Have a great weekend

Well, this was a fun week, mostly. I hope that you had a fun week. I plan to have a really fun weekend, and we'll see you on Tuesday. 

C&EN's Cities of Chemistry

Via C&EN, I love this feature!: 

For any career, a network is everything. For chemists, that network is highly specialized. You need laboratory space. You need coworkers and mentors with certain skill sets. And you need institutions. Depending on how you’d like your career to unfold, those institutions can include academic centers, big industrial companies, start-up accelerators and incubators, and venture capital firms.

These institutions are all around the US and all around the globe. As it turns out, in an increasingly digital world, geography still matters.

Different cities and regions play host to different kinds of chemistry ecosystems. Houston, long the stronghold of the petrochemical industry, is now establishing itself as the geographic cornerstone of the US energy transition. Boston may not house the headquarters of top US pharmaceutical companies, but it commands the most chemistry-related venture capital investment and the third-highest chemistry article output, reflecting its status as a life sciences hub spanning start-ups, academia, and research hospitals.

C&EN has evaluated the features that make a city, state, or country ripe for building a career in chemistry. Using a mix of public and private data, we’ve created interactive tools so you can see what regions are dominant as research centers, chemical industry hubs, and start-up havens—ultimately, whatever matters most to you.

Check it out, especially the commercial lab real estate ranking - fascinating. 

Job posting: Reagent Design Scientist, IDEXX, Westbrook, ME

Via ACS Chemistry Careers: 

The Reagent Design Scientist performs a broad range of hands-on scientific activities spanning research, new product development (NPD), reagent manufacture, and product support. Working within a technically focused R&D team, this role centers on peptide synthesis, with the flexibility to contribute to chemical synthesis, conjugation chemistry, and fluorophore labeling as project needs evolve. This scientist will apply their background in chemistry and biochemistry to plan and execute peptide synthesis and purification with rigorous analytical characterization, supporting the advancement of veterinary diagnostic products from concept toward production. This scientist is expected to build familiarity with data analysis tools and IDEXX NPD processes.

Reagent design spans a range of reagent modalities from small molecules and peptides to oligonucleotides, antibody conjugates, and functionalized particles. The Reagent Design Scientist will pair sound experimental technique with growing scientific judgment to help drive the right work forward the first time.

What you need to succeed:

• A degree in organic chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field is required. Master's degree with 0–2 years of industrial experience, OR Bachelor's degree with 4-6 years of experience.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in chemical synthesis, peptide synthesis, conjugation, purification, and analysis is required.
• Experience with common laboratory and analytical instrumentation used to synthesize, purify, and characterize reagents, including HPLC, LC-MS, UV-Vis, and related techniques is a must.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Memphis high school student burned in chemistry experiment gone awry

 

Via WREG: 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Central High School basketball player was treated at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital last week after he was burned during a science experiment gone wrong. 

Tije’a Wilks was being recorded by another student mixing chemicals and then lighting them when they suddenly burst into flames. You can see his chemistry teacher standing beside him when it happened. 

“The teacher had a pastry bowl on the ground, which consisted of potassium, citrate, zinc, and sulfur,” said Andria Wilks. “Once he did strike, instead of it being a ball of smoke, it was a ball of fire.” 

 I'm delighted that the teacher was having his kids to a relatively fun chemistry experiment (looks like it should have been potassium chlorate as the oxidizer), but very concerned that they were clearly inadequately protected from my brief viewing of the video. Best wishes to the victim and the family.

 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 106 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 106 research/teaching positions and 7 teaching positions 

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

On September 2, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 103 research/teaching positions and 13 teaching positions. On September 3, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 186 research/teaching positions and 11 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. 

Postdoctoral position: redox-neutral cross-coupling, Neufeldt Lab, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

From the inbox, friend of the blog Professor Sharon Neufeldt is looking for a postdoctoral researcher: 

The Neufeldt lab at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT) is looking for a postdoctoral scholar to join a research project focused on isohypsic (redox-neutral) catalytic cross-coupling.

Primary Duties:

• Synthesis and characterization of organic molecules and organometallic complexes.
• Designing and conducting experiments for reaction optimization and mechanistic studies.
• Analyzing experimental results using techniques including NMR spectroscopy, GC, and GCMS.
• Keeping appropriate records of data.
• Writing reports, papers, and proposals.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 24 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 24 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.  

Odd MIT chemical safety incident

Via the MIT internal emergency alert page (the Aug. 29, 2026, 3:36 p.m. edit): 

Offices across campus have been responding to a reported hazardous material incident involving a single individual in a chemistry laboratory. The Institute became aware of the matter after the individual, a graduate student, self-reported to a local emergency room and claimed to have synthesized dimethyl mercury, a compound that is not authorized as part of their research program. Emerging information calls into question whether this compound was in fact synthesized. We are also able to disclose, with the student’s permission, that while the student remains under medical supervision, their initial blood test result, which was received today, shows no sign of exposure to mercury.

Building 18 remains closed at least through Sunday as specialized decontamination efforts continue out of an abundance of caution. This work will continue, and the building will remain closed until the work is complete.

This is a pretty strange story. Sounds like the things that we know are that 1) MIT worked on specialized decontamination because 2) there was concern that Building 18 surfaces may have been contaminated with 3) dimethyl mercury (?), perhaps synthesized by a graduate student? 

I've been doing this long enough to know to hold initial reports with some skepticism without independent and orthogonal confirmation. I sure would like to know what happened. Here's hoping that we find out more. 

Have a good weekend

My week was very good, and I managed some tricky logistics without too much trouble. I hope that you had a good week as well. Enjoy your weekend, and see you on Monday. 

Hokkaido University graduate student dies of hydrofluoric acid exposure

Via the ACS DCHAS listserv, this bad news (article by the Hong Kong Standard): 

A male graduate student died after being drenched in hydrofluoric acid, known as "bone-dissolving water," at Hokkaido University's science faculty building in Sapporo on Thursday morning. Two other students who rushed to help were also injured.

The incident occurred around 8.30am. University officials said the student who died had come into direct contact with a large amount of the acid, possibly on his head or face. The two others, a graduate student and an undergraduate, sustained minor injuries and were discharged after check-ups.

The university clarified that the incident did not occur during an experiment. Police are investigating how the chemical was stored and handled.

Hydrofluoric acid is a highly toxic chemical regulated under Japan's Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act. Its fluoride ions can penetrate skin and cause systemic toxicity, including cardiac arrest.

Here is the original Hokkaido University press release, which (presuming Google Translate's accuracy) is remarkably prompt for such shattering and sad news (i.e. the death was said to take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026.). We will need to understand how this happened, so that it can be avoided in the future. My prayers for the deceased and their family. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 93 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 93 research/teaching positions and 5 teaching positions 

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

On August 26, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 99 research/teaching positions and 11 teaching positions. On August 27, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 161 research/teaching positions and ten 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: 18 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 18 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.  

Have a great weekend

Getting those writing vibes back after a summer off, hoping to ease my way back into five-day-a-week posting here. Hope you had a great week - see you on Monday. 

If you're going to be at ACS Chicago next week, shoot me an email! 

NBC Boston: "Explosive, radioactive substances at late chemist's home bring bomb squad to Lexington"

Via Google News, this story from July 22: 

A highly explosive chemical, radioactive substances and more hazardous materials found at a late chemist's house in Lexington brought out the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad for a complex removal Monday, officials said.

A hazmat team and an FBI bomb technician were also part of the response prompted by a clean-out of a home on Longfellow Road, state and local fire officials said Tuesday. Lexington fire officials called in the help after finding dozens of bottles of powders, liquids and solids, including the highly explosive chemical picric acid and fire hazards.

Police and firefighters secured the area around the home while hazmat and bomb technicians entered and carefully searched it, organizing the materials and removing them to a truck filled with sand over about seven hours. Officials said that an ambulance and firefighters with a charged hose were on standby, just in case.

It's not like local ACS sections don't already have plenty of things to do and not enough resources, but volunteering to help fire departments with household chemical troves might be a good one. 

*maybe the right idea is a "chemical will", i.e. you write out an inventory for the authorities? 

Job posting, Scientist, SMDD, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN

Via ACS Chemistry Careers: 

Job Position Overview

In the synthesis of pharmaceutical candidate compounds, this role is to develop chemical processes, which minimize the cost of production while maximizing manufacturing capacity.  The position requires a high degree of synthetic organic chemistry skill and excellent problem-solving capability.  The ability to collaborate with multi-functional teams and effectively communicating the appropriate level of scientific data is important.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to a healthy, supportive work culture and maintain a highly organized laboratory area with a strong focus on all aspects of chemical and occupational safety.
• Plan and execute laboratory experiments, analyze outcomes, optimize conditions, and document and communicate experimental findings.
• Preparing various quantities of materials (milligrams to grams) for use by the program/project team customers, and interfacing with other chemists, analysts, and engineers for the successful scale-up of the chemical process.

Basic Qualifications: 

• BS/MS in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or closely related organic chemistry STEM degree

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 70 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 70 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions 

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

On August 19, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 86 research/teaching positions and nine teaching positions. On August 20, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 131 research/teaching positions and seven 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: 13 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 13 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions. 

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.  

Have a great weekend

This has been a pretty wild week, and it feels like it's only getting nuttier. Even then, I am managing to keep my head above water, but I still haven't written much, and I feel bad about it. The number of topics that I feel the need to opine on isn't very high, but still... 

• The Trump Administration's continued attack on the scientific funding agencies is genuinely bad
• We are seeing a dramatic fall in faculty positions and also graduate student slots in US research universities in chemistry departments 
• The American Chemical Society continues to sail full-speed-ahead into cold waters in the North Atlantic while insisting that the most important thing to do is to repaint the bulkheads (the petition to change back is here)

I resolve to write more in these coming weeks and months. I hope you have a good weekend - I know I will. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 59 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 59 research/teaching positions and 3 teaching positions 

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

On August 12, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 80 research/teaching positions and seven teaching positions. On August 13, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 105 research/teaching positions and seven 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: 11 research/teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 11 research/teaching positions.  

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

“Postdoc-to-PI” workshop, Penn State University, August 31 - September 1

From the inbox: 

The Department of Chemistry at Penn State University is holding a “Postdoc-to-PI” symposium/workshop designed to help postdocs applying for tenure-track positions in chemistry prepare for on-site interviews. 

Participants will deliver a public research seminar, a short proposal talk, and meet with faculty and students over two days, 8/31 & 9/1, leading into the fall hiring cycle. Our faculty will also provide constructive, written feedback. 

All expenses are paid by our department. Interested postdocs should complete a short application by 8/14 at bit.ly/postdoc-to-pi, which also contains further information. We aim to select 6-7 applicants from a range of fields who are currently based in the US or Canada, irrespective of national origin or immigration status.

Best wishes to those interested. 

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 51 research/teaching positions and 2 teaching positions

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 51 research/teaching positions and two teaching positions. 

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

On August 5, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 64 research/teaching positions and five teaching positions. On August 6, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 84 research/teaching positions and 5 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.