Name: Sarah Burton

Area of Study / Position Title: Graduate Coordinator

Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you?): While chemistry is an interesting field, I lean toward the soft sciences. This is why I’m the Graduate Coordinator, and not a chemist. If you want a sympathetic ear or a fellowship researched, I’m your girl. If you hand me dangerous chemical compounds, I’ll likely mistake them for a tasty beverage or a delightful snack.

Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties? I work behind the scenes for graduate students, processing their paperwork, collecting application information, setting up recruitment events. Beyond that, I sit at the front desk, granting requests and solving problems, like a benign mob boss who must operate within the bounds of the law. Completely within the bounds of the law.

One thing you truly love about your job? Operating within the bounds of the law.

One interesting/strange factoid about yourself. There are no strange factoids about me. I am completely normal. If you look beneath the surface, you will not find anything out of the ordinary.

Students take OSU Chemistry online for a variety of reasons. This month, we focus on Angela Courchesne, an experienced high school teacher who needed additional credits in Chemistry to advance her career. Here is Angela’s story:

I have been a teacher in the state of Connecticut for 20 years and I am seeking an additional cross-endorsement in Chemistry.  I am presently certified in grades 7-12 biology and 7-12 general science.  I took the Praxis certification exam (which is used by a majority of states in the US) and passed it, then sent my credentials to the state education department to see what I would need to obtain my certification.  They told me I needed 7 additional chemistry credits to satisfy the requirements necessary for certification, so I am taking them through OSU Ecampus.

These online courses are perfect for those working full time.  I received my Master’s degree in Education online through another university.  It was perfect: no running trying to get to class on time, and you can schedule your studies around your work schedule.  During my work for my Master’s degree, I was married with no kids, but now with 2 children we are a busy family, and OSU’s online courses have worked out well.  They are best for someone who can have the discipline to sit down and get their work done bit by bit; if you are a procrastinator, you can get overwhelmed quickly because there is a lot to cover.  If I am in need of other classes, I will certainly look towards Oregon State University Ecampus Chemistry again.  Also, I would highly recommend these classes for others in a similar situation as mine.

 

 

 

The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry

Dreyfus foundation Deadline:  August 3, 2015
Funding:  $120,000 over two years

Applications should describe innovative fundamental research in the chemical sciences or engineering related to the environment. Examples include but are not limited to the chemistry associated with: the climate, the atmosphere, aquatic or marine settings, toxicology, soil or groundwater. Also of interest are chemistry-related energy research (renewable sources, sequestration, etc.), and new or green approaches to chemical synthesis and processing both with a clearly stated relation to the environment.

Applications are accepted from principal investigators who have well-established research efforts in environmental science or engineering.

Complete program details: http://dreyfus.org/awards/postdoctoral_program.shtml

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu.

It is time, once again, for OSU to name the “Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.”  This award, which seeks to recognize significant efforts of students engaged in scholarly work in their disciplines, will be presented to student participants in the Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence (CUE) event to be held on the MU Quad on May 14.  Students in each undergraduate college will be recognized, as well as one awardee for the entire campus.

Nominations for the award are due no later than April 13 and must come from faculty mentors.  The process is described in the attached file.  Please direct questions to Kevin Ahern at ahernk@onid.orst.edu.

The Office of Undergraduate Research seeks nominations of OSU faculty members in all disciplines who are guiding undergraduates in projects of research and creativity for OSU’s 2015 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. Complete nominations are due April 13.  Instructions are attached here and available on the Undergraduate Research Web page – http://oregonstate.edu/students/research/

For questions, contact Kevin Ahern at ahernk@onid.orst.edu

As current or past members of PKP, with an affiliation at OSU, we would welcome your nominations for the 2015 PKP Emerging Scholar Award.  The OSU chapter of the Honor Society of PKP established the award to honor tenure-track faculty members in any academic unit who are in the early stages of their professional careers in recognition of outstanding research or creative activity in their field of study.  The award consists of a plaque and first year membership dues to both the local OSU Chapter and the National Society of Phi Kappa Phi.  A nominee must be a faculty member at OSU who:
•         holds a tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant professor in any academic field at the University
•         has conducted outstanding research or creative work in the arts, sciences, or professional fields, especially while at OSU
Applications must be submitted by April 10 to: Michael.Wing@OregonState.edu .  For more details, please go to http://phikappaphi.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/EmergingScholarFlier2015.pdf

Nominees do not need to be current members of PKP.

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, flexibility, professionalism, quality of work, sense of humor, and other qualities the nominee admires. Nominations are due by March 16. For more information: http://oregonstate.edu/aop/awards-recognition.  February’s is Beth Chamblin, College of Vet Med.

We are pleased to announce there will be another Radiochemistry Fuel Cycle Summer School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2015.  This is the 6th year of the summer school at UNLV.  The summer school is scheduled for 6 weeks from 15 June 2015 to 24 July 2015, with the dates to be confirmed.  The course topics include radioactive decay, chemistry of radioisotopes, nuclear properties, and nuclear structure, technetium chemistry, actinide chemistry, and the use of radiochemistry in research.  The course has morning lectures and afternoon laboratories, with a number of web-based lectures. Five weeks are devoted to independent laboratory research projects.
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Applications are due by April 29, 2015. Twelve students will be selected for participation and notified by May 6, 2015. Rising seniors are preferred, but all applications will be reviewed. Finalization of the summer school is contingent upon funding. Application requires a statement of interest, resume, transcript (unofficial acceptable) and letter of recommendation. This information should be sent to Ms. Wendee Johns (wendee.johns@unlv.edu). Selected students are expected to participate in coursework, research and nuclear facility tours. This Summer School is sponsored by the Department of Energy-Nuclear Energy and organized by the Radiochemistry Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Program details and application information are available at: http://radchem.nevada.edu/rfcss.html.

Flyer UNLV Fuel Cycle Summer School 2015

The Teva Pharmaceuticals Scholars grants program will begin accepting proposals on March 16th. Proposals are due by May 1st.

The Teva Pharmaceuticals Scholars grants program is administered by the ACS Office of Research Grants with funding provided by Teva Pharmaceuticals. The program is a philanthropic grant program that supports academic researchers in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry.

Award Information
Amount: $100,000 per year for 3 years
Number of awards: 3
Award period: September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2018

Eligibility
An applicant must be a recently-tenured faculty member of a PhD-granting department in the United States.

Research Area and Evaluation Criteria
Applications for the Teva Pharmaceuticals Scholars grants must propose research in the area of organic chemistry, with potential or direct connections with medicinal or pharmaceutical chemistry, such that the successful results would be of potential practical benefit to the discovery of organic compounds useful as human medicines. Proposals are evaluated on: a) scientific merit, creativity and novelty; and b) addressing unexplored fields in organic and/or medicinal chemistry. General aspects of research proposals will also be considered, such as: Is the project achievable within the time frame? Are the personnel and facilities adequate? Does the applicant consider and address potential problems?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/grants/teva-pharmaceuticals-scholars-grants.html

Multiple submissions are allowed assuming separate PIs. The Foundation Services office can assist in the proposal writing process http://osufoundation.org/foundation_services/.

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