Photonics: Although iron pyrite, otherwise known as iron sulfide or fool’s gold, was tossed aside by miners more than a century ago, it may prove to be worth its weight in gold as a thin-film solar cell material. Researchers at Oregon State University have found that iron pyrite, which contains two of the most abundant elements on Earth, is an excellent absorber of solar energy and can be made into extremely thin layers. Unfortunately, the substantial heat required to create solar cells causes the pyrite to decompose. So the researchers tried an inverse design approach. “We identified the failure mechanism of pyrite, formulated a few design rules that preserved the favorable aspects of pyrite, and identified [iron silicon sulfide] and [iron germanium sulfide] as new absorber candidates,” said Douglas Keszler, coauthor of a paper published in Advanced Energy Materials. But much more work remains to be done. It could take at least 10 more years to fine-tune a marketable alternative to traditional solar cell materials.

http://blogs.physicstoday.org/newspicks/2012/02/fools-gold-could-shine-in-sola.html

Please forward this DRAFT Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) Open Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to faculty that may be interested.

ARPA-E is seeking comments on the draft Open FOA.

ARPA-E released a draft funding opportunity announcement in FedConnect today.

https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/PublicSearch/Public_Opportunities.aspx?doc=DE-FOA-0000559&amp%3bamp%3bagency=DOE

Opportunity: ARPA-E Draft Open Funding Opportunity Announcement

Description   On or about March 2, 2012, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) intends to issue an Open Funding Opportunity Announcement (Open FOA or FOA). The objective of the Open FOA is to identify high-risk, high-reward concepts for energy-related technologies that may enhance our nation’s energy and economic security. This FOA will be open to any energy-related technology that, if successful, will have a transformational and disruptive effect on the energy sector. ARPA-E is seeking your comments on the draft Open FOA. To obtain a copy of the draft Open FOA please go to the ARPA-E website at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. An overview of the application process is provided in Section I.B of the draft FOA, and a draft list of Technical Categories and Subcategories is provided in Section I.E of the draft FOA. Please submit your written comments by email to ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov by 5 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. ARPA-E will not review or consider comments submitted by other means. All feedback provided will be taken into consideration, but ARPA-E will not respond to individual submissions or publish publicly a compendium of responses. Neither this Announcement nor the draft Open FOA constitutes the formal request for this funding opportunity announcement. The Federal Government will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any respondents for the development of such information.

 

The Graduate School is hosting Hugh Kearns from Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia to present five workshops on February 20^th to February 22^nd, 2012.

Hugh Kearns is best known as a lecturer and researcher with international expertise in the area of self-management. He draws on the latest research in psychology and education and applies this to high performing groups such as Ph.D. students, academic staff, medical professionals and senior executives. He has lectured regularly at universities across Australia, the UK, Ireland and the U.S. He has received a national teaching award in recognition of his innovative approach and outstanding outcomes.

Three of these workshops are designed for only Ph.D. candidates at any point in their candidature

• The 7 Secrets of highly successful doctoral candidates (offered twice)
• Turbocharging Your Writing

The other two workshops are designed for all graduate students:

• Presenting Your Research with Confidence
• Using Idea Maps/Mind Maps in Your Research

Mr. Kearns is also offering one workshop for PhD advisors on February 20^th, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm:

• Creating the 7 Secrets for PhD advisors

Attached are five flyers with descriptions of the workshops.  Emails have been sent to graduate students.  Please share this email with your faculty advisors. Please print and post the flyers in your common areas for everyone to notice.  Thank you for spreading the word.  For registration, please go to https://s01.123signup.com/servlet/SignUpMember?PG=1534345182300&P=15343451911423979100 as soon as possible as seating is limited.   Thank you.

Creating The 7 Secrets for PhD Advisors

Presenting Your Research With Confidence

The 7 Secrets for PhD students

Turbocharge Your Writing

Using Idea Maps-Mind Maps in Your Research

 

On behalf of the Division Director of the Division of Materials Research, Dr. Ian Robertson, I would like to ask you to respond to the request below if your research is at the interface of Materials Research and Chemistry.

In response to the 2011 Committee of Visitors report on the Division of Materials Research, the Advisory Committee of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation has charged a subcommittee with looking at future instrumentation and facility needs in the materials research community. As member of the chemistry community, we ask you to respond to this request only if your research is at the interface of Materials Research and Chemistry.

If your research meets this criterion, the subcommittee seeks your input.  With this email I invite and encourage you to participate in the upcoming public webinar on this topic.  The webinar is Wednesday Feb. 8 at 3:30-5 pm Eastern.  Please see the below link for a full explanation and for instructions how to register for the webinar.  It is important to register at least one day in advance.   Please circulate to anyone who may be interested, especially the heads of your instrument facilities or anyone with particular interest in instrumentation and instrumentation development in the area of materials chemistry.  Your input is essential as it will help shape the direction of future programs and investments in these areas.

http://www.nsf.gov/attachments/122291/public/materials_2022_Jan_17_2012.pdf

If you cannot make the webinar, I encourage you to send your questions to materials2022@nsf.gov before March 5, 2012

 

Dear Colleague,

The Chemistry Department at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA is currently searching for a full time temporary instructor, beginning August 2012, to teach general chemistry as a sabbatical leave replacement. The position requires a Ph.D. in Chemistry by the time the person is hired. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due March 2, 2012. If you know of anyone in your department that may be interested they may see the online vacancy announcement to apply:

http://www.humboldt.edu/aps/employment/temp.html

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications are due March 2, 2012.

Thank you for your time, have a nice day,

 

Josh Smith

—

Joshua R. Smith, Professor

Chemistry Department

Humboldt State University

One Harpst Street

Arcata, CA 95521

Ph 707.826.4882

Fax 707.826.3279

email: joshua.smith@humboldt.edu

web: users.humboldt.edu/jsmith

 

On behalf of the Provost and the OSU Faculty Senate, I am pleased to announce the following new degree program:

Master of Business Administration and Accountancy (MBAA)

The Master of Business Administration and Accountancy (MBAA) graduate degree program at Oregon State University has been designed to create a seamless and integrated program that will allow accounting students to receive an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree during their five years of university study required to become a CPA.  To be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Oregon, a student is required to complete a university degree and the equivalent of five years of higher education course work (225 quarter credits). Given the minimum coursework requirement of five years to enter the public accounting profession, this graduate degree program provides an opportunity to enhance the education of Oregon State University’s students in a manner that will enrich all stages of their careers. The MBAA has also been designed to accommodate post-baccalaureate students wishing to prepare for accounting careers, and to provide an opportunity for MBA students to specialize in accounting.  The MBAA is unique among Oregon Colleges and Universities.

This degree program was approved on February 2, 2012 and will be available fall quarter, 2012.

February 2, 2012

To:                        The OSU Community

From:                   Jeri Hemmer, Associate Director for Employee and Labor Relations

Subject: Call for Exemplary Employee Award Nominations

Employee Award Program for Professional Faculty and Classified Employees

Start early to get your nomination packets in by the deadline.

Do you know a professional faculty or classified employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty?  If you would like to recognize someone in your unit or elsewhere on campus who exemplifies great service to OSU, please review the website below and/or attached Word file for information on how to nominate an exemplary employee for 2012.  Nomination packets must be submitted to the Office of Human Resources by Friday, March 30, 2012.

Website:   http://oregonstate.edu/admin/hr/recognition/exemplary.html

For clarification or questions regarding these materials, please contact Jeri Hemmer, Associate Director for Employee and Labor Relations, at 541-737-0547; or by e-mail: jeri.hemmer@oregonstate.edu .

 

Dear OSU friends and colleagues,

Do you have in mind a fellow Beaver who deserves some recognition?

You have until February 10^th to submit nominations for Oregon Staters who have excelled in their field of study, been dedicated to serving Oregon State University or have served their community in an exemplary way. We will soon start reviewing nominations for the E.B. Lemon Distinguished Alumni Award, the Jean and “Scram” Graham Leadership Award and the Honorary Alumni Award.

Past nominations have yielded such recipients as Al Reser (E.B. Lemon ), Eric Schoenstein (Jean and “Scram” Graham) and Mike Parker (Honorary Alumni). Don’t miss this final opportunity to include another great Oregon Stater alongside these remarkable people.

The spring awards celebration is on April 27^th, so to find out more about these awards and past recipients please click here.

Thanks so much.

 

Julie Schwartz

Associate Executive Director, Programs
Oregon State Alumni Association
(541) 737-7916 –direct
877-OStater (877-678-2837) – toll free
www.osualum.com

 

Our scholarship application for academic year 2012-13 is now live. The application will remain open until March 16^th. Current COS students with 28 cumulative OSU credits through winter are eligible to apply.

There has been a change from previous years and now the process is entirely online. There is no paper application. Refer to http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/node/108 for more information and a link to the online application.

Below please find some FAQ’s that may help you field questions from students. You are also welcome to refer students to the Dean’s Office. We are happy to help.

 

What is the GPA cut off?

Most scholarships require a 3.5 GPA. There are scholarships that have lower GPA requirements. Encourage students to apply. It doesn’t cost anything but time to fill out the application. In general, 3.0 is the lowest GPA threshold for scholarships.

 

When is the deadline?

March 16^th 11:59 pm

 

What is the credit hour requirement? Does it include Winter term? What if I don’t have 28 credit hours?

We require 28 OSU credit hours completed by the end of winter term. The 28 credit hours is a firm requirement as we review applications. *Note, the online system will not preclude students with less than 28 from filling out an application.

 

When will we be notified?

Students notified in early May.

 

When is the Scholarship Reception?

Wednesday, May 23^rd 3 – 5 pm

 

Which scholarships will I be reviewed for?

Each applicant will be evaluated for any scholarship for which they qualify i.e. major, research interest, or career goal specific

 

Below is the email that went to students today:

 

Dear College of Science Students,

Applications for College of Science scholarships for continuing students for academic year 2012 – 13 are now available!

Complete information on eligibility along with a link to the application link can be found here:

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/node/108

The 2012-13 application is open on February 1, 2012 and closes on March 16, 2012. If you have previously applied for scholarships through the College of Science, please note that there is no longer a paper application and you’ll need to apply entirely online.

We look forward to awarding this year’s scholarships to our many bright and talented students.

Thank you & sincerely,

 

Claire Colvin, Ed.M.

Head Advisor

 

Oregon State University | College of Science

128 Kidder, Corvallis, OR  97331

Appointments: 541-737-4811

Email: claire.colvin@oregonstate.edu