program, including postdoctoral fellows, technician, office/laboratory space, research equipment, staff support, and an annual supply budget. 

Consideration of applicants will begin October 31, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled. Salary is competitive and is commensurate with experience and full benefits (including retirement, health insurance, life insurance, and a Thrift Savings Plan). This position is not restricted to U.S. citizens.  Applicants can apply at: https://irp-positions.nih.gov/job/CBL  Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of research plans (~ 5 pages), and a description of mentoring and outreach activities in which you have been involved, especially those involving women and persons from racial/ethnic or other groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research.  Three letters of recommendation should accompany tenure track applications. Letters will be collected later for tenure-eligible faculty.

 Link here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 46 positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List has 44 positions. It is curated by Lilian Josephson (@lljosephson). 

The Academic Staff Jobs List: 22 positions

The Academic Staff Jobs list has 22 positions.

This list is curated by Sarah Cady. It targets:

• Full-time STAFF positions in a Chem/Biochem/ChemE lab/facility at an academic institution/natl lab
• Lab Coordinator positions for research groups or undergraduate labs 
• and for an institution in Canada or the United States

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

Want to chat about staff scientist positions? Try the open thread.

An unusual ad

What an iconic poster, I still love it.
Credit: IMDB

From my searching, this interesting product manager position for Transcriptic (emphasis mine): 

We’re looking for a talented, ambitious Product Manager to join our team at Transcriptic. We are a highly technology focused company changing drug discovery using robotics, computation, and large datasets. 

As a product manager at Transcriptic you will have a significant role in defining the vision for the future of drug discovery and the life sciences. You will collaborate closely with our users and our collaborators to understand product requirements based on analytics, interviews, and research. You will then work with our internal team of automation engineers, software engineers, chemists and designers to design and develop products which meet these requirements. 

 That's impressive. I thought this was cute:

Nice to have 

Experience in visual design
Exposure to lab automation
Deep knowledge of Back to the Future trilogy

 That's heavy.

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs List: 237 positions

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs list (curated by Joel Walker and myself) has 237 positions.

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions, but if you want to do the traditional "leave a link in the comments", that works, too.

Want to chat about medchem positions? Try the open thread.

Positions I'm not including: positions outside the United States, computational positions (this will likely change), academic positions (likely never.)

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List: 10 positions

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List has 10 positions; this is curated by the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. Want to help out? Fill out this form. 

30 new positions at Organic Chemistry Jobs

Over at Common Organic Chemistry, there's 9 new positions posted for October 16 and 21 positions posted for October 13.

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List: 32 positions

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List has 32 positions. This list is curated by Joel Walker. 

The Process Chemistry Jobs List: 235 positions

The Process Chemistry Jobs List has 235 positions.

Want to help? Here's a form to fill out.

Want to chat process jobs? Try the open thread. 

Warning Letter of the Week: results before observation edition

From a note from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research to the President of Hanlim Pharm Co., Ltd. in Seocho-Dong, South Korea, this amusing comment:

3. Your firm failed to ensure that laboratory records included complete data derived from all tests necessary to assure compliance with established specifications and standards (21 CFR 211.194(a)). 

Our investigator observed a quality control analyst and laboratory team leader signing and backdating a test record. In the microbiology laboratory, we also observed an analyst recording microbiological test results from environmental monitoring settling plates before reading the plates, as well as recording results for a previous day. Upon questioning by our investigator, the analyst stated the plate count data had been mistakenly omitted. CGMP activities must be documented at the time of performance. 

If you know the result beforehand, what's the harm? (for the record, that's a joke) 

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 401 positions

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 401 positions.

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

On October 17, 2017, the 2018 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 354 positions. The latest weather report for the Faculty Jobs List is here.

Interested in how this is tracking overall? Check out these sweet graphics done by Andrew Spaeth.

Want to see pre-September discussion? Check out the pre-September open thread. Current discussion is on the September open thread. 

Otherwise, all discussions are on the Chemistry Faculty Jobs List webforum.

Postdoctoral position: Sletten Group, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

From the inbox:

Postdoctoral Associate Position in Chemical Biology
Sletten Group, University of California, Los Angeles 

Project Description: We have a position available to work at the interface of chemistry and biology to develop new tools to probe biomolecules, with ultimate implications in the detection and treatment of disease. Specific project details will be tailored to the skillsets and interests of the postdoctoral associate. 

Qualifications: This position is for a postdoctoral associate and applicants must have a PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biomedical Engineering or other similar degree by the agreed upon start date of the position. A track record of critical thinking and solving complex problems with a high degree of scientific rigor is the most important qualification. Preference will be give to candidates with a strong synthetic chemistry background as most projects within the group begin with organic synthesis. However, expertise in macromolecules, organic nanomaterials, microscopy and animal imaging are relevant to the group and applications in these areas are also encouraged. 

How to Apply: To apply, please send a cover letter, cv, and research summary to Prof. Sletten (Sletten@chem.ucla.edu). The position will remain open until filled. It is available immediately but start dates are open for discussion with Prof. Sletten.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Faculty position: assistant professor, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University, St. Joseph, MN

From the inbox:

The Chemistry Department at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University invites applications for a tenure track position to begin in August 2019.  The successful candidate will join a cohort in teaching principles of reactivity across inorganic, organic and biological chemistry as part of our innovative curriculum (https://www.csbsju.edu/chemistry/our-curriculum). Applicants must have a PhD in chemistry and should be able to contribute to in-depth teaching in the area of chemical biology or biochemistry.  Postdoctoral experience is preferred.  

The successful candidate will be supported through departmental mentoring and training to develop inclusive and interactive pedagogy as well as an externally funded research program for undergraduates.  Strong candidates will therefore demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduates, an ability to reach diverse learners in small class and laboratory settings, strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to provide constructive feedback and a desire to work as a team across multi-section courses and labs.

The chemistry faculty form a diverse and collaborative 12-member department with an active research program featuring modern facilities, robust instrumentation, and cross-disciplinary interests.  Approximately 40 chemistry and biochemistry majors graduate each year.

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB), a liberal arts college for women, and Saint John's University (SJU), a liberal arts college for men, are located in the central lakes area of Minnesota, surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of pristine forests, prairies, and lakes. The campuses are minutes away from St. Cloud, an increasingly diverse regional center with a population of over 100,000, and 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul.  Some CSB/SJU faculty and staff choose to reside locally, while others commute from the Twin Cities.  Both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities offer a wide range of fine arts, cultural, dining, recreational, and sporting opportunities....

Evaluation of applicants will begin November 8, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled. Full ad here. (PDF here.) Best wishes to those interested.

Postdoctoral position: postdoc, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

From the inbox:

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Chemical Informatics/Data Science 

The Department of Chemistry at UNF invites applications for one postdoctoral research associate (position # 510200) to work under Dr. Stuart Chalk on NSF Grant 1835643 (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1835643), to begin employment on January 1, 2019. A Ph.D. in Chemistry or related discipline, a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, and a background in data science are required. Candidates must be interested in undergraduate teaching and research in their discipline area and in data science. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2018. For more information please see http://bit.ly/2xgy3ui. 

The university particularly encourages applications from women and minorities. UNF is an Equal Opportunity/ Equal Access, and Affirmative Action institution.

Best wishes to those interested.  

Postdoctoral position: Axelrod Lab, synthesis, West Lafayette, IN

From the inbox: 

Post-doctoral Position Available for Small-Molecule Synthesis or Oligosaccharide Synthesis in Translationally Directed Chemistry Research 

The research group of Dr. Abram Axelrod in the department of Chemistry and the department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue University is seeking a post-doctoral researcher skilled in either small-molecule synthesis or carbohydrate chemistry. We are a synthetic organic chemistry group focused on translational immuno-oncology research, pursuing the synthesis of both immunomodulatory and anti-cancer compounds which will allow us to interrogate their biology and advance their potential as pharmacological tools and therapeutics. 

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in organic chemistry with experience in either total synthesis or oligosaccharide work (preferably both), and a proven track record of accomplishments in the laboratory demonstrated through publications. Required experience includes strong capabilities in multi-step synthesis, analytical techniques and characterization, good organizational, communication, and record- keeping habits. Experience in enzymatic transformations is a plus. In addition to research, other responsibilities will include mentoring students and junior lab members, and assisting manuscript preparation. The candidate will have access to world-class instrumentation and new facilities supporting their research, and be part of a dynamic atmosphere in a close-knit team of researchers. The position offers competitive salary and benefits. The successful applicant will be assessed on their productivity on an annual basis with the option of a yearly renewal if agreed upon by both parties. 

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and CV with research summary to aaxelro@purdue.edu, and arrange for 3 letters of reference from individuals familiar with the candidate’s experience, accomplishments, and potential. The position is open immediately, but the start date is flexible.

Full ad is here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 44 positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List has 44 positions. It is curated by Lilian Josephson (@lljosephson). 

The Academic Staff Jobs List: 20 positions

The Academic Staff Jobs list has 20 positions.

This list is curated by Sarah Cady. It targets:

• Full-time STAFF positions in a Chem/Biochem/ChemE lab/facility at an academic institution/natl lab
• Lab Coordinator positions for research groups or undergraduate labs 
• and for an institution in Canada or the United States

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

Want to chat about staff scientist positions? Try the open thread.

View From Your Hood (?): early evening Madrid edition

Congreso de los Diputados (the Congress of the Deputies), the lower house of the Spanish national legislature.

(got a View from Your Hood submission? Send it in (with a caption and preference for name/anonymity, please) at chemjobber@gmail.com; will run every other Friday.)

STEM shortage in St. Louis

From my weekly dose of pain (a Google Alert for "STEM shortage), this tidbit from a tech entrepreneur in St. Louis: 

Citing a tremendous demand for programmers, McKelvey said that many people don’t realize that every company these days is a technology company. 

“We definitely have a STEM shortage in the United States and frankly worldwide, but it is profound in the United States,” he said. “We’re trying to hire engineers now at Square in St. Louis and we see the job market, although it’s not as bad as I think it was seven years ago when Jack and I decided not to have a technical office here in St. Louis.” 

While LaunchCode is part of the solution as well as developments in the Cortex Innovation District, the tech shortage remains acute in the area. 

“There is a huge tech shortage,” McKelvey said. “It is so huge that literally it is constraining the growth of every corporation in St. Louis.”

Literally! Constraining! The Growth! (allow me to be a tiny bit skeptical of this)  

For FIT anon

You can't assert "this will be a tenure track position" without some kind of documented proof. Send me a link to the new policy or a screenshot of an internal e-mail and I'll believe you (chemjobber@gmail.com) The ad itself does not say the word "tenure", therefore, I require this additional proof. 

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs List: 223 positions

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs list (curated by Joel Walker and myself) has 223 positions.

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions, but if you want to do the traditional "leave a link in the comments", that works, too.

Want to chat about medchem positions? Try the open thread.

Positions I'm not including: positions outside the United States, computational positions (this will likely change), academic positions (likely never.)

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List: 7 positions

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List has 7 positions; this is curated by the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. Want to help out? Fill out this form. 

11 new positions at Organic Chemistry Jobs

Over at Common Organic Chemistry, there's 11 new positions posted for October 7.

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List: 32 positions

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List has 32 positions. This list is curated by Joel Walker. 

The Process Chemistry Jobs List: 231 positions

The Process Chemistry Jobs List has 231 positions.

Want to help? Here's a form to fill out.

Want to chat process jobs? Try the open thread. 

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 377 positions

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 377 positions.

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

On October 10, 2017, the 2018 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 331 positions.

Interested in how this is tracking overall? Check out these sweet graphics done by Andrew Spaeth.

Want to see pre-September discussion? Check out the pre-September open thread. Current discussion is on the September open thread. 

Otherwise, all discussions are on the Chemistry Faculty Jobs List webforum.

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 43 positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List has 43 positions. It is curated by Lilian Josephson (@lljosephson). 

Faculty positions: physical and multidisciplinary, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

From the inbox, two faculty positions at Oregon State University:

Multidisciplinary: We invite applications for one full-time (1.0 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track position to develop a multidisciplinary research and education program that addresses challenging problems in energy, health, or the environment. Preferred candidates will have a research focus in analytical, inorganic/materials, and/or organic chemistry. To review and apply to posting, go to: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/65608 

Physical: We invite applications for one full-time (1.0 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track position to develop a strong research program in physical chemistry. Some areas of interest include the use of existing or new experimental methods to study biomolecules or materials (surfaces, interfaces, and/or solids), or advancing new theoretical frames of analysis and modeling. To review and apply to posting, go to: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/65609

Both positions have a November 15 priority date. Best wishes to those interested. 

Faculty position: physical chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

From the inbox:

Assistant or Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte 

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte seeks applications and nominations for a tenure-track or tenured position in experimental Physical Chemistry, broadly defined, at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The successful applicant is expected to engage in the academic community of the Department of Chemistry and the interdisciplinary Nanoscale Science Ph.D. program. For appointment at the Assistant Professor level, candidates are expected to be prepared to establish a vigorous, externally funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students; and to teach undergraduate physical chemistry courses, and relevant courses at the graduate level.  

For appointment at the Associate Professor level, candidates are expected to have already established a productive, externally-funded research program; and be prepared to teach undergraduate physical chemistry courses, and relevant courses at the graduate level. We especially welcome applications from candidates who will collaborate in research and educational initiatives with colleagues in the Chemistry Department and other units on campus, and who will incorporate diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their work as a faculty member.

Full ad here. Priority date is November 1, 2018. Best wishes to those interested. 

Postdoctoral position: Martin Lab, Baylor University, Waco, TX

From the inbox:

A Post-Doctoral position in the Martin Lab at Baylor University is available in the area of synthetic organometallic chemistry. 

We are seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral researcher to join our research group.
The research will be focused on exploring the chemistry of new boron complexes. The project is synthetically demanding and requires expertise in air/moisture sensitive manipulations in addition to the spectroscopic and analytical techniques associated with characterizing new compounds. The duties will also include assisting in the mentoring of students (undergraduate and graduate) and composition of manuscripts. Please see http://sites.baylor.edu/caleb_d_martin for more information about the group. 

Interested applicants should contact Caleb Martin as soon as possible by e-mail (caleb_d_martin@baylor.edu). Please include a CV and contact information of at least two references. The appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal. The start date is flexible, however, funds are available immediately. The review of applications will commence as they are received until the position is filled. Compensation will include a salary of $47,476 USD and benefits.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The Academic Staff Jobs List: 24 positions

The Academic Staff Jobs list has 24 positions.

This list is curated by Sarah Cady. It targets:

• Full-time STAFF positions in a Chem/Biochem/ChemE lab/facility at an academic institution/natl lab
• Lab Coordinator positions for research groups or undergraduate labs 
• and for an institution in Canada or the United States

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

Want to chat about staff scientist positions? Try the open thread.

Chemistry experiments injure two kids in New York City

Via WABC:

MORRISANIA, Bronx (WABC) -- Two students were injured during a science experiment at their school in the Bronx Friday. 

Authorities say the students were burned in the chemistry lab just after 1:30 p.m. at the Bronx International High School in the Morrisania section. 

According to officials, vapors from a bottle of uncorked alcohol flashed over, sending the students to the hospital with third-degree burns. 

The 17-year-old and 15-year-old victims, both girls, suffered burns to their faces, arms and hands. 

They were creating what is called a carbon sugar snake, when flames are applied to sugar and baking soda soaked in some type of flammable liquid. The reaction causes a solid material that resembles a snake to rise out of the mixture. 

Fire officials say the problem occurred when the fumes from solvent that was used -- alcohol -- ignited. 

"The alcohol that was in the bottle, somehow the vapors, I think they left the cap off, the vapors escaped from the bottle and it migrated across the table," a FDNY official said. "And when it did, it made contact with the fire that was already burning, and it flashed across and got the two students." The girls are said to be in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

 It'd be interesting to know what the size of the bottle was. 

A succinct reminder of relevant Harran/Sangji facts

The comments in Jyllian Kemsley's article about the conclusion of the legal proceedings around Professor Harran's deferred prosecution are the usual mix of informed speculation and (very) uninformed opinion. I agree with much of this comment from safety consultant Neal Langerman (scroll to the bottom): 

I am appalled by the opinions based on ignoring well-published facts. Jyllian Kemsley has done outstanding factual reporting of this entire story. Please go to the SAFETY ZONE and read the entire background before you develop and vocalize an opinion.

1. Sheri was an employee, NOT A STUDENT. Thus, Cal/OSHA had jurisdiction.
2. Sheri was hired to assist the lab in purchasing and installing Agilent instrumentation, with which she had extensive experience as an undergrad.
3. While she had little experience with organic synthesis, she asked for and was given by Prof. Harran a synthetic project to work on in addition to her instrumentation work.
4. She received no documented training of any type on handling tBuLi. Professor Harran did watch her handle an air-sensitive catalyst successfully, before turning her loose on the tBuLi project.
5. Professor Harran was in the building the day of the fire and had instructed her to perform a 3-fold scale-up of the reaction she had done in October. He was in his office at the time of the fire.

K. P. Jamison (September 26, 2018 2:37 PM) asked if any "modelling" was done regarding outcomes if other PPE had been worn. Yes, though until today it has never been discussed. During the investigation, with the actual medical records in hand, we considered how events might have played out if she had been wearing an FR lab coat as well as all cotton clothing and various other options. While skin burns likely would have been reduced, the pulmonary injuries likely would have been the same. We never definitively decided if an FR lab coat would have changed the ultimate outcome. 

Bottom line: The PI is the "Captain of the Ship" and is ultimately responsible for all events on the ship. As a long-retired PI, I say to anyone in that position, you are responsible for your people. Protect them as if they were your children and family.

I think my only potential quibble is to the extent to which it is true that American PIs are treated as "the captains of their ship" and "ultimately responsible" for the outcomes in their laboratories. As a ideal, I think it's a good one.

The extent to which, for example, the US Navy holds its ship captains responsible for events under their command and how "loss of confidence" means a constant stream (one a week? one a month?) of fired Navy ship captains - that's certainly not the case for US science academia. Rather than court-martial by UCLA prosecuting authorities, Professor Harran was defended to the utmost against the Los Angeles District Attorney by his institution, including the Regents of the University of California taking on much of the legal responsibility for what happened in the Harran laboratory. Quite a difference, there. 

Passports

A list of small, useful things (links):

• The latest from Stellen für Chemiker
• The latest from All Things Metathesis
• Th'Gaussling on RPN calculators
• this is the calculator style I grew up with
• Th'Gaussling on teaching about reactive hazards
• Kat Day on the Tollens test
• Sam Lord with his Nobel predictions
• Job simulations at university career centers? (article by Katie Langin)
• Ash on the Nobel Prize
• Sustainable Nano on nucleation

An open invitation to all interested in writing a blog, a hobby that will bring you millions thousands hundreds tens of dollars joy and happiness. Send me a link to your post, and I'd be happy to put it up.

Have a good weekend!

How are things in Canada for pharma chemists?

Via Twitter, Professor Mark Lautens writes an interesting article in The Globe and Mail about STEM Ph.D.s and the Canadian life sciences industry. I found this section worthy of comment:

Let me give a specific and ultimately encouraging example of the resilience a PhD can offer. The global pharmaceutical industry was growing in Canada over a two-decade period and then hit a wall about 10 years ago. Many Canadian research sites, primarily based in Quebec, closed, in spite of considerable success in drug discovery. Dozens of highly trained chemists, pharmacologists and biologists were suddenly forced to leave the area, the country or the field. It was infuriating. 

Fortunately, ambitious entrepreneurs emerged and joined with the STEM PhDs to build contract research organizations (CRO), which partner with big and small biotech and pharma firms. They do the research and make the discoveries, while the firms take the risk. The talent stayed and built new businesses that are growing at phenomenal rates. Now, hundreds of PhD and MSc STEM researchers are working in profitable Canadian-owned businesses spread across the country. Out of the dust rose many made-in-Canada firms. Even better, these CROs bring money into our economy and export value-added products. 

These jobs are incredibly exciting and abundant. They range from trying to hunt down the latest disease treatment to finding a way to produce a potential drug on sufficient scale for clinical testing. These enormous challenges bring everyone from biologists to chemists to engineers together in collaboration.

Here's my comments and questions on Twitter, and here's Professor Lautens' response. Suffice it to say that I don't think there is a lot of statistical data to back up Professor Lautens' case, even as overall, I agree with him, things are doing better for Canadian pharma scientists. I don't think there is much more ground to be covered there, but I have two questions for the readers:

• What is your opinion on where both the Quebec life sciences industry has been, and, more broadly, where is Canadian pharma now? 
• What is the best statistical data that you have to back up your case? 

Readers, five shiny Canadian loonies to the answers I like the best. 

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs List: 222 positions

The Medicinal Chemist Jobs list (curated by Joel Walker and myself) has 222 positions.

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions, but if you want to do the traditional "leave a link in the comments", that works, too.

Want to chat about medchem positions? Try the open thread.

Positions I'm not including: positions outside the United States, computational positions (this will likely change), academic positions (likely never.)

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List: 7 positions

The Analytical Chemistry Jobs List has 7 positions; this is curated by the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. Want to help out? Fill out this form. 

19 new positions at Organic Chemistry Jobs

Over at Common Organic Chemistry, there's 19 new positions posted for October 1.

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List: 32 positions

The Computational Drug Discovery Chemistry Jobs List has 32 positions. This list is curated by Joel Walker. 

The Process Chemistry Jobs List: 226 positions

The Process Chemistry Jobs List has 226 positions.

Want to help? Here's a form to fill out.

Want to chat process jobs? Try the open thread. 

The mass spec wars continue...

Also in this week's Chemical and Engineering News, this letter:

Spectrometry versus spectroscopy redux 

In his letter to the editor (C&EN, Aug. 27, page 3), O. David Sparkman complains that the table of contents headline for the C&EN cover story of May 28 uses the term mass “spectroscopy,” insisting that there “is no such thing.” The International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry, an acknowledged expert source for nomenclature and terminology, refers to its published recommendation “Recommendations for Nomenclature and Symbolism for Mass Spectroscopy,” and the very first paragraph commences with the definition “Mass Spectroscopy is the study of systems by causing the formation of gaseous ions, with or without fragmentation, which are then characterized by their mass-to-charge ratios and relative abundances” (Pure Appl. Chem. 1991, DOI: 10.1351/pac199163101541). Sparkman argues that scientific peer review would have caught the alleged error, but it would also have caught his misinformation about the term and left it intact. There are many other spectroscopies as well that are not confined to the electromagnetic spectrum. 

Paul J. Karol
Palo Alto, Calif.

"Misinformation"! What's next, pistols at dawn at the next Pittcon?  

This week's C&EN

A few of the articles from this week's issue of Chemical and Engineering News:

• Cover: "The tale of 2 asteroid sample-return missions" (article by Cici Zhang)
• "Hunting for the next high-temperature superconductor" (article by Sam Lemonick)
• The safe manufacture of liquid nitrogen ice cream, featuring friend of the blog Professor Matt Hartings (by Kerri Jansen)
• Gallium nitrate as an antibiotic? (article by Megha Satyanarayana)
• Fun UV light-detecting bracelet (article by Erika Gebel Berg)
• Novartis cutting 2000 jobs worldwide (article by Ryan Cross)
• Interesting thoughts on overcoming overqualification
• There's an ACS Committee on Ethics? Find out what the chair (Judith N. Currano) has to say.

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 349 positions

The 2019 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 349 positions.

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

On October 5, 2017, the 2018 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 321 positions.

Interested in how this is tracking overall? Check out these sweet graphics done by Andrew Spaeth.

Want to see pre-September discussion? Check out the pre-September open thread. Current discussion is on the September open thread. 

Otherwise, all discussions are on the Chemistry Faculty Jobs List webforum.

Faculty positions: University of Massachusetts Amherst, materials chemistry, Amherst, MA

From the inbox, positions at UMass-Amherst:

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Positions
Department of Chemistry
University of Massachusetts Amherst 

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is embarking on a strategic hiring program enabled by a $102M investment in the new Physical Sciences Building and a $45M investment in the University’s core facilities. We are seeking talented applicants for two tenure-track faculty at the Assistant Professor level to begin September 2019 or thereafter. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration. We seek applicants who will develop or continue vigorous research programs in the areas of synthetic materials chemistry and/or characterization of materials/interfaces. A Ph.D. degree or equivalent in Chemistry or a related field is required.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vita, statements of research and teaching, a statement of contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion (identifying past experiences and future goals), and the names and contact information of three references on-line at:
http://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/495634/tenure-track-assistant-professor-materials-chemistry 
Applicants are encouraged to visit the Department of Chemistry’s website (http://www.umass.edu/chemistry) for further information. All questions pertaining to these positions can be directed to the Search Committee Chairs at facultysearch@chem.umass.edu. Evaluation of applicants will begin on November 5, 2018 and may continue until a suitable candidate pool has been identified. 

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.  

Faculty position: assistant professor, inorganic chemistry, Nevada State College, Henderson, NV

From the inbox, a position at Nevada State College:

Primary Responsibilities 

Chemistry faculty teach a total of 24 credits/year, which is approximately three to four classes per semester. We seek a passionate colleague to help us continue developing a program that emphasizes technology and innovation, both as a part of academic studies and as an approach to instruction. Additionally, you will engage in scholarly activities and are urged to involve undergraduates in your research. Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Teach inorganic chemistry courses and organic chemistry courses with laboratories as well as other upper-division courses in your specialization (in-person instruction).
• Help maintain the chemistry minor and build an American Chemical Society (ACS)-certified chemistry degree program in collaboration with the current faculty.
• Serve on departmental and college-wide committees.
• Engage in scholarly activity within your discipline or in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Full ad here. (PDF version here.) Best wishes to those interested.

Job posting: University of Toronto Scarborough, assistant professor (teaching stream)

From the inbox, a position at the University of Toronto Scarborough:

The Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough invites applications for a teaching-stream faculty appointment in the field of Analytical Chemistry. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream and will begin on July 1, 2019. 

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Chemistry with expertise in Analytical Chemistry, completed by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter... 

...All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Nov. 19, 2018.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.  

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 35 positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List has 35 positions. It is curated by Lilian Josephson (@lljosephson). 

The Academic Staff Jobs List: 26 positions

The Academic Staff Jobs list has 26 positions.

This list is curated by Sarah Cady. It targets:

• Full-time STAFF positions in a Chem/Biochem/ChemE lab/facility at an academic institution/natl lab
• Lab Coordinator positions for research groups or undergraduate labs 
• and for an institution in Canada or the United States

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

Want to chat about staff scientist positions? Try the open thread.