Monday, October 27, 2008

ACS Club Participates Again in National Chemistry Week

For the fourth year running, members of the Student Affiliate American Chemical Society traveled to the Carnegie Science Center (CSC) to participate in ChemFest. This was the 10th year that CSC hosted such an event, and this year's theme was "Having a Ball with Chemistry".

As part of National Chemistry Week, ChemFest is held each Friday and Saturday of that week in various locations around the United States. On each day, dozens of local university clubs, chemistry-related societies, and industry groups provide hands-on demonstrations to thousands of school children, their parents, and the general public. At least 3000-4000 people visit ChemFest in Pittsburgh each year.

On Saturday, October 25, eight students from IUP traveled to Pittsburgh to present four different demonstrations related to chemistry and sports. In attendance were:
  • Ms. Maura Barrett
  • Ms. Lacie Buxton
  • Mr. Andrew Kerr
  • Ms. Beth Leverett
  • Ms. Olivia McGovern
  • Ms. Jessica Nichol
  • Mr. Peter Stonehouse
  • Ms. Cay Williamson


The students thank the Department of Chemistry for supporting their travel to and from Pittsburgh and dinner after the event.

Job and Internship Fair of Interest to Chemistry Majors

The following employers will be seeking students from your department at the WestPACS Job and Internship Fair on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena in Harmarville, PA from 10 am - 3 pm. On-line registration deadline is quickly approaching...those who do not pre-register on line must pay a $10 Walk-in registration at the door.

AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL)
Aquatech international
Bechtel Bettis, Inc.
Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL)
CMU
Dawood Engineering, Inc.
Delaware Workforce Connection
Department of Energy
Department of Homeland Security
DMI Companies/Ductmate Industries
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FirstEnergy
JH Technical Services, Inc.
Lab Support, A Division of On Assignment
Lancaster Laboratories
Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services
PA Department of Environmental Protection
Regional Internship Center/ Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Summer Study Programs
The Academy / The Summit Academy
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
U.S. NAVY

For more information, see http://www.westpacs.org/

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Chemistry Seminar - 10/24

This week, we welcome Dr. Wiley Youngs from the University of Akron. He'll be speaking on "Delivery of Silver Antitumor and Antimicrobial Therapeutics Using Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles and Microspheres".

Please join us at 3:30pm in Weyandt 240. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on Dr. Youngs' research, see his webpage.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Chemistry Seminar - 10/17

This week's seminar speaker will be Dr. David McCamant, from the University of Rochester, who will speak on "Probing Photochemical Dynamics with Ultrafast Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy".

Please join us at 3:30 in Weyandt 240. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on Dr. McCamant's research, see his website.

Monday, October 13, 2008

NSF Grant Awarded to Faculty

Dr. Mike Brigss and Dr. George Long were awarded a National Science Foundation grant of $148,000 to support research into a method of evaluating teaching methods based on the theoretical concept of construction of mental models of chemical concepts.

The title of the proposed research is “Student Construction of Mental Models: A Framework for the Evaluation of Inductive Teaching Methods in Chemistry”. The grant will be used to recruit participants into the research project and to hire student workers to assist in the research work.

The investigators are pleased to be awarded this peer reviewed research grant because it confirms interest in their theoretical perspectives and the correctness of the methodological framework. The grant runs for two years and is a Phase I grant with the possibility of obtaining a Phase II grant after the current work is completed.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Alumni News - Catie (Gumm) Brewer Awarded NSF Fellowship

Ms. Catie (Gumm) Brewer, a 2007 graduate now in a Ph.D. program at Iowa State University, was recently awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. The fellowship funds up to $121,500 for three years of studying in a graduate research program focusing on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Brewer received her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and today is pursuing her doctorate in chemical and biological engineering at Iowa State.

Brewer, originally from Seattle, plans to use the fellowship to fund her research on the biochar project within the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Chemistry Seminar - 10/10

This week's speaker will be Dr. Frank Bright from SUNY-Buffalo, who will discuss "Xerogels: A Platform for Chemical Sensors". For more information on Dr. Bright's research, visit http://www.chem.buffalo.edu/bright.php.

The chemistry seminar will be held in Weyandt 240 at 3:30pm on Friday, Oct. 10.

Light refreshments are provided.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Entry Level Analytical Chemist Position

POSITION TITLE: Chemist I

LOCATION: Petrolia Plant
DEPARTMENT: Laboratory
POSITION REPORTS TO: Technical Director – Laboratory or Laboratory Supervisor

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Under immediate supervision, performs all types of analyses and tests in connection with raw material evaluation, quality control, process control and process improvement in the white oil, Sulfonate, petrolatum, wax hydrogenation and environmental areas of the plant.

JOB DUTIES:
1. Performs routine chemical analyses, test and determinations involving the application of established laboratory methods and techniques.
2. Assists higher level chemists by performing assigned phases of work where little evaluation, originality or ingenuity is required.
3. Records results of tests and assignments and reports results to senior professional or group leader.
4. Learns and develops to become able to interpret test results and determine their technical significance.
5. Determine, verify, implement the appropriate analysis method and technique.
6. Identify method and procedures for investigation of analytical discrepancies.
7. Support Quality programs and procedures.

Travel Time: N/A

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential knowledge and skills.
• Solid foundation & understanding in Analytical Chemistry.
• Knowledge of appropriate method development/validation practices for the CPI.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills required.
• Working knowledge in statistics.
• Ability to work and communicate with a broad range of Technical and Non Technical personnel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills.
• Good organizational skills.

COMPETENCIES/EXPERIENCE:
Education: BS/BA in Chemistry or equivalent
Supervision: No regular supervisory responsibilities
Experience: Entry Level Position
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills required. Ability to communicate and work with a broad range of Technical and Non technical personnel.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
• Experience & working knowledge with the following analytical instrumentation/methods: Wet chemistry analysis, automatic titrator, HPLC, NMR, FTIR, AA, GC, GC/MS, UV-vis.
• This position requires communication with all levels of Associates and customers, handling discrepancy issues quickly & professionally while adhering to established Quality procedures and practices. This position will require multi-tasking, making decisions/performing multiple functions under tight deadlines, prioritizing projects, meeting deadlines frequently set by another dept or customer, assuring proper documentation is completed and maintained, following up with sample analysis, project progress details.

Contact:
Anita Orozco, SPHR
Director, Human Resources
Sonneborn
100 Sonneborn Lane
Petrolia, PA 16050
anita.orozco@sonneborn.com
724-756-9327 phone
724-756-9351 fax

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Chemistry Seminar - 10/3

Join us this Friday, Oct. 3 in Weyandt 240 as four of our undergraduate students present some of their summer research.

Ms. Jessica Nichol will present "Photochromatic Azobenzene Dye Synthesis".
Ms. Elizabeth Paladin will present "Mycobacteriophage Isolation, Characterization, and Bioinformatics"
Mr. Andrew Kerr will present "Summer Lovin' with Uranium"
Ms. Beth Leverett will present"Progress in the Study of Quaternary Diamond-Like Semiconductors"

Seminar begins at 3:30. Light refreshments will be served.