The Weekly Beaker
Volume 14 Number 4
October 7th, 2009
Attention All Seniors!
Comps decision-making time is here! Please go to the following web page, which has a link to the updated comps information: http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/chem/courses/comps/. The deadline for submitting your comps proposal to either Wendy Zimmerman or Steven Drew is Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 5:00 P.M. Decisions regarding the composition of comps groups and approval of individual projects will be made no later than Friday, October 30, so that you can register for the appropriate CHEM 400 section on Monday, November 2. For specific questions about comps groups, contact the listed faculty member. If you have any general questions, feel free to contact me.
Steve Drew
Seminar Announcement
Friday, October 9, 2009
3:30 p.m.
Olin 04
David Alberg and Gretchen Hofmeister
Carleton College
Metal-less Methodology: making carbon-carbon bonds using purely organic reaction components
One of the hallmarks of modern organic synthesis is the heavy reliance on metal-based catalysts and reagents. Modern metal-based synthetic methodology has proved to be very powerful in mediating the formation of carbon-carbon bonds in ways not possible by the traditional methods you learned in Organic Chemistry I and II. But, there is always room for improvements and new developments. For instance, many metals are expensive, toxic or environmentally problematic, or difficult to work with due to extreme air or water sensitivity. There has been a recent surge in the development of new synthetic methods that don’t rely on metals. Some of these methods mimic known metal-based methods, others hark back to traditional metal-less transformations, with new twists (usually the twist is stereoselectivity). Dave and Gretchen spent last year in the laboratory of Professor Karl Anker Jørgensen, at Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. The Jørgensen group is a leader in developing new metal-less synthetic methods - especially those involving so-called “organocatalysis.” Dave and Gretchen will discuss a number of projects they worked on, including the development of a metal-less alternative to the venerable metal-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling and an organocatalytic aldol reaction of potential biological importance.
Funding for Winter Break Scientific Research
Students interested in doing winter-break scientific research at Carleton or other institutions should be aware of Carleton’s Robert J. Kolenkow and Robert A. Reitz Fund for Undergraduate Research. Created by a donor, and honoring Carleton former professors Kolenkow and Reitz, the fund supports student research. Up to ten students in the natural sciences and mathematics will be supported winter break 2009, with each student receiving funds not to exceed $1,500. Funding is available to Carleton international students. Support could take the form of a stipend, travel funds, housing, etc., and it could be used to supplement financial support offered by a sponsor at another institution if the student demonstrates that the sponsor’s contribution is insufficient. If interested, submit an application by Friday, October 16, identifying a sponsor at another institution or here at Carleton, a brief description of research plans with your specific role, and a budget paragraph justifying requested funds. Decisions about funding will be made by October 28. More information about the Robert J. Kolenkow and Robert A. Reitz Fund and the online application form may be found at http://serc.carleton.edu/cismi/KolenkowReitz.html.
Annual All Science and Math Poster Session
Registration Reminder
If you plan on presenting a poster at the All Science and Math Poster Session on October 23, you must register online at http://serc.carleton.edu/cismi/register.html by this Friday, October 9. If you have questions, please contact Mary Drew at x4383 or mdrew@carleton.edu.
Humphrey Institute MS and MPP-STEP Info Sessions
The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs (http://www.hhh.umn.edu/index.php) is hosting information sessions for prospective MS and MPP-STEP students at 12:00 p.m. on October 14 and at 5:00 p.m. on November 19. The information sessions will take place in room 205 Humphrey Center. Beverages and pizza will be served. Faculty, current students, and admissions staff will speak briefly and answer questions.
The MS program prepares students with science and engineering backgrounds and the MPP-STEP program prepares students with any undergraduate background to assume roles in public policy development, implementation, management, and leadership. Students are taught to analyze and design policies for appropriate promotion and oversight of science and technology regionally, nationally, and internationally. They explore the interactions between science & technology and society in interdisciplinary ways, using a problem-oriented approach. To complement HHH courses, students are able to take additional coursework from a wide range of departments across the University of Minnesota. MS and MPP-STEP graduates have a wealth of job opportunities available to them, and graduates end up in state and federal government, business, and non-profit policy positions.
To RSVP for one of these information sessions:
- Online form: Monday, October 12, Noon until 1:30 p.m., http://www.eventbrite.com/event/177648351; or
Wednesday, November 11, 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., http://www.eventbrite.com/event/178365496 - Email HHHadmit@umn.edu
- Phone 612-624-3800
Professional Analytical Chemists in Industry: What Does an Analytical Chemist Do?
See the attachment for a description of a course offered on October 24 (Saturday) at the University of Minnesota by scientists from Procter and Gamble. If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please let Deborah know by Thursday evening (by email). If you are considering a job in industry after graduating from Carleton, this might be very informative!