China anecdote of the week

From Monday's Wall Street Journal article on the travails of China's stock market, a little anecdote: 

Meanwhile, many investors don’t regret their bets on stocks even in the face of the latest drops. 

Li Ping was among those who sold homes to free up cash to invest in stocks, hoping for better returns. 

In April, 51-year-old Ms. Li sold her three-bedroom apartment in Beijing’s eastern Chaoyang district for 7 million yuan ($1.13 million). Since then, she has parked 4 million yuan in the stock market via a fund manager. 

“The fund that I have invested in is very mature and professional,” she said, adding that she thinks the market will stabilize and rise again. 

Ms. Li has a lot at stake. She now lives in a rented apartment with her husband near his workplace. Her older daughter is married but her younger daughter is going to high school in the U.S. Ms. Li, who works in the insurance industry, said she needs her stock investment to yield more than 20% a year to cover her daughter’s school fees and other expenses. “The yield I’m getting is definitely more than the rent I pay,” she said.

Well, just as long as you're not asking for very much from your fund manager...

(An interesting issue, China's stock market. Is China's stock market different?, i.e. it is reasonable to rely on 20% returns for more-or-less immediate financial needs? I don't think so, but so much about China is different than in the United States that it's probably worth asking the question. If someone relied on a mutual fund to grow 20% a year in the United States, I'd say they were nuts. (Of course, I'm a boring index fund investor, so I would say that, wouldn't I?))

A sign of the times

In my morning inbox, an unsolicited e-mail about chemistry opportunities in China. 

Daily Pump Trap: 9/3/13 edition

Good morning! Between August 29 and September 2, there have been 222 new positions posted to the C&EN Jobs website. Of these, 74 (33%) were academically connected and 110 (50%) were from Kelly Scientific Resources. 

Lebanon, NH: Avitide is looking for a M.S./Ph.D. chemist with experience in protein conjugation chemistry.

Collegeville, PA: Sooooo, I wonder who this Kelly Scientific posting might be for?:

Junior Medicinal Chemist 

This is a contract position for 12-15 weeks. The pay for this position is $15.85/hr. 

The company’s Oncology Research and Development division is responsible for discovering new chemical leads through lead optimization for identified epigenetic targets using organic synthesis and structure-based design. This individual will work closely with a supervisor and as part of a multi-disciplinary team designing, synthesizing molecules in an iterative fashion to discover quality compounds for an active drug discovery program. 

Requirements: 

Previous synthetic organic research experience. Basic understanding of identification of organic compounds using NMR and LC/MS. Basic knowledge of protein structure and stability. BS or MS in Organic Chemistry or Chemistry is required.

That's just depressing.

Salem, VA: Novozymes wishes to hire a senior formulation scientist; M.S./Ph.D. desired.

Indianapolis, IN: Interesting postdoctoral position in nanoparticle synthesis at PolyMicrospheres.

Sheboygan Falls, WI: Gotta love how this Kelly recruiter for Aldrich has taken to yelling at people for not turning in their resumes in the right form.

China corner: 6 positions in Beijing -- wooo!

ACS Career Fair Watch: 61 positions for the ACS Indy Career Fair, 11 for the Virtual Career Fair. 

Daily Pump Trap: 1/22/13 edition

Good morning! Between January 17 and January 21, there were 44 new positions posted on C&EN Jobs. Of these, 6 (14%) were academically connected and 21 (47%) were from Kelly Scientific Resources.

Now here's something different: Most of USDA's postdoctoral positions are analytical in nature (naturally, right?) Anyhow, they're looking for a synthetic postdoc in Wyndmoor, PA. Healthy salary, too, with a 2 year appointment: 61,245.00 to $79,615.00. Nice!

Columbus, OH: Chemical Abstracts Service is looking for scientific information analysts for a nomenclature-related position; "a strong background in the amino acid, peptide and/or carbohydrate areas" and "a graduate degree" desired. 50-60k; sigh.

West Greenwich, RI: Got 10 years of knowledge in the use of plastics in biopharmaceutical applications? Amgen would like to hire you.

New York, NY: D.E. Shaw is at it again, hiring computationalists for its drug discovery efforts.

Dalian, China: Kingchem is looking for a Chief Scientific Officer; 15 years in chemical development, Chinese, English skills desired.

Cincinnati, OH: Collins Ink would like to hire a director of UV development; M.S. in chemistry and Japanese fluency desired. 

4 positions in Lilly/Shanghai; temp job listed in Indianapolis

That moment when you realize that the number of jobs advertised for Lilly in China is more than the number of jobs advertised in Lilly in Indianapolis. 

Daily Pump Trap: 3/1/12 edition

Good morning! And happy March to you. Between February 28 and 29, there have been 55 new positions posted on the ACS Careers website. Of these, 3 (5%) are academically connected and 5 (9%) are from Kelly Scientific Resources.

District of Columbia: SICPA Securink is hiring a UV ink chemist; 5+ years of experience with UV-curable inks is desired.

Boulder, CO: Boulder Scientific is looking for a B.S./M.S./Ph.D. chemical engineer or chemist to help run its production facility.

Ridayh, Saudi Arabia: Fully 31 (56%) of the advertised positions are from Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC.) They probably pay well...

Silver Spring, MD: The FDA is hiring a polymer chemist for a postdoctoral position (medical device research?, analytical/polymer experience desired.) ; starts at $70k. That ain't shabby for a postdoc, even in the DC area.

Shanghai, China: WuxiApptec is hiring medicinal chemists, too.

Huntsville, AL: You again! Nektar Therapeutics (a veteran of ACS Careers) is hiring chemists for its Alabama facility. I'd love to know what they do there, exactly. 

C&EN's video of a Chinese R&D facility

Also in today's Chemical and Engineering News, an article by Jean-Francois Tremblay on a Chinese R&D facility:

At the rate it is hiring people and investing in its R&D infrastructure, it shouldn’t be long before China’s HEC Pharm becomes as well-known as India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories or Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. This obscure generic drug maker, with headquarters in the gritty industrial city of Dongguan in southern China, aims to launch innovative new drugs in China and, eventually, in the U.S., Europe, and other developed markets. 

At its R&D complex, the company has more than doubled its technical workforce during the past year to 1,200 researchers, most of whom live in company-provided housing. It is completing construction of two new buildings that will house biology labs and research facilities for clean energy materials that will be developed mostly by the firm’s chemists. And within a few months, it will break ground on a 21-floor apartment complex to house new hires and on a 12-floor research lab for new-drug R&D. In May 2011 HEC completed construction of its generic drug labs. 

[snip] Hiring qualified researchers is a big part of HEC’s strategy. To fill its technical positions, it recruits by offering competitive salaries, family housing, subsidized meals, and other benefits. Fresh Ph.D. graduates get a starting salary of $24,000 and regular raises—a good wage by Chinese standards, says Tommy Lin, HEC’s director of intellectual property. The company hopes to employ 2,500 researchers within three years.

Be sure to watch the video to see the "HPLC forest" at 41 seconds in. I'm pretty skeptical that they're all running (where are the associated computers? Why is it so clean?) But it's a pretty impressive collection, for sure. The labs look like labs, FWIW.

Daily Pump Trap: 12/6/11 edition

Good morning! Between December 1 and December 5, there were 311 new positions posted on the ACS Careers website. Of these, 14 (5%) were academically connected.

West Chicago, IL: Blachford, Inc. is a company that makes noise absorbers from polymers; they're looking for a B.S. chemist with 1 year of laboratory experience. Polymer chemistry coursework is "essential"; sounds interesting.

York, PA: Adhesives Research, Inc. is a company that develops adhesives for the medical device and pharmaceutical worlds. They're looking for a M.S. chemist with a background in polymer analysis.

Well, then, sign me up!: The American University in Beirut, Lebanon is looking for a non-tenure-track professor of analytical chemistry.

Kelly: Holy Kelly, folks. 281 (90%) positions posted by Kelly Scientific Resources, the majority of them chemistry and/or tech-related. There's a few synthetic positions buried in there -- looks like Dow Agrosciences in Indy is hiring temps now.

China Corner: Haisco Pharmaceutical Group (located in sunny Chengdu, China) is hiring, well, everyone. Synthetic organic chemists welcome, too. 

Daily Pump Trap: 10/20/11 edition

Good morning! Between October 18 and 19, there were 21 new positions posted on the ACS Careers website. Of these, 8 (38%) are academically connected. 1 (5%) is from our friends at Kelly Scientific.

Lexington, MA: Cubist Pharmaceuticals is looking for a B.S./M.S. research associate in medicinal chemistry. 2+ lab experience minimum.

Marlborough, MA: Shimadzu is looking for a field service technician; A.A. in electrical engineering desired, but I'll bet they'll take anyone who's got experience in instrument repair and willing to travel.

Kings Mountain, GA: Someone (confidential) is looking for a Ph.D. inorganic chemist to be a senior research chemist, with an eye towards lithium-based processes. Sounds intense.

Suzhou, China: Ascepion Pharmaceuticals is looking for a Ph.D. medicinal chemist to lead a group; 2-5 years experience desired. Whaa?!? 2-5 years? How many years does it take to lead a group in the US? 5? Dunno.

A broader look: Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Indeed.com and USAjobs.gov show 385, 744, 3,205 and 29 positions.

Daily Pump Trap: 8/16/11 edition

Good morning! Between August 11 and August 16, 41 new positions were posted on the ACS Careers database. Of these, 11 (27%) are academically connected.

Denver ACS: 110 positions for the Career Fair, 1 position for the Virtual Career Fair.


Boston, MA: Aspen Aerogel is looking to fill 5 positions, including a patent agent position for a B.S./M.S. chemist.

Indianapolis, IN: DowAgrosciences is looking for a Ph.D. organic chemist for pesticide/herbicide research and to drive the organic movement crazy; "[e]xperience in synthetic methodologies, synthesis problem-solving, and total synthesis is highly desired." That last one is unusual these days.

Stamford, CT: Cytec Industries desires a Ph.D. chemist to fill a postdoctoral fellowship. "[S]trong research and coursework emphasis in the synthesis and structural characterization of ligands and metal extraction testing" wanted.

Zeroes!: Promega Biosciences is looking for Ph.D. organic chemists with 0-3 years of experience. "Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge of fluorescence and bioconjugation technologies and/or proteomics."

Uh, NO: A medical device company wishes to hire a B.S. chemist with 4+ years experience in synthetic chemistry. A bit of chutzpah with the claim of a "fantastic salary of $60-65K"; are you kidding me? It's Irvine and you're wanting to get patted on the back for 60K for an experienced synthetic chemist?

Milwaukee, WI: Cambridge Major is looking to hire experienced analytical and analytical R&D chemists. They have B.S./M.S. positions open, as well as a M.S./Ph.D. position. Too bad that the ACS Careers ad is non-functional. (Check out the silent CML blog -- funny, that one.)

Eh?: An ad gone wrong here. Wha' happened?

Wall, NJ: Bel-Ray Company is looking for a senior "Reserarch and Developent Chemist" [sic]. Experience with a lubricant company and lubricant product development desired. (I'm leaving all the bad jokes aside -- mature, no?)

Las Vegas, NV: The Clark County Water Reclamation District desires an B.S. chemist for wastewater testing. Vegas, baby!

China Corner: 3M and DuPont hiring in Shanghai.