Seminar: Christer B. Aakeröy (Kansas State University) - Friday, Sep. 7, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m.

Seminar: Christer B. Aakeröy (Kansas State University)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Fall 2018

Christer B. Aakeröy - Friday, Sep. 7, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m.
Department of Chemistry
Kansas State University
Title: “From Molecular Dating to Functional Materials”
Web: https://www.k-state.edu/chem/people/grad-faculty/aakeroy/

Friday, Sep. 7, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m.
Room #186 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

Abstract

When molecules transition from solution into the condensed phase, their behavior and properties are to a large extent governed by intermolecular interactions.  Despite the fact that such chemical bonds are relatively weak and reversible they are critically important to solubility, thermal and mechanical stability, optical properties, and many other key performance parameters of modern materials.  Consequently, if we want to acquire the ability to design and construct new materials through a bottom-up approach that is both robust and versatile, we need a better understanding of the structural consequences, and balance between, intermolecular forces.  In addition, we also need to establish more reliable and tangible connections between molecular structure and materials properties.  In this presentation we will examine how several fundamental physical properties of a substance can be modified and ‘dialed-in’ through the use of co-crystallization technologies that are firmly anchored in a fundamental understanding of intermolecular forces.   Applications relevant to pharmaceutics, agrochemicals, and explosives will be presented.

Lab Coat Sales - from Sept. 10-21, 2018

Lab Coat Sales - from Sept. 10-21, 2018

Lab coats ($15) and safety glasses ($5) will be on sale from Sept. 10-2.
All proceeds go to our graduate and undergraduate chemistry societies!

All undergraduate students must have lab coats and glasses for first year and upper year laboratories!

Times:

Mon-Fri - Right before labs:
8-8:30, 2-2:30, 5;30-6
Location: 173-2 Essex Hall (next to first year labs)

OR

Mon-Fri
9:30-4:30
Location: Chemistry Main Office - Room 273-1

OR

Contact us by email:
chemclub@uwindsor.ca

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Inorganic Chemistry

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Inorganic Chemistry

Job Posting Number: 

002083TT-2019-CHE

Deadline Date: 

Sunday, September 30, 2018 - 23:45

Original Posting: http://www.uwindsor.ca/faculty/recruitment/451/tenure-track-assistant-professor-position-inorganic-chemistry

The University of Windsor’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in the Faculty of Science, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Inorganic Chemistry, commencing July 1, 2019.  This position is subject to final University budgetary approval.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs of study in chemistry and biochemistry.  Faculty members have active research programs in a variety of areas, which include synthetic inorganic and organic chemistry, materials science, surface science, solid-state chemistry and biological chemistry. For more information about the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit our website at www.uwindsor.ca/chemistry.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and lead a vigorous research program in the field of inorganic chemistry, and to attract external research funding and supervise graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.  In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to engage in collaborative activities within the research community, teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (http://www.uwindsor.ca/chemistry/), and participate in other educational, administrative and professional activities. 

Individuals with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, preferably supported by postdoctoral experience and a strong track record of publications and scientific advancements in inorganic chemistry research are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to: i) develop a vibrant research program supported by external funding. ii) lead a productive research group in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, with a focus on inorganic chemistry and the active mentoring of B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. students: iii) teach courses in inorganic chemistry and related topics at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Application Requirements

• a letter of application, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status;
• a detailed and current curriculum vitae;
• a two-page outline of research interests and accomplishments;
• a draft NSERC Discovery Grant research proposal (up to 5 pages);
• samples of scholarly writing, including (if applicable) clear indications of your contribution to any jointly authored pieces;
• three (3) current letters of reference forwarded directly by the referees to the Department Head at the address or email listed below.

Only those applicants selected for interview will be contacted.  The short-listed candidates may be invited to provide further information in support of their applications.  To ensure full consideration, complete an online application (http://www.uwindsor.ca/facultypositions) found on the job advertisement, and ensure letters of reference are submitted by the deadline date of September 30, 2018.  Applications may be considered after the deadline date; however, acceptance of late submissions is at the discretion of the appointments committee. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION

When completing the online application, please reference:

Position number: 002083TT-2019-CHE 

Questions and Reference Letters to be sent to:

Dr. James Gauld, Acting Head, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science

University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4

Tel: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3925, E-mail: chembiohead@uwindsor.ca

The University of Windsor is a comprehensive research and teaching institution with more than 15,500 students.  We are a welcoming community committed to equity and diversity in our teaching, learning, and work environments.  In pursuit of the University's Employment Equity Plan, members from the designated groups (Women, Aboriginal Peoples, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, and Sexual Minorities) are encouraged to apply and to self-identify.  If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Faculty Recruitment Coordinator(recruit@uwindsor.ca). Should you require further information on accommodation, please visit the website of the Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility (http://www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea).  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Neutron research centre to open doors for UWindsor chemistry grad students

Neutron research centre to open doors for UWindsor chemistry grad students

As the summer heat builds, four UWindsor chemistry and biochemistry students are planning a unique August trip. Instead of a typical beach holiday, the small research team, led by professor Drew Marquardt, will head to one of the two North American neutron research facilities to carry out first-of-its-kind research into neutron scattering.

Masters students Mitchell DiPasquale and Michael H.L. Nguyen submitted the successful proposal to use the Neutron Spin Echo (NSE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Their project is called “Measuring the bending rigidity of a eukaryotic (asymmetric) plasma membrane mimic with Neutron Spin Echo.” They will be joined by fellow graduate researchers Brett Rickeard and Jacqueline Gemus.

Mitchell DiPasquale and Michael H.L. Nguyen will conduct an experiment next month in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Neutron scattering allows scientists to explore the structure and dynamics of materials, down to atomic length scales, as an alternative and compliment to X-rays. Neutrons carry no charge and are magnetic and can be used to advance scientific research in drastic and unique ways, including medical advancements in drug delivery, cancer treatments or even to discover a new class of magnetic material for faster and safer storage of data in cell phones.

“We were a little baffled that our slightly obscure project was one of the few accepted by the academic peer reviewed panel,” says DiPasquale. “In fact, the panel said we were the only suitable candidates to perform this experiment on the latest equipment, based on what we’ve already accomplished in Dr. Marquardt’s lab — it is a real confidence boost.”

The researchers are looking at model mammalian plasma membranes, with a lab-designed asymmetrical membrane. DiPasquale says the neutron beam will help them measure performance down to a width of 50 or 60 atoms and will give them information on how native cell membranes behave.

DiPasquale says their study has implications in all biological interactions.

“We know proteins associate with membranes but how and why that actually occurs is unknown — this is a foundational experiment about processes we know happen, without knowing how they actually happen,” he says.

“The data we’ll gather from using the NSE would be unattainable by other methods, and this is a relatively new method of using neutrons, so it gives us an opportunity to explore something we didn’t think we’d ever get to investigate. That is exciting science.”

The group will receive 11 days of access to the Neutron Spin Echo, which is worth about $5,000 a day. Marquardt says the only Canadian neutron scattering facility was permanently shut down earlier in 2018 and the United States has two facilities, but one is on a one-year scheduled maintenance shutdown, making the success of their proposal extremely impressive.

“We’ll have access to the most complex neutron scattering instruments in the world that can produce non-destructive, highly penetrative beams that are powerful enough look into an engine block without cutting the block in half,” says Dr. Marquardt.

“The incredible part is that hundreds of research projects wanting to use the facility are turned down each year because there is simply not enough beam time to go around, and our project was accepted based on the application that my two grad students submitted as a graduate course assignment.”

Nguyen is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Not many Canadian university students have the opportunity to go on a trip of this calibre,” he says. “This will no doubt allow us to further apply our skills in a more meaningful way.” 

The group plans to produce an academic paper with the data collected. Watch this video to better understand the possible scientific applications of neutron scattering.

This article was originally published at:
http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2018-07-30/neutron-research-centre-open-doors-uwindsor-chemistry-grad-students

Seminar: Jason Dutton (La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) - Tuesday, Jul. 17, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m.

Seminar: Jason Dutton (La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Winter 2018

Jason Dutton
Department of Chemistry & Physics
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Title: “Using Hypervalent Iodine to Unlock New Transition Metal and Main Group Chemistry”
Web: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/chemistry-and-physics/research/dutton

Tuesday, Jul. 17, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m.
Room #109 Essex Hall

**Everyone Welcome**

**Note the location and time**

Abstract: 
The use of hypervalent I(III) reagents for the oxidation of late transition metals is a topic of major interest. In particular the groups of Sanford and Ritter have used I(III) compounds such as PhICl2 and PhI(OAc)2 to access Pd(IV) complexes, which have been used mainly in stoichiometric and catalytic C-H activations. The Dutton group has been studying the use of dicationic I(III) complexes [PhI(pyridine)]2+ as  oxidants for late metals for chemistry involving Pd(IV), Pt(IV) and Au(III). Most significantly we have used this method to synthesize homoleptic Au(III) trications, which represent a new family of gold compounds. These Au(III) trications can be used to access unique reactivity between gold and water, as well as extremely rare examples of Au(III)-F complexes, generated using simple fluoride sources such as KF.

Seminar: Keiji Hirose (Osaka University) - Monday, July 16, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m.

Seminar: Keiji Hirose (Osaka University)

UWinChemBiochem Seminar Series - Winter 2018

Name
Department of Materials Engineering Science
Osaka University
Title: “Elucidation of Molecular Design Guide for Rotaxane Type Molecular Machines under Consideration of Shuttling Dynamics”
Web: http://www.chem.es.osaka-u.ac.jp/supra/en/

Monday, July 16, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m.
Room #109 Essex Hall

**Note location and time***

**Everyone Welcome**

Chemistry research centre to build on strengths in organic materials

Chemistry research centre to build on strengths in organic materials

Three researchers will head up a new Functional Organic Materials Research Centre with grants totaling $700,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI), the Ontario Research Fund and contributions from industry partners.

The centre will allow chemistry and biochemistry professors Tricia Carmichael, John Trant, and Simon Rondeau-Gagné to expand on their current research into designing and synthesizing new organic materials to create wearable electronics, stretchable transistors, and highly specified drug delivery methods.

“This supports the infrastructure we already have in place, and provides new and essential instrumentation that will bolster our ability to do leading edge research,” says Dr. Trant.

Dr. Carmichael is a leader in stretchable electronic devices. This centre will give her new tools to characterize electrically functional materials and devices for stretchable and wearable electronics applications, and she says this new infrastructure will create a world-class interdisciplinary facility.

“The research we can now pursue will lead to new innovative materials for use in the rapidly growing wearable electronics market, ‘smart’ drug-delivery technologies and biomedical devices, as well as new self-healing materials,” says Carmichael.

Synthetic chemist Trant investigates triggerable drug delivery devices to help fight cancer and certain autoimmune diseases. He says this infrastructure is necessary to move forward on this research, which includes designing chemotherapy drug delivery methods that would target cancer cells and avoid healthy cells.

“I will get a custom-built peptide synthesizer — which is essentially a robot that makes peptides,” says Trant. “This made-to-order robot will be designed specifically to work with unnatural, high-value amino acids and allow ready recovery of them and will be the first of its type in the world.”

Dr. Rondeau-Gagne’s lab uses materials to build new types of transistors needed for innovative bio-electronics. He requires specialized tools to measure difficult-to-define polymers.

“We are designing the centre to be able to create new biomaterials and polymers to go from design, to preparation at large scale, and get to the final application in electronics,” says Rondeau-Gagné.

“The centre is the connection between all our capabilities and this is about delivering innovative, final applications with state-of-the-art materials. It is why we call it functional materials, because it won’t give us just the capabilities of working with our research program, but also to expand and really get that materials expertise.”

Dean of science Chris Houser says with recent strategic research hires, the University of Windsor has attained a critical mass of researchers focusing on organic materials, which makes it one of the strongest departments in Canada in this field. Together with this new research centre, they can start training the next generation of materials scientists.

“This builds momentum with research, but with Science UWindsor’s commitment to undergraduate training, we are also going to have undergrads working with this state-of-the-art equipment so that when they graduate, they will have worked with the absolute top line in equipment and materials science methods,” says Dr. Houser.

“This also makes us highly competitive, with researchers around the province, the country, and even from Michigan, wanting to come and use this equipment.”

The centre will be housed in the Faculty of Science’s new research facility and will be divided into two major biomaterials and bioelectronics platforms, and includes advanced instrumentation such as a custom-built peptide synthesizer, an ultra-high-temperature gel permeation chromatography system, and a cutting-edge transistor fabrication station.

---

Sara Elliott

For the original story, please visit:

http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2018-06-27/chemistry-research-centre-build-strengths-organic-materials