Have a good weekend

This was an odd week, but I got through it. I hope that you are all right and you're getting done what needs to get done. Have a great weekend. See you on Tuesday. 

NYT: deep-sea organism uses sulfide to detoxify arsenic

NYT: The polychaete worm Paralvinella hessleri
Ocean.Credit...Wang H, et al., 2025, PLOS Biology"

Via the New York Times, this pretty cool bit of science: 

Arsenic is a toxic metal, and exposure to it has been linked with serious health issues like cancer and neurological disorders in humans.

However, high levels of arsenic don’t faze Paralvinella hessleri, a golden deep-sea polychaete worm with featherlike gills and a mouthful of tentacles. In some of these worms, which reside along hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean, arsenic accounts for 1 percent of their total body weight.

It’s not an organism that relies on arsenic to live. Instead scientists have uncovered how these worms survive deadly amounts of arsenic. In a paper published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Biology, researchers describe a novel process within the worms’ cells where accumulated arsenic combines with toxic sulfide from the surrounding water to create a less hazardous mineral.

Hao Wang, a biologist at the Institute of Oceanology in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an author of the new study, likens the strategy to “fighting poison with poison.”

Gotta say, this is pretty cool. 

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 99 research/teaching positions and 11 teaching positions

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 99 research/teaching positions and 11 teaching positions 

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

On August 27, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 161 research/teaching positions and 10 teaching positions. On August 29, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 177 research/teaching positions and 10 teaching positions. To see long-term trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here's a 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.

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 11 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Arvind Ganesan and Todd N. Whittaker) has 5 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread. 

C&EN on an ethylene price fixing scandal in Europe

Via C&EN, this fascinating story of companies colluding to lower the prices of their raw material (article by Alex Scott): 

In a typical price-fixing scheme, companies collude to raise the price of a product they sell. In Europe, four chemical companies apparently spent several years doing the opposite: colluding to lower the price of a product they buy.

The companies—Celanese, Clariant, Orbia, and Westlake—were found guilty in 2020 by the European Commission (EC) of fixing the purchasing price of ethylene in parts of Europe between 2011 and 2017. Now they are being sued by six ethylene producers for a total of more than $6 billion.

And things could get worse: even companies not selling ethylene directly to the four firms can claim a loss of earnings. Consequently, the already-huge sums being claimed could rise to a level that bankrupts some of the defendants, industry experts say.

The claims against the buyers, which deny that their behavior hurt the ethylene sellers, have mounted since the start of this year. In the latest development, on July 16 LyondellBasell Industries became the sixth producer to initiate legal action with a claim that the cartel’s behavior cost it $1.86 billion. The other claimants are BASF, Dow, OMV, Shell, and TotalEnergies.

I found this to be very amusing: 

Clariant has made clear that it has no intention of accepting the financial claims. The Swiss company maintained during its defense in the 2020 EC case that its participation in the buyers’ group involved only exchange of general views on European price developments and not specific terms or prices.

Read the whole thing. Good luck to Clariant, lol. 

Have a great weekend

I hope that you had a good week. I certainly got to see a lot of old friends, which I was very happy about. I hope that you got to see some friends this week, and that you'll see some friends this weekend. See you on Monday. 

ACS to give out graduate student bridge funding

Via Chemical and Engineering News, this ACS news: 

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Chemical Society announced that the ACS Board of Directors has approved $2.5 million to be granted to graduate students who have been impacted by the termination or cancellation of their adviser’s research grant(s). Wayne E. Jones Jr., chair of the ACS Board of Directors, revealed the details at the ACS Board Open Session on Sunday, Aug. 17, during the ACS Fall 2025 meeting.

“This program addresses the growing concern of the disruption of graduate education due to unexpected loss of research funding . . . helping ensure continuity and training and protecting the future of our US-based scientific workforce,” said Jones.

The initiative is being called the ACS Graduate Student Success Grant. The goal is to support MS and PhD students within 1 year of completion of their degree who have been impacted by the termination or cancellation of their adviser’s research grant(s). These students will be eligible for $25,000 for 1 year, and this will be per research institution. Submissions will open Sept. 15 and close Oct. 1. Additional information about the grant can be found at www.acs.org/gradsuccessgrant.

It is a good thing that the Society is doing this, but the real issue (in my opinion) is that we have no idea how many impacted graduate students there are. There are 100 awards to be given. Rough math indicates there are something like 3000 graduate students in chemistry per year (based on the Survey of Earned Doctorates.) We have no good idea of how many affected students there are - I sincerely hope and pray this is sufficient. 

Job posting: Cheminformatics Software Programmer (Internship / Entry-Level / Early Career), DeltaSoft,Hillsborough Township, NJ

Via ACS Chemistry Careers, this position: 

We are seeking an entry-level / Postdoc or early-career Cheminformatics Software Programmer to join our team and work directly on our flagship ChemCart platform. This is a hybrid position based in central New Jersey, offering the opportunity to learn and contribute to software that is transforming scientific R&D across pharma, biotech, and chemical industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize software tools for chemical structure representation and manipulation (e.g., Molfile, SMILES, InChI, connection tables).
• Work with cheminformatics libraries and toolkits to process chemical data.
• Integrate cheminformatics software with databases (Oracle, PostgreSQL, etc.) and cloud environments (AWS, Azure).

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (or working towards one) in Computer Science, Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Bioinformatics, or related field.
• Knowledge of chemical structure representation formats (Molfile, SMILES, InChI).
• Strong programming skills (Python, Java, or C++ preferred).

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 86 research/teaching positions and 9 teaching positions

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 86 research/teaching positions and 9 teaching positions. 

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

On August 20, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 131 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions. On August 22, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 141 research/teaching positions and 9 teaching positions. To see long-term trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here's a 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.

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 5 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Arvind Ganesan and Todd N. Whittaker) has 5 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread. 

C&EN: "Weak quarter forces more cuts in chemicals"

New at C&EN, this news (article by Alexander Tullo): 

Whether chemical companies had a successful second quarter depended on their place in the industry. If they were involved in petrochemicals, they were still trying to pull themselves out of an extended business trough, some by cutting back on spending. But companies in other sectors, like agriculture and electronics, performed much better.

LyondellBasell Industries exemplified the problems faced by petrochemical makers. It posted an 11.8% decline in sales and a 72.1% drop in earnings for the quarter versus the year-ago period. 

Nevertheless, CEO Peter Vanacker’s outlook is upbeat. He told analysts during an Aug. 1 conference call that demand for LyondellBasell’s key product, polyethylene, has been strong in North America. Naphtha feedstock prices have eased in Europe, improving profitability there, he said. And possible stimulus and capacity-cutting programs in China could trim oversupply in Asia.

I can't imagine it's a great environment to be a chemical manufacturer these days, and this news doesn't change my perception. 

Have a great weekend

Well, this was a weird week, with both its ups and its downs. I hope that you had a good week, and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. I'm going to be in DC next week for the ACS meeting, so if you feel like it, shoot me an email at chemjobber -at- gmail dot com. See you all on Monday. 

Repeated use of this NY Fed report really bothers me

 Among many offenders, this New York Times article about new college grad unemployment: 

Among college graduates ages 22 to 27, computer science and computer engineering majors are facing some of the highest unemployment rates, 6.1 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That is more than double the unemployment rate among recent biology and art history graduates, which is just 3 percent.

It's really disappointing to me that no one clicks through the website and scrolls down to see this fine print:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Notes: Figures are for 2023. Unemployment and underemployment rates are for recent college graduates (that is, those aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor's degree or higher), and median wages are for full-time workers with a bachelor's degree only. Early career graduates are those aged 22 to 27, and mid-career graduates are those aged 35 to 45. Graduate degree share is based on the adult working-age population (that is, those aged 25 to 65) with a bachelor's degree or higher. All figures exclude those currently enrolled in school. Data are updated annually at the beginning of each calendar year.

I think it's important to note that the numbers are from 2023, which means that the numbers are of somewhat less relevance (although probably still the best available numbers) compared to the spring grads of 2025. In addition, if you're a grad between ages of 22 and 27 in 2023, you have COVID (20-21) right in the middle there. In addition, for all of the people who are pointing out that history majors have better unemployment (4.6%) than computer science majors (6.1%), I'm going to point out that I'd take my chances to get a $80,000 median salary (CS) rather than a $45,000 one (history.) 

After watching the numbers for over 10 years, I think it is amazing that reporters and commentators still can't get this stuff down pat. A shame

(Let's also not forget that this is American Community Survey data, which is pretty darn good, but still, how many new history grads are in that pool of ~3 million Americans surveyed?) 

Endpoints News: "Trump executive order focuses on stockpiling raw materials for 'critical' drugs"

Via Endpoints News: 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday calling for health officials to build a six-month stockpile of active pharmaceutical ingredients for “critical” drugs in the US.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within HHS has 30 days to compile a list of the approximately 26 drugs, according to the executive order.

The order comes as the biopharma industry awaits details surrounding industry-specific tariffs, following the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 investigation which started in April.

There are also growing concerns that drugmakers could turn to cheaper sources, like China, for raw materials to ease the impact of US tariffs. This week, AbbVie detailed its plan to build an API factory in the US.

Like almost all governmental ideas, it makes a lot of sense. Surely you would want a stockpile of (I dunno) sufficient amounts of amoxicillin, and better the government to stockpile it than private individuals or organizations. I'm a little amused and/or suspicious that the government is going to source them "from domestic manufacturers where possible" - good luck with that, folks. [insert cynical comment here] 

Job posting: Senior Quality Engineer, Thin Films, EMD Electronics, Tamaqua, PA

From the inbox, this position: 

Your Role: The Senior Quality Engineer, Thin Films will work to ensure excellence with thin films materials for major semiconductor customers globally. This role involves leading cross-functional teams to resolve technology issues, investigating root causes, and implementing preventive actions for world-class quality. As the voice of the customer, you will support the Site Quality Manager in enhancing quality performance and driving continuous improvement through process control tools and automation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead teams in the execution and quality of thin films materials to major semiconductor customers globally
• Lead cross-functional teams in resolving technology issues

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Material Science, or other Technical discipline with 5+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, process engineering, control engineering, analytical chemist, or semiconductor fabrication experience
• OR, Master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Material Science, or other Technical discipline with 3+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, process engineering, control engineering, analytical chemist, or semiconductor fabrication experience

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

CSB: "U.S. Chemical Safety Board Opens Investigation into Fatal Incident at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Plant in Pennsylvania"

Via the Chemical Safety Board:  

Washington D.C. August 12, 2025 – The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is sending a team to investigate the fatal explosions and fires at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, that occurred on August 11. Two people were fatally injured, and at least ten others were injured and sent to area hospitals for medical treatment.

CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, “The CSB will work to determine the cause of this tragic incident and identify actions that can be taken to help ensure that a similar disaster like this does not happen again.”

The Clairton Coke Works facility processes raw coal into coke, which is then used as a primary component in steelmaking. The massive, 392-acre facility is located about 15 miles outside of Pittsburgh and is considered the largest coking facility in North America. Nearly 1,300 employees report to the facility daily.

I admire the CSB in continuing in its mission as it is threatened with budget cuts. Full release here. 

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 80 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 80 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions. 

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

On August 13, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 105 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions. On August 15, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 104 research/teaching positions and 4 teaching positions. To see long-term trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here's a 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.

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 3 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Arvind Ganesan and Todd N. Whittaker) has 3 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions. 

This is the first post of the series, so it will serve as the open thread for the year. 

Have a great weekend

This was an up-and-down week, but we're keeping on. I hope that you have a great weekend. See you on Monday. 

Job posting: Cosmetic/OTC Skincare Formulation Lab Chemist, Spa De Soleil, Sun Valley, CA

Via ACS Chemistry Careers, this position:  

Description: We are a leading private label manufacturer with over 30 years of experience in the skincare and personal care industry, seeking a Cosmetic/OTC Skincare Formulation Chemist to join our Research & Development team. This position is ideal for a chemist with proven experience in custom skincare and OTC product development within a GMP-regulated laboratory environment. Experience with color cosmetics, OTC treatments, hair care, and baby care is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and formulate custom skincare, cosmetic, and OTC products, including moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, acne treatments, medicated shampoos, baby care, and hair care items.
• Ensure all formulations are compliant with FDA OTC Monographs, GMP standards, and applicable regulatory guidelines (21 CFR, ISO, etc.).
• Conduct stability and compatibility testing; oversee scale-ups from lab to production.
• Maintain precise and up-to-date formulation records, batch sheets, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including QA/QC, production, sales, and regulatory to ensure product integrity and feasibility.
• Evaluate and source raw materials with a focus on INCI compliance, performance, and innovation.
• Provide technical support during client meetings and internal product development reviews.
• Troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing challenges with creative, compliant solutions.

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in a GMP-regulated lab formulating cosmetic, skincare, and OTC products.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

C&EN: "Japanese chemical makers dodge US tariff bullet"

Via C&EN, this trade news (by Katsumori Matsuoka): 

The Japanese chemical industry is breathing a sigh of relief over new US tariffs set to take effect on Aug. 7. Analysts say the deal, which imposes a tariff of 15% on most Japanese goods, will leave the chemical and pharmaceutical industries largely unharmed, though regional sluggishness may surface in the case of plastics for the auto industry.

The tariff is a reduction from the 25% levy that US president Donald J. Trump had threatened to impose on Japan if the country didn’t strike a trade deal, though it is higher than the low-single-digit rate that previously applied to many products from Japan.

Mikiya Yamada, an analyst with Mizuho Securities’ equity research division, says the direct impact of the tariffs on chemical exports to the US will be “insignificant.” The number of chemical products, mainly specialty chemicals, that are exempt from the tariffs has reached approximately 500 items, he says. 

“Japanese products, including pharmaceuticals, have a high share that are exempt from taxation,” he says, and tariffs that do apply should be fairly easy to pass on to customers.

Moreover, Japanese companies that supply plastics and other chemicals to local automakers were preparing to cut prices to help their customers compensate for a 25% tariff, Yamada says. With a 15% tariff, those cuts won’t be as steep.

Definitely interesting to see how manufacturers were indeed prepared to eat some tariffs. Will be interesting to see how this all impacts supply chains. 

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 64 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions

The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 64 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions. 

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

On August 6, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 84 research/teaching positions and five teaching positions. On August 8, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 89 research/teaching positions and 4 teaching positions. To see long-term trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here's a 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.