The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) announces a nationwide search to fill the position of Division Director, Division of Chemistry (CHE).
Dear Colleague Letter – Division Director, Division of Chemistry (CHE) Employment Opportunity
http://www.nsf.gov/mps/mps_webpage_documents/dd-ddd_dcl/2015_che_dd_dcl.pdf
The Research Office is accepting applications for the Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC) program for Summer term 2015. This program supports undergraduate research activities from all academic disciplines within the university. NOTE: the program description and application have been revised: http://research.oregonstate.edu/incentive/undergraduate-research-innovation-scholarship-creativity-urisc. Information: Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu. Deadline: April 13.
Dr. Chong Fang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oregon State University, has been awarded one of the prestigious 2015 NSF CAREER Awards.
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide program that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. A CAREER grant should build a firm foundation for the recipient for a lifetime of research excellence and creative leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.
This NSF CAREER Award will fund Dr. Fang’s research for the next five years. His current research focuses on developing state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques to reveal the fluorescence mechanisms of green fluorescent protein (GFP) derivatives and emerging fluorescent protein biosensors. These colorful biomolecules originally derived from jellyfish floating in the Pacific ocean and later from coral reefs near Australia have revolutionized bioimaging for almost two decades. However, these biosensors still suffer from drawbacks in photostability, brightness, detection depth, and color contrast, etc. The key to rationally design the next-generation biosensors with improved and targeted properties lies in the mechanistic understanding of molecular fluorescence, emitted from the chromophore that is an organic moiety embedded in the center of the protein pocket.
The femtosecond Raman methodology implemented in the Fang lab will resolve the choreography of chromophore motions, to the detail of transporting a single proton upon photoexcitation, with the time resolution of a billionth of a millionth of a second. These unique and powerful experiments will provide previously hidden governing factors for the structural evolution of chromophores and the emission outcomes in emerging GFP-related biosensors, and can be extended to other photosensitive systems. The vivid molecular “movie” that is captured during chemical reactions and biological functions opens new ways to study physical chemistry and quantum mechanics in action.
“Winning this NSF CAREER award not only provides the crucial resources we need to bring our current femtosecond Raman methodology to the next level, both in technical innovation and sample applications, but also assures us that the scientific problems we are tackling hold transformative and broad impact.” Fang says. “Our group will use the newly available resources to systematically elucidate fluorescence mechanisms in an emerging group of protein biosensors, and pinpoint strategic atomic sites that protein designers and engineers can target to rationally improve the properties of those biosensors. The fundamental understanding of how things work, at the same time, is always a fascinating journey that keeps us inspired and motivated.”
Dr. Fang grew up in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. He earned dual B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Applied Computer Science at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He continued on to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania under the tutelage of Prof. Robin Hochstrasser (1931-2013) and obtained his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (2006). He performed postdoctoral research with Prof. Richard Mathies at the University of California, Berkeley, before joining the OSU Chemistry Faculty in September 2010. Dr. Fang’s research group currently boasts one postdoc and six graduate students. Some of Dr. Fang’s other noted awards are the GRF and RERF Fund Awards at OSU, Dean’s Scholar Award at UPenn and the Guo Moruo Scholarship at USTC.
Chemistry Department Chair, Dr. Rich Carter, stated, “I am thrilled to see Chong’s significant scientific and educational accomplishments acknowledged by the NSF through this award. He is one of the leading young chemists in his area internationally and this honor is well deserved.”
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WRGP is looking for students who want to dance (or sing or recite poetically or etc.) their dissertation or thesis March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Chintimini Community Center. If you’re interested in performing, email burchsa@onid.oregonstate.edu. Drinks provided and pot-luck snacks. $3 suggested donation at the door. All are welcome! Attendance RSVP with Jennifer.cohen@oregonstate.edu
For the high-tech sector proposals:
As promised last week, we have completed the full proposal template for FY2016. Please visit the ETIC website Next Biennium page at http://www.eticnow.org/next/ for information on the high tech sector FY2016 RFP. Proposals are due March 13th.
For full proposals, here are the guidelines:
There was no requirement to submit a pre-proposal in order to submit a full proposal.
You may submit a full proposal, even if the feedback on your pre-proposal was not positive.
Feedback is not intended to indicate acceptance or rejection of a proposal, nor is there any guarantee that addressing feedback will result in an award.
For proposals that are targeting energy, manufacturing or healthcare:
Your full proposal process and due dates will differ. If you have a question as to whether your proposal falls into one of these other categories, please ask us. We continue to work with the industry representatives from these sectors to spin up their evaluation teams and prepare for a possible Oregon Talent Council. Information on the process will be forthcoming.
In all cases, please let Michele (michele_vitali@ous.edu) or me know if you have any questions, if you have not received feedback on your high-tech pre-proposal by February 20th, or if you have updates to our contact list. Thank you for your patience during this process!
February 24, 2015 – 12:50-2pm
This is a 5-7 minute presentation on who the person is that is presenting, what they do and what high school students need to do to get prepared for that career. There will be 2 other speakers. The sessions are back to back so it will be presented twice in that time period.
We’re hoping a staff person or a grad student can present for us. Anyone who is interested is welcome to call me or sign up directly on our webpage. www.bchscc.org under career speakers.
Thanks so much!
Donna Keim
541-740-1309
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In order to spur innovation in solar energy, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is now accepting applications for postdoctoral researchers in solar energy to participate in the EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards. The EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards support research on energy efficiency and renewable energy to help solve our nation’s energy challenges. This year, this exciting program will offer up to five recent Ph.D. recipients the opportunity to conduct applied research projects to advance breakthrough solar energy technologies at universities, national laboratories and other research facilities. Former recipients of the EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards are now faculty and staff scientists at major research institutions and national laboratories.
This research will contribute to the SunShot Initiative goal to make solar energy technologies cost-competitive with traditional energy sources by 2020. Reducing the total installed cost for utility‐scale solar electricity by approximately 75%, from the 2010 baseline, to roughly $0.06 per kWh without subsidies will enable rapid, large‐scale adoption of solar electricity across the United States.
Potential research topics for these awards include behavioral and data science to lower solar electricity cost, systems integration, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaic cells, modules, and materials. The awards will provide a highly competitive two-year stipend with health insurance as well as allowance for travel, relocation, and research expenses. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, complete all requirements for their Ph.D. by May 31, 2015, and have a Ph.D. for no more than five years.
The application period for the EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards closes on May 7, 2015. The awards will be announced in July 2015 for the projects to start in September 2015. Apply today and learn more about former awardees.
Thank you,
Martha Payne, EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards
eerepostdocs@orise.orau.gov