by Monica Fong – used with permission

Originally posted in OSU PRiSM

You are the center of my world
like a carbon is the center
of a tetrahedral compound.
Its hybridization is sp³
which means noting to you
but everything to me.

Our relationship just happened
just like an alkyl halide breaking
and forming new bonds with a
nucleophile at the transition state
of an S_n2 reaction.
But that’s just the slow step,
the rate-determining step.
Increasing the concentrations
will, indeed,
increase the speed.

But this can only happen
if four different groups are
attached to a carbon center,
only then is it chiral…

Chiral, chirality, nonsuperimposable mirror images
just like two hands, our two hands,
one on top of the other,
it doesn’t fit, oh, but it does fit – perfectly.

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation announces the June 5th deadline for initial inquiries to the following program:

Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences – The Foundation encourages proposals that are judged likely to significantly advance the chemical sciences.  Examples of areas of interest include (but are not limited to): the increase in public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the chemical sciences; innovative approaches to chemistry education at all levels (K-12, undergraduate and graduate); and efforts to make chemistry careers more attractive.  Aspects of proposals that are important are: broad applicability beyond the submitting institutions, specific and detailed descriptions of the chemistry associated with the proposal, and the uniqueness of the project.

Additional details are given at the Foundation Web site: www.dreyfus.org

To better integrate OSU’s renowned research into daily operations, SSI will fund applied research designed to advance the sustainability of the Corvallis campus’ built environment, operations, policy, academics, or student engagement. Preference will be given to proposals that clearly impact environmental, social, and economic sustainability. To apply, student-faculty teams should submit an application form and required attachments by Friday, May 23, 2014. Visit SSI’s website for an application packet: http://oregonstate.edu/ssi/funding/research.

This training is designed for regular users of the system such as Research faculty, Support personnel  and Grant Coordinators.  The training addresses more advanced proposal considerations and encourages sharing of tips, tricks and proven best-practices.  April 29, from 10:30-11:30 a.m in MU 211. Contact sponsored.programs@oregonstate.edu if you have questions.

Overview
The purpose of the College of Science Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund is to support research
by students and faculty within the College of Science into the mechanism, diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of disease (in humans, animals, or plants). The fund will provide fellowship support for
graduate students working with faculty within the College of Science on disease related research. Each
year the fund will support 1 or 2 graduate student fellowships for research in the summer term. The
fellowship award will provide a stipend of $6000 for the graduate student(s) and the necessary tuition and
fees for the summer term.

Eligibility
Applications are accepted from graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the College of Science.

Application
The application includes:
1) A 1-page narrative describing the student applicant’s academic career (past, present, and future),
including how this funding will promote the student’s career.
2) A CV or resume of the student applicant, including a transcript of graduate course work.
3) A brief research proposal (3 page maximum) written by the student, with input from the major
professor. The proposal must clearly address how the research addresses the mechanism,
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.
4) A letter of support from the major professor that includes a discussion of the balance of the
student/professor contributions to the proposal.

Evaluation
Applications will be judged on the basis of scientific merit of the research proposal, academic merit of the
student, and potential impact. Applications will be evaluated by the College of Science Honors and
Awards Committee. The Dean of the College of Science will make awards based on the committee’s
recommendations and the status of the Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund.

Submission
Proposals are due by Thursday May 8, 2014 at 5:00 pm. Submit application materials in a single PDF
file (labeled STUDENT_NAME_CoS_Disease_App.pdf) to Interim Associate Dean David McIntyre in the
College of Science at David.McIntyre@oregonstate.edu.

Reporting
A brief report (2 page maximum) on the research undertaken, listing any publications or other scholarly
outcomes from the work, is due within 3 months of conclusion of the fellowship.