The Joy Drive pairs OSU Sponsoring departments/individuals with OSU students who have children and are in need of help creating a joyful winter holiday season for their family.  This year, the Chemistry Department sponsored three children.   A 5-year-old girl, a 2-year-old boy and a 3-month-old baby girl.  Because of the generosity of our faculty, staff and graduate students, we were able to raise almost $400 to give these kids a great holiday season.

The parents requested a LOT of clothes… kids grow fast.  But even after all the loot below, we were still able to get a gift card for the parents to spend on whatever they liked.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

What your generous donations purchased for our 5-year-old girl.
What your generous donations purchased for our 5-year-old girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2-year-olds boy purchases
2-year-olds boy purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and of course... the baby stuff
and of course… the baby stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Pedro Molina

 

Area of Study / Position Title: Chemistry – Postdoctoral Scholar

 

Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you?)

I used to play with chemistry sets when I was a kid! Later in life, I enrolled in a one-year general science course just to keep me busy during the day as I was working evenings in those days. I became immediately hooked on science during that year and then went to the University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK) to read Biology and Chemistry. I eventually chose Chemistry over Biology as my major because I felt Chemistry had a wider scope, allowing me to learn about atoms, molecules and other relatives, stuff of which all things are made up. In addition, I can keep having fun by making compounds in the lab in the same way I used to when playing with my chemistry sets!

Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties?

My main research focus is to make new molecular metal oxides and study their properties, primarily their ability to destroy nervous gas agents like, for example, sarin.

One thing you truly love about your job?

The one thing I love the most about my job is that I can do science on an everyday basis! My position allows me to formulate hypothesis about how nature behaves, design and perform experiments to test those hypothesis, analyze the results of those experiments and communicate my findings to the wider world. All of this in close cooperation with a bunch of really smart and nice people! What else could I ask for?

One interesting/strange factoid about yourself:

I can juggle with three and four balls, clubs and a little bit of devil stick. Didn’t you see me juggling this year at the Oregon Country Fair?

We are asking your assistance in forwarding this message to inform students and faculty in your department of these outstanding fellowship opportunities. More detailed information and an online application can be found at www.nationalacademies.org/rap.

The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at participating federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. These awards include generous stipends ranging from $42,000 – $80,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients, and higher for additional experience. Graduate entry level stipends begin at $30,000. These awards provide the opportunity for recipients to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the U.S. The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and for some of the laboratories, foreign nationals.

Detailed program information, including online applications, instructions on how to apply, and a list of participating laboratories, are available on the NRC Research Associateship Programs website (see link above).

Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (phone) or rap@nas.edu.

There are four annual review cycles.

Review Cycle:  February; Opens December 1; Closes February 1

Review Cycle:  May; Opens March 1; Closes May 1

Review Cycle:  August; Opens June 1; Closes August 1

Review Cycle:  November; Opens September 1; Closes November 1

Applicants should contact prospective Adviser(s) at the lab(s) prior to the application deadline to discuss their research interests and funding opportunities.

Fellowship Positions at the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Environmental Health

Division of Laboratory Sciences

The Protein Biomarker- Lipid Reference Laboratory at the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC is performing research in the areas of human biomonitoring and chronic disease biomarkers. This research involves the development of analytical methods to measure biomarkers such as steroid hormones, lipids, and trans-fatty acids, which have been linked with chronic disease.  Information obtained from this research will be used to determine the extent of exposure in the population as well as to identify normal ranges for chronic disease biomarkers.  Findings will be used to help to identify population subgroups with increased exposure or risk, and to assess possible associations between exposure, risk, and health effects.

The research involves activities such as sample preparation using automated equipment, analysis of samples by mass spectrometry, data processing and analysis, and presentation of results.  The candidate will perform these tasks in compliance with CDC and CLIA policies and regulations, which requires record keeping activities and performing administrative tasks.

This fellowship will provide the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in human exposure research as well as laboratory medicine, using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and procedures, working in a CLIA regulated environment, and in biomonitoring related public health activities.

We are seeking candidates at the Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. levels with a degree in science (Minimum GPA: 3.0) and experience in chemical and analytical laboratory work.

At the Doctoral level, the following skills are desired:

??         The ability to conceive, organize and carry out basic and applied research directed towards expanding scientific knowledge and understanding of human measurements of lipids and/or chemistry principles associated with clinical measurements.
??         The aptitude to review scientific literature, formulate research plans, conduct laboratory experiments, interpret and evaluate results and other findings, and write reports describing the results and conclusions.
??         The ability to interact with professional and technical laboratory personnel detailed to assist in accomplishing specifically designated program activities.
??         Experience with HPLC, GC, and MS instrumentation is required.

At the Master’s level, the following skills are desired:

??         The ability to organize and carry our basic and applied research directed towards expanding scientific knowledge and understanding of human measurements of lipids and/or chemistry principles associated with clinical measurement.
??         The aptitude to review scientific literature, formulate research plans, conduct laboratory experiments, interpret and evaluate results and other findings, and write reports describing the results and conclusions.
??         Experience with HPLC, GC, and MS instrumentation is required.

At the Bachelor’s level, the following skills are desired:

??         Experience conducting routine laboratory tasks.
??         HPLC, GC, and MS instrumentation experience.
??         Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

This fellowship is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) (visit http://orise.orau.gov/cdc/ for further information). The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed for up to four year. The participant will receive a monthly stipend depending on educational level and experience and following the federal salary tables (GS tables). The appointment is full-time at CDC in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Participants do not become employees of CDC or the program administrator, and there are no fringe benefits paid.

Applications should be emailed to Heather Kuiper, Ph.D. (HKuiper@cdc.gov) by December 23rd, 2014. The application should include a curriculum vitae or resume, copy of transcripts, current pay stub or salary on letterhead (if applicable) and two letters of recommendation (letters by E-mail are sufficient).

  1. Name: Kristi Edwards
  1. Area of study / position title: Science Lab Preparator
  1. Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you, etc.) – I had been working at the EPA on a research project that the funding was ending and found this position. I was always interested in chemistry, but pursued a degree in microbiology as my advisor told me there were more jobs in micro than chemistry. Bad advice.
  1. Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties? My job duties are to prepare the labs for the general chemistry, organic, quantitative and integrated labs in GBAD. I also help with lecture demos in the afternoons,
  1. One thing that you truly love about your job? I enjoy working with the chem majors in the integrated labs. I also enjoy the faculty and instructors I work with.
  1. One interesting/strange factoid about yourself. I collect rocks and minerals from all over the world and have dug quite a few in Oregon and Wyoming.

Originally published by OSU News and Research Communications

December 2, 2014

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Chemists and engineers at Oregon State University have discovered a fascinating new way to take some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide that’s causing the greenhouse effect and use it to make an advanced, high-value material for use in energy storage products.

This innovation in nanotechnology won’t soak up enough carbon to solve global warming, researchers say. However, it will provide an environmentally friendly, low-cost way to make nanoporous graphene for use in “supercapacitors” – devices that can store energy and release it rapidly.

Such devices are used in everything from heavy industry to consumer electronics.

The findings were just published in Nano Energy by scientists from the OSU College of Science, OSU College of Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, the University of South Florida and the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Albany, Ore. The work was supported by OSU.

In the chemical reaction that was developed, the end result is nanoporous graphene, a form of carbon that’s ordered in its atomic and crystalline structure. It has an enormous specific surface area of about 1,900 square meters per gram of material. Because of that, it has an electrical conductivity at least 10 times higher than the activated carbon now used to make commercial supercapacitors.  Read more…

See also:

Controlled Environments Magazine

Phys.org

Microfinance Monitor

Science Newsline

Space Daily

Nominations for classified or professional faculty to receive a monthly Merit Award are now being accepted. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding performance in the work place. The nominator may be anyone from the campus community. Potential qualities include great working attitude, cooperation, courtesy, creativity, customer service, diplomacy, flexibility, integrity, professionalism, quality of work, sense of humor, and other qualities the nominee admires. Nominations due by the 10th of each month. For more information: http://oregonstate.edu/aop/awards-recognition or Laurie.Wyant@oregonstate.edu

The OSU Advantage Accelerator is now accepting applications for the Winter 2015 cohort. By participating in a five-month immersive cohort program, the Advantage Accelerator enables OSU community members to take an idea and turn it into a successful startup. For program information, please contact a program representative at (541) 368-5205 or visit http://oregonstate.edu/accelerator.