Houston Chronicle: "Deer Park shelter-in-place lifted following chemical release at Lubrizol plant"

Via the Houston Chronicle, this news: 

A shelter-in-place for the city of Deer Park that stemmed from a release of hydrogen sulfide was lifted late Tuesday, authorities said.

About 6:50 p.m., the Deer Park Police Department posted on social media that the city was monitoring a Level 3 incident at Lubrizol Deer Park, a facility that manufactures specialty chemicals and additives. According to the company's website, its plant in Deer Park is the "the world's largest additives plant." A shelter-in-place was subsequently implemented for the city.

By 10 p.m., Deer Park authorities said Lubrizol had de-escalated the incident to Level 2 after confirming the released chemical was generated when phosphorus pentasulfide came into contact with water.

It's relatively rare there is pretty specific data about what chemical was released and why. A phosphorus pentasulfide/water reaction would do it!

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 355 research/teaching positions and 50 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 355 research/teaching positions and 50 teaching positions.

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

On November 11, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 300 research/teaching positions and 38 teaching positions. On November 12, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 408 research/teaching positions and 54 teaching positions. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here is 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: 91 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 91 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.   

C&EN: "How the CIA tried to use chemistry to kill Castro—and why it failed"

This was unexpectedly fascinating (by Anirban Mukhopadhyay)

This August marked what would have been the 100th birthday of Fidel Castro. But while the Cuban leader ultimately died of natural causes in November 2016, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spent decades trying to cut his life short.

As president of Cuba, Castro was instantly recognizable: the fatigues, the beard, and the improbable political longevity. For much of the world, he became shorthand for revolution and defiance. For Washington, DC, he was something more specific and more worrying—a destabilizing adversary parked 145 km from Florida whose continued survival felt like a standing provocation.

That anxiety runs through a 1967 internal investigation by CIA inspector general John S. Earman, which the George Washington University’s National Security Archive posted online in October 2025. The report details CIA plots to murder, sicken, or discredit Castro. Some relied on chemistry rather than guns or coups, including cigars laced with botulinum toxin, depilatory agents meant to make his beard fall out, and psychoactive compounds intended to derail a public appearance.

Definitely read the whole thing. 

Have a great weekend

Well, this week is a bit of a culmination of everything. I hope that everyone had a great week and that you have a more restful weekend than I likely will. We'll see you on Monday.  

Reuters: "AI chip demand powers third-quarter growth at chemical, industrial gas makers"

Via Reuters, this news: 

Nov 5 (Reuters) - The artificial intelligence boom is helping drive demand for European chemical and ​industrial gas companies, as semiconductor manufacturers expand production capacity to ‌meet surging demand for AI chips.

Belgian specialty chemicals company Syensqo beat third-quarter expectations on Thursday as demand from semiconductor manufacturers continued to support its materials business.

"We'll probably ​see a 25% second-half improvement in our sales in semiconductors ​over the first half," CEO Mike Radossich told journalists.

Industrial gas ⁠groups Linde and Air Liquide also reported forecast-beating third-quarter results last week, helped by ​double-digit sales growth in electronics businesses that supply semiconductor manufacturers.

AI demand has ​become the chip industry's main growth engine, driving a fresh wave of semiconductor investment as AI servers require far more silicon than traditional computing infrastructure.

Air Liquide said its ​electronics investments nearly doubled in the first nine months of 2026 compared ​with all of 2025 as it increased spending on projects tied to semiconductor manufacturing. ‌In ⁠August, the company agreed to buy South Korea's DIG Airgas for 2.85 billion euros.

It honestly makes sense that the AI industry has been driving semiconductor manufacturer growth, but I guess I had not considered the impact on chemical manufacturers that work on electronics as well. I'm at least glad to see some good news for Europe's beleaguered chemical industry. 

Job posting: Metrology R&D Chemist, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials, Mesa, AZ

Via a Google search for "chemist job Arizona", this position: 

FUJIFILM Electronic Materials, U.S.A., Inc.,  is a global leader in chemical solutions which enable the semiconductor industry and the digital universe. We have an exciting opportunity at our Mesa, Arizona facility for a Metrology R&D Chemist!

With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe, Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, local sales offices throughout the world and on-site applications support, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials supplies the world's top tier semiconductor manufacturers with a broad array of products and services used throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process.

The Role 

The Metrology R&D Chemist will develop and implement new advanced QC metrologies and provide technical support during internal and external taskforce activities. Additional duties include supporting new product development, AMLC material characterization, and support the production QC team to advance overall metrology and quality systems processes.

Requirements

• The position requires a BA/BS in a Chemical related or other Physical Science discipline. 
• 1-2 years of experience in the semiconductor field or in a R&D/production laboratory environment 
• Candidates possessing a PhD will be considered with less experience. 

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Cute story for a Wednesday

Via a Google News search for "chemistry", this cute Boston Globe piece: 

Annie and Piers met as undergrads in an organic chemistry lab at BU. There was chemistry.

Growing up in Thousand Oaks, California, Annie Heyman knew from an early age that she wanted to be a doctor. Across the country, in Duxbury, medicine was in Piers Klein’s future as well. Those ambitions brought them to Boston University as undergraduates, and, on February 22, 2018, to the Metcalf Science Center for the same organic chemistry laboratory.

Annie’s roommate was in a lab group with Piers; she introduced them during class. The group was getting dinner in the Fenway that night. Annie went along. “There were a few of us there, but I was very drawn to Piers,” says Annie, who was 19 at the time. “I thought he was handsome and interesting — there was so much more that I wanted to learn about him,” she says.

Best wishes to the happy couple. Have a great Wednesday. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 338 research/teaching positions and 46 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 338 research/teaching positions and 46 teaching positions.

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

On November X, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 290 research/teaching positions and 34 teaching positions. On November X, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 396 research/teaching positions and 45 teaching positions. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here is 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: 90 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 90 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.   

New York Fed: the unemployment rate for recent chemistry graduates was 4.2% in 2024

Via Forbes, these interesting factlets from the New York Fed. 

The unemployment and underemployment rates for recent college graduates in chemistry was 4.3% and 42.8%. By contrast, the same rates for chemical engineering graduates was 4.7% and 17.9%. Median early career wages were $50,000 and $85,000 respectively. 

It'd be interesting to see those numbers for 2026. I bet they're higher, purely based on vibes. Love to know if I'm correct. 

Have a great weekend

Well, the big things got done this week, and now the other items need to get done as well. Here's hoping that you had a productive week, and that you have a great weekend. See you on Monday. 

The best article you will read about chocolate this week

Via the internet, this article: 

On a recent afternoon, somewhere near the tail end of the American empire, I went to the movies. On a whim, I bought a box of Sno-Caps; they’d been my favorite movie candy as a kid. I mindlessly ate at least 19 of the semisweet-chocolate nonpareils until I realized I could barely taste them. What I did taste was somehow both neutral and vaguely unappetizing, like I was chewing on shaved-off pieces of a plain bar of soap. I internalized the problem and blamed myself. Maybe my tongue’s physical properties had changed and it was no longer a reliable source. Or my childhood memories, blurred by nostalgia and brain damage from drugs and the internet, were not to be trusted. Sno-Caps had probably never tasted like chocolate but always like soap. Regardless, it was my fault and not the fault of a multinational conglomerate that had my best interests at heart and would never betray me.

The article is really interesting - read the whole thing. I'm not very convinced by the TBHQ discussion, but nevertheless, it's undoubted that modern food formulation allows for profit-maximizing/taste-impacting substitutions. The true science awaits! 

Job posting: chemist, unnamed company, Carrollton, TX

Via ACS Chemistry Careers: 

We’re looking for a hands-on chemist who’s interested in nanocoatings and surface technology to join our R&D team. This is a great opportunity to gain real-world lab experience, work on innovative products, and learn from an experienced team in a fast-growing field.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field
• 2+ years of industry experience, preferably in coatings, polymers, or surface technologies
• Strong hands-on experience in formulation development and product scaling
• Experience with nanomaterials, coatings systems, or advanced surface treatments is highly preferred

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

C&EN: BASF still pursuing Evonik

Via C&EN's Alex Tullo, this news: 

BASF has reportedly raised its bid for Evonik Industries to €11.2 billion ($12.5 billion), up from the $11.5 billion that Evonik management rejected, and this time BASF is taking its case for the acquisition to the public.

In a speech posted on BASF’s website, CEO Markus Kamieth addresses the concerns of the government of North Rhine-Westphalia that a merger between Germany’s two largest chemical makers could consolidate production and reduce jobs in the region. He promises that BASF would take over site agreements and would preserve other arrangements, such as compulsory redundancies, at least until 2032.

Kamieth also invokes the familiar struggles European chemical companies have endured in recent years due to high costs and strong overseas competition, particularly from Asia. BASF is large and integrated with raw materials. Evonik, a specialty chemical maker, has to purchase its feedstocks. “Through BASF’s Verbund, these could be sourced more cost-effectively, more directly, and more reliably from within the company,” he says.

Kamieth also warns that German chemical companies could eventually become the targets of foreign buyers. “The chemical industry is consolidating, one way or another. The question is: Do we shape this ourselves?”

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. purchased the German polymer maker Covestro last year.

Questions? Comments? Tips? Send them to me, senior correspondent Alex Tullo, at a_tullo@acs.org.

Kinda wild. Makes you wonder what will happen to Evonik if BASF moves on. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 294 research/teaching positions and 34 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 321 research/teaching positions and 42 teaching positions.

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

On October 28, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 271 research/teaching positions and 32 teaching positions. On October 29, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 378 research/teaching positions and 41 teaching positions. 

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here is 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: 89 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 89 research/teaching positions and 6 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.  

C&EN: "Microplastics might not be as chemically inert as expected"

Via Chemical and Engineering News, this news (article by by Ananya Palivela): 

Plastics are used for making reusable containers, clothing, and packaging partly because they are considered chemically inert. That assumption has extended to microplastics—particles smaller than 5 millimeters created through the wear and tear of plastics used daily—that turn up in ecosystems and inside human tissue. A new study suggests that microplastics are chemically active in water and can damage cells (Nature 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11141-y).

Wei Min and Teresa Head-Gordon’s group at Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley, respectively, find that a plastic particle’s surface makes highly reactive hydroxyl radicals in water. All six common plastics the team studies make these radicals without sunlight or any other trigger. The more hydrophobic a plastic is, the more radicals it makes, the researchers have found. Polyethylene and polypropylene make the most, and poly(methyl methacrylate) the least.

...Matthew Campen, a biochemist at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, who was not involved in the study, agrees with Min. He expects microplastics in the body to be coated in phospholipids, fatty molecules that would keep water away.

“Another aspect that needs further exploration is how aged plastics interact with water,” Campen says. The microplastics that make their way into people’s bodies have often been used, worn down, and exposed to the environment. Such aged plastics can carry a mix of water-attracting and water-repelling groups, which could affect the mechanism shown in this study.

I've been around long enough to both have some skepticism about any particular result, but it will be interesting to see if it reproduces and if it will be biologically relevant. 

Have a great weekend

So this week was pretty good! A few bumps but the big things that happened were good, so I'm gonna take things as a win. I hope you had a great week, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend - I know I'm pretty excited. See you on Monday. 

WSJ: "Melrose Industries Says GKN Aerospace Reaches $125 Million Settlement in Chemicals Case"

Via the Wall Street Journal, this news (from October 13): 

Melrose Industries said its GKN Aerospace unit reached a $125 million settlement with authorities in California relating to a chemicals case, and that it expects to restart operations at the site this quarter.

The case relates to an incident in May that forced the evacuation of parts of areas surrounding the facility in Garden Grove, California, operated by GKN, as emergency services sought to avoid a chemical leak and vapor explosion. The plant makes equipment for the aviation industry.

The Orange County district attorney’s office this week filed the documentation to start the process of resolving the civil investigation, Melrose said Tuesday. The documentation includes a settlement, an operational safety plan, and details of a plan—set out in August—for a claims program of up to $100 million for eligible businesses and residents, Melrose said. Melrose will pay a further $25 million in penalties and claims.

The settlement is contingent upon court approval, after which claims are expected to open within days, Melrose said.

The attorney’s office isn’t planning to file criminal charges against the company, Melrose said previously.

“Separately, we are engaged in ongoing mediation discussions regarding the various pending civil class action lawsuits,” Melrose said.

The company said it expects a phased return to full operations at the GKN site during this quarter.

Seems to me this was an obvious resolution, but I feel we still don't really know what happened to cause this incident. I suppose that we'll have to learn that from the eventual (I hope?) CSB report.