The Department of Chemistry at Oregon State University (OSU) seeks to fill one Tenure-Track faculty position starting in Fall 2024 at the rank of Assistant Professor in the areas of inorganic materials chemistry. We are seeking candidates who are interested in developing innovative inter- or trans-disciplinary research programs to revolutionize sustainable inorganic materials discovery for emerging applications in electronics, energy, and environment. Preference will be given to candidates who will focus on the discovery of next-generation materials for semiconductor industries by employing automated inorganic synthesis through solution-based routes, solid-state reactions, or thin-film deposition and who employ artificial intelligence/machine learning in their experimental research. The Department is home to a sophisticated, digitally enabled continuous flow synthesis system.

The proposed research program should demonstrate proficiency or significant potential to garner national and international recognition with sustainable external grants. The successful candidate is expected to teach courses in Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, special topics, and general chemistry, broadly defined. The successful candidate is expected to fulfill working, teaching, and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equity and inclusivity for all students, faculty, and staff at OSU. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in Chemistry or a related scientific field.

To review each job posting and apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, teaching statement, research statement, and diversity statement online and arrange to have three letters of reference submitted online. For full consideration, applications should be received by October 31, 2023; however, the position will remain open until filled. Apply to posting # 144097 at https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/

The College of Science and the Department of Chemistry at OSU are committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for their students, faculty, and staff. One of our primary foci is enhancing recruitment, retention, and success for first-generation, underrepresented racial and ethnic minority, and female students or postdoctoral fellows. In addition, several faculty-led initiatives and committees focus on diversity and inclusivity in the classroom and beyond. To meet these goals, we value involvement in professional societies committed to advancing URMs in STEM (e.g., SACNAS, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science). OSU is an AA/EOE/Vets/Disabled. OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

F.A. Gilfillan Memorian Award
This award honors faculty members in the College of Science whose scholarship and scientific accomplishments have extended over a substantial period of time, especially faculty whose research careers have had a significant impact on his or her field.
–Wei Kong

Gender Equity in Leadership Award
This award recognizes work that enhances leadership skills and opportunities for faculty members who previously or currently identify as women in the College of Science.
–Marilyn Mackiewicz &
–Paula Weiss

Industry Partnership Award
This award supports projects that are developing new areas of research and establishing or augmenting research partnerships with industry partners.
–Kyriakos Stylianou

Loyd F Carter Awards for Outstanding and Inspiration Teaching in Science
Every year since 1946, the Loyd F. Carter Award has been presented to two outstanding College of Science faculty members: one for undergraduate teaching and one for graduate teaching. The purpose of the award is to encourage and recognize effective and inspirational teaching. The final selection is based solely on student nominations and voting.
–Marilyn Mackiewicz (graduate) &
–Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong (undergraduate)

Milton Harris Award in Basic Research
This award was endowed by G. Milton Harris, a Portland native who received his bachelor’s degree in 1926 from OSU and his Ph.D. from Yale University. He was a pioneer in polymer, fiber and textile science and was the founder and for many years president of Harris Research Laboratories, which later became part of Gillette. As part of his distinguished career in chemistry, Dr. Harris served on the National Bureau of Standards and as the chair of the American Chemical Society for five years. Dr. Harris and his family were and are devoted supporters of higher education, supporting numerous scholarships, awards and faculty positions in science and engineering at OSU. Milton Harris held 35 patents for polymer-coated razor blades, permanent press treatment of wool and wrinkle-resistant cotton finishing, among others. The purpose of the Harris award is to recognize exceptional achievement in basic research by honoring an outstanding faculty member in the College of Science. Special consideration is given to recent research that was carried out at OSU and that will have a significant impact on its field.
–David Ji

12 Household Items You Should Never Clean With Baking Soda
Sendo Serra/Shutterstock
BY HOPE NGO/NOV. 29, 2022 10:39 AM EST
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an indispensable part of any household — whether it is for baking cakes, where it helps by adding lift, or as a deodorizer and cleaning agent. Cleaning experts know baking soda to be an excellent household cleaner because it interacts with both dirt and grease, making them easier to wipe away. As May Nyman, a chemistry professor at Oregon State University points out, “When you are cleaning using baking soda or vinegar, you are actually doing very complicated manipulations of molecules,” per Live Science.

Read More: https://www.housedigest.com/1119556/household-items-you-should-never-clean-with-baking-soda/?utm_campaign=clip

Development Engineer, the Department of Chemistry at Oregon State University invites applicants for a part-time (.15 FTE), 12-month Development Engineer for the Chemistry Electronics Shop. Hourly wage range is $24.83 – $38.00 per hour, based on experience. The Development Engineer provides support in maintenance, repair, materials, and calibration of scientific instruments in the instructional and research laboratories for Oregon State University, Chemistry Department and other departments within the University. To review posting and apply, go to https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/125406  Closing date is September 30, 2022.

OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Project title: “Understanding the Interfaces for High-Energy Batteries Using Anions as Charge Carriers”
PI: Xiulei “David” Ji, Co-PIs: De-en Jiang (Vanderbilt), Chunsheng Wang (Univ. Maryland), Quinton Williams (Howard).

The team works on an alternative Li-ion battery technology. If successful, the new battery technology will provide a safer option for a longer driving range of electric vehicles. The new batteries do not rely on the depleting cobalt and nickel for the cathode materials, which will be more sustainable and of lower cost. The primary difference is that this new battery will use light anions as charge carriers for the operation of its high-capacity cathode materials. The three-million-dollar project from 2022 to 2025 is funded by the program of Basic Energy Sciences of the Department of Energy, and OSU’s portion will be $840,000.

Please help us give a hearty welcome to MacKenzie Boyd, the Chemistry Departments new ECampus/Undergraduate Coordinator.  They started working remotely in February because they are originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and needed to move cross country to join us here in the office.  MacKenzie says they spent most of their life in Cincinnati, but also did a brief stint in Germany when they were a child.
MacKenzie describes their family as, “the most awesome and amazing people.”  Their parents are living in Ohio and both retired, so are spending all their time having adventures and enjoying life. They have a sister in New York City, that they are tempting to move to the West Coast, and two cats who moved out here with them. 
They’ve always wanted to work in an academic setting, and when they interviewed with the department, MacKenzie says everyone was very kind and welcoming. So, they took the position.  Their job duties include, helping students with overrides, working with professors on miscellaneous projects, and being the main scheduler for the department. When asked what they liked most about their new position, MacKenzie responded, “The people! I get to work with some very funny, kind, and passionate folks.”  
As scary as a cross country move can be, MacKenzie is very happy with their decision to move to the West Coast.  “Oregon has been an absolute dream. I love the weather, the towering trees and mountains, the beach, and the outdoorsy culture here.”
Outside of work, MacKenzie is very outdoorsy.  In Ohio, they volunteered with birds of prey (hawks, owls, vultures, and even a bald eagle named Eli).  Although they haven’t found that outlet here as of yet, MacKenzie has many hobbies that they tend to switch between.  Currently, they are learning to crochet.  MacKenzie is also fascinated by bears, and bets they could teach you a thing or two about them.  For example, did you know bear cubs purr when they’re happy, just like cats?  They also said if they could have any superpower, it would be to speak with plants and animals.  They’re pretty sure they and the cats would come up with some really funny inside jokes.
Dr. Addison Desnoyer joined our Department in July 2022 at the rank of Assistant Professor.  The Department is thrilled to have a new colleague and can’t wait to see how his research grows.  Addison was born and raised in beautiful Kelowna, a city about the size of Eugene, in the Okanagan Valley in Central British Columbia, Canada. About 560 miles northeast of Corvallis (or 900 km, if you are Canadian).
He’s been lucky enough to have been joined on his career odyssey by his wife, Caroline Hedge. “We met during our undergraduate studies when I made her a liquid nitrogen Freezie at her freshman orientation.”  They recently had their first child, Stanley, who is currently just over six months old and has been teething for most of that time. They also have a 9-year old cat named Kitty, a 7-year old Shetland Sheepdog named Whiskey, and a 4-month old kitten named Sam, “so our house is pretty hectic lately!”
When Addison entered the academic job market last year, OSU was at the top of his list for a huge number of reasons. For starters, the resources, and facilities that OSU offers for researchers are excellent. OSU is the kind of place that gives students all the tools they need to be really successful in their research endeavors. Another important reason why he joined OSU is that the values of the Department of Chemistry align very well with his own. The Department is authentically striving to improve regarding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, as well as delivering an exceptional undergraduate program with significant research opportunities. 
He attributes his pursuing Chemistry to a long list of amazing advisors and mentors and says they’ve each played a part in his desire to pursue a career in chemistry. Addison said he didn’t take a single chemistry class his last two years of high school, and started university as a Biology major, and it wasn’t until he took a few second-year classes taught by some really dynamic and exciting chemistry professors that he became interested in the area of study.  He remembers fondly his first postdoctoral advisor, Prof. Ian Tonks at the University of Minnesota, who showed him the positive impact that someone can have in this job as an excellent researcher, a supportive advisor, and compassionate person. 
Addison feels the most meaningful experiences he’s had in his career so far, have been watching the growth of his mentees. “My first real taste of it was when, as a young graduate student, the undergraduates I had been supervising started to be able to perform complex manipulations in lab without any help from me. Then, they started to suggest new and original experiments to do all on their own! I’m old enough now that I’ve been able to watch many of my former students go off to grad school, earn advanced degrees, publish exciting papers, and land good jobs in both academia and industry.” 
Personally, Addison feels that science should always be working towards making the world a better place than it was before. Especially as researchers at a public university, most of the money that pays for salaries and buys reagents and instruments comes from taxpayers and donors. “Thus, I think it is very important to show the general public the kinds of problems we are trying to solve and how the methods we develop in the lab will have tangible effects on everyday life.”  This belief coincides well with his teaching philosophy, in believing that everyone, regardless of their background or experience, deserves an opportunity to learn about science. The scientific method teaches us to think critically and rationally about the world, and how to logically approach complex problems. “These skills are also incredibly valuable outside of the classroom.”
When not performing Synthetic Chemistry in his research lab, Addison and his wife love to garden.  They especially enjoy growing their own food, which, Addison says, “is another perk of living here in the Willamette Valley.”