Chemistry Newsletter - 03/01/1999

University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Chemistry Newsletter

Finance Committee and Department Meeting Dates

Spring 1999

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Department Committee - Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. In Room 8335.

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Finance Committee - Tuesday at 1:20 p.m. - In Room 1301.

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Organic Chemistry Cumulative Exam Schedule, 1999.

Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., room B371 Chemistry Building.

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Analytical Cume Dates for 1999.

Room 2311 Chemistry Building.

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Inorganic Cume Dates for 1999.

9:00 a.m., Room 2373 Chemistry Building.

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ATTENTION GRADUATE STUDENTS

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IMPORTANT DATES:

MINOR AGREEMENT FORMS: The Graduate School requires that the minor program be outlined in an agreement which is approved by the Department no later than halfway through completion of the sequence of minor courses. The minor requirement is expected to be completed by the end of the third year of graduate school. Minor agreement forms are available in Room 7315.

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SPRING COMMENCEMENT

Chemistry graduate students who will complete their Ph.D. degree in May or August of this year should provide their name/home address AND the name/campus address of their faculty escort to Mary Kay Sorenson by Friday, March 12, 1999. Even if you do not plan to attend commencement exercises, your name should be included for reporting to the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty.

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Orders for cap and gown must be placed at the University Bookstore no later than April 15,1999. Degree candidates and escorts will receive a letter containing further instructions about one month before commencement.

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General information on the commencement ceremonies (when/where, etc.) may be obtained from Mary Kay in Room 7315 Chemistry.

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SEMINARS

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Tuesday, March 2^nd, 1999 - Physical Chemistry Seminar, 11:00 a.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. John Straub, Boston University. "Slow Vibrational Relaxation of Photolyzed Carbon Monoxide in the Heme Pocket of Sperm Whale Myoglobin"

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Tuesday, March 2^nd, 1999 - Organic Chemistry Seminar, 3:30 p.m., Room 1361 Chemistry Building. Professor Jean Frechet, University of California-Berkeley. "Chemistry of Some Dendrimeric Molecules"

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Thursday, March 4^th, 1999 - Organic Chemistry Seminar, 11:00 a.m., Room 1361 Chemistry Building. Chris Cairo Graduate Student. "Total Syntheses of Lactacystin"

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Thursday, March 4^th, 1999 - CBI Highlights Seminar, 2:25 p.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Professor Regina Murphy. "Strategies for Designing Compounds to Inhibit Beta-Amyloid Aggregation and Toxicity"

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Thursday, March 4^th, 1999 - Chemical Engineering Seminar, 3:55 p.m., Room 1227 Engineering Hall. Erik Shusta, University of Illinois-Urbana.

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Monday, March 15^th - Tuesday, March 16^th, - Thursday, March 18^th, 1999 - Organic Chemistry Seminar, Merck Lecturer. Professor Larry Overman, University of California-Irvine. Rooms to be announced.

Monday - 3:30 p.m., "New Cationic Cyclization Reactions and Their Use in Natural Products Total Synthesis"

Tuesday - 3:30 p.m., "Constructing Quaternary Carbon Centers Using Organopalladium Chemistry"

Thursday - 11:00 a.m., "Recent Studies in Complex Molecule Total Synthesis"

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Tuesday, March 16^th, 1999 - Physical Chemistry Seminar, 11:00 a.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Dr. John J. Kasianowicz, NIST Biotechnology Division. "Rapid Polymer Transport in a Single Nanometer-Scale Pore"

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Thursday, March 18^th, 1999 - Analytical Sciences Seminar, 12:05 p.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Patrick Votruba, Graduate Student.

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Thursday, March 25^th, 1999 - Analytical Sciences Seminar, 12:05 p.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Sheng Qi Xie, Graduate Student.

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Thursday, March 25^th, 1999 - CBI Highlights Seminar, 2:25 p.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Professor Dan H. Rich, UW Madison. "Merging Rational Design and Combinatorial Synthesis: Reasonable and Unreasonable Expectations"

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Tuesday, March 30^th, 1999 - Physical Chemistry Seminar, 11:00 a.m., Room B371 Chemistry Building. Art L. Utz, Tufts University. "Vibrational-State-Resolved Studies of Methane Dissociation on Ni (100)"

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Tuesday, March 30^th, 1999 - Pharmacology Seminar, 12:00 p.m., Room 3765 MSC. Dr. Noland Sigal of Pharmacopeia, Inc. "Discovery of Novel Therapeutics Through the Exploration of Molecular and Genetic Diversity"

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Nichi-Bei-I-Ro Minisymposium

on Organosilicon Chemistry

March 11, 1999 - Room 8335

• 9:00 a.m. Introduction - Bob West.
• 9:10 a.m. RECENT ADVANCES IN FREE-RADICAL CHEMISTRY OF ORGANOSILANES. Professor Chrys Chatgilialoglu, Univ. of Bologna, Italy.
• 10:00 a.m. CONFORMATIONS OF POLYSILANES IN SOLUTION. Dr. Julian Koe. NTT Laboratories. Japan.
• 10:30 a.m. Coffee Break.
• 10:45 a.m. STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF POLYSILANES. Professor Michael Winokur, Univ. of Wisconsin, USA.
• 11:15 a.m. A CAREFUL STUDY OF POLYSILANE THERMOCHROMIC PHASE TRANSITIONS BY UV, RAMAN AND WAXD METHODS. Professor Larissa Leites. INEOS, Russian Academy of Sciences.
• 11:45 a.m. THE EFFECT OF PHOTORADICAL GENERATORS ON PHOTOOXIDATION OF POLYSILANE FILMS. Dr. Toshiyuki Ohtaki, Toshiba Silicone Co., Japan.
• 12:05 p.m. Lunch, Room 9340.
• 1:00 p.m. ELECTROLUMINESCENCE OF POLYSILANES IN LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES. Prof. Kunio Oka. Osaka Prefecture Univ. Japan.
• 1:30 p.m. TOWARD TRIPLE BONDS TO SILICON. Dr. Rudi Pietschnig, Univ. of Wisconsin, USA.
• 2:00 p.m. Closing

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Recent Publications

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Vedejs E; Luchetta LM

A method for iodination of oxazoles at C-4 via 2-lithiooxazoles

JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 1999, Vol 64, Iss 3, pp 1011-1014

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Kim BM; Schultz LW; Raines RT

Variants of ribonuclease inhibitor that resist oxidation

PROTEIN SCIENCE 1999, Vol 8, Iss 2, pp 430-434

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Zhang WT; Ni HH; Capp MW; Anderson CF; Lohman TM; Record MT

The importance of coulombic end effects: Experimental characterization of the effects of oligonucleotide flanking charges on the strength and salt dependence of oligocation (L8+) binding to single-stranded DNA oligomers.

BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL 1999, Vol 76, Iss 2, pp 1008-1017

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For Industrial Positions, see the Chemistry Placement Newsletter at:

http://www.chem.wisc.edu/placement/7news.html

FACULTY POSITIONS/TEMPORARY FACULTY/ACADEMIC POSITIONS

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The Chemistry Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a 100% position for an Assistant Faculty Associate available starting June 1, 1999. The working title is General Chemistry Laboratory Director. The Director of General Chemistry Laboratories plays an instructional support role in collaboration with faculty, the Chair of the General Chemistry Division, and the Coordinator of the General Chemistry Program to:

1) Manage the daily operation of the General Chemistry laboratory for chemistry 103,104, 108, 109, 115 and 116 with a total course enrollment of about 3,000 in the Fall semester and 2,000 in the Spring semester, with special attention to student safety.

2) Plan, develop and test new experiments and develop computer-aided laboratory programs or video-based instruction.

3) Assist in the set-up, maintenance and administration of a student computer laboratory.

4) Assist in the orientation and training of teaching assistants.

Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field, and experience with general chemistry lab work and the use of microcomputers in instruction required. Minimum salary is $35,000 annual. To insure consideration, apply by March 5, 1999 to: John Moore, Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706; (608) 262-5154. Reference PVL #30996.

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemistry Department has an opening for a summer lecturer in General Chemistry 104. The position is a 75% appointment to lecture, hold office hours, supervise lab and perform related duties during the 1999 Summer Session. The position begins June 14, 1999 and ends August 8, 1999. ABD in Chemistry or chemistry-related field required; PhD strongly preferred. Experience teaching some level of college chemistry required. Send applications by Tuesday, March 9, 1999 to: Prof. John Moore, Chemistry Department, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI. 53706. Reference PVL #31221.

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Laboratory technician position available at Forest Products Laboratory. To provide technical assistance to scientists who have developed a new technology for papermaking called biopulping. In this technology, lignocellulosic materials are treated with natural wood decay fungi prior to pulping. This environmentally friendly technology saves electrical energy and improves paper quality during papermaking. The technical and economical feasibility of this technology has been established for mechanical pulping. The scientists are now extending the use of fungal pretreatment of wood chips for chemical pulping. The position will start immediately and is for two years. Incumbent assists in chemical pulping of wood chips; prepare and standardize stock chemical solutions. Analyze pulp samples for yield end chemical composition; analyze pulping liquors in accordance with test procedures; refine and bleach pulp samples. Other dudes as required. Candidate must have 6 months of general experience and an additional 6 months of specialized experience or have completed two years of study beyond high school that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. Candidate with strong analytical chemistry background will be preferred. Combinations of education and experience will be evaluated. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI. Please contact: Masood Alchtar (231-9484), University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center and Forest Products Laboratory.

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POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AND/OR JOBS

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Professor Avi Ulman of Polytechnic University has an immediate post doc opening to work on self-assembled monolayers and nanoparticles. Synthetic skills a plus. Please contact: Professor Avi Ulman, Polytechnic University, Six Metrotech Center, Brooklyn NY 11201, (718) 260-3119.

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Dr. James Kubicki has a opening for a Postdoctoral Position at Pennsylvania State University. The position is available starting September 1999 to work on molecular modeling of natural organic matter. The research entails molecular mechanics and quantum simulations of various NOM components and the interaction of these components with contaminants. An individual with a Ph.D. in chemistry or geochemistry and experience in molecular modeling is desired. Knowledge of organic chemistry, soil chemistry, or Cerius2 software would be a plus. Opportunities with experimental researchers on related topics are numerous. Interested individuals should contact: Dr. James Kubicki, Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Phone (814) 865-3951; email: kubicki@geosc.psu.edu . Deadline is May 31, 1999.

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Michael A. Meador of the NASA Lewis Research Center has a Postdoctoral Position in Electron Beam Curable Polyimides. There is a potential opening for a postdoctoral research associate in the Polymers Branch at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The successful applicant will be part of a NASA/university team to develop electron beam curable polyimides for use as structural materials in future aerospace vehicles. Applicants should have a background in organic and/or polymer synthesis, photochemistry, and characterization of polymeric materials. Experience in the effects of electron beam irradiation on organic materials is desired. On year appointment with the possibility of renewal annually for an additional two years. Because of security reasons, this position is limitted to US citizens and resident aliens with a valid Green Card. For further information, please contact: Dr. Michael A. Meador, Chief, Polymers Branch, phone (216) 433-9518, e-mail: Michael.A.Meador@grc.nasa.gov , Chief, Polymers Branch, Materials Division, NASA Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, M.S. 49-3, Cleveland, OH 44135, Phone:(216) 433-9518, FAX: (216)977-7132, web: http://polly.lerc.nasa.gov/MDWeb/5150/Polymers.html .

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Professors Dan Higgins and Maryanne Collinson of the Department of Chemistry at Kansas State University invite applications for a postdoctoral associate to work on a joint research project recently funded by the Army Research Office. A Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field is required. Previous experience in spectroscopy and/or microscopy will be beneficial. The postdoctoral fellow will utilize single molecule imaging and spectroscopic methods to characterize molecular scale environments in thin silicate films prepared by the sol-gel process. Details of the project and each group's independent programs and recent publications can be found at http://www.ksu.edu/chem/faculty/. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year and will be renewable for a second year and beyond, upon mutual agreement of all parties. Salary will be competetive and commensurate with the candidates qualifications. Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and at least two letters of recommendation to: Dan Higgins, Dept. of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506-3701. Please direct questions via email to Dan Higgins or Maryanne Collinson at higgins@ksu.edu or mmc@ksu.edu . Alternatively, Dan Higgins may be contacted by phone at (785) 532-6371 or Maryanne Collinson at (785) 532-1468.

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Research Assistant position at Genentech. (BS/MS) All interested candidates should send a resume, including the names and contact information for three references, to: Kurt Deshayes, Genentech Inc., Department of Protein Engineering, MS 27, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080. I can also be reached via Email at deshayes@gene.com . Anyone interested in learning more about Genentech should browse the company website: www.gene.com . I will review candidates as their resumes arrive, and will continue to search until the position is filled.

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Please submit all newsletter information or address changes to: goldade@chem.wisc.edu or 262-0293. Thank You.

DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE IN ROOM 1380.

NEXT NEWSLETTER IS ON MARCH 8^th, 1999.