News and Information Archive

All undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral associates, faculty members, and staff members are invited to the Diversity & Inclusion Committee's Welcome Event! 

Stop in and learn about the work of our committee. Share your thoughts and ideas about what is working well or what is not! We encourage everyone to get involved!

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 26
Kate & Michael Bárány Conference Room (117/119 Smith Hall) 

Please join us for cookies, coffee, and conversation! Stop in for just a few minutes or stay for the full time!

The ACS Scholars application opens on November 1st and is open until March 1, 2019. 

The Think like a Researcher workshop is designed to help you become comfortable with the research skills and tools needed to participate in a variety of exciting research and creative opportunities including UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) and URS (Undergraduate Research Scholarship). It is designed to bring students from across the University and different colleges together to learn. Workshop Topics include: Student panel of researchers, how to find a faculty mentor, finding scholarly literature, intro to ethics, data management basics and more.
Learn more and apply at z.umn.edu/thinklikearesearcher

In order to get a permission number for directed research you need to complete this contract https://z.umn.edu/directed_research_contract

Then it will get sent to your research advisor and once they submit it a permission number will be sent to you.

NOTE: advisor needs to be sure to indicate stephs as final approver

There is an NSF-funded study that examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ undergraduates pursuing a STEM major. 

Professor Chrystal Smith at UConn is conducting this study and is in need for undergraduate participants for interviews. 

If you are an LGBTQ+ undergraduate in STEM please consider participating.

If you have any questions, you can contact Professor Smith at [email protected]

https://chem.umn.edu/news/weekly-news

Keep up with department information.

Are you interested in gaining experience in the medical field working as a medical scribe. These opportunities are flexible, widespread across the metro, and can work around class schedules. Working as a medical scribe is a great way of gaining experience working side-by-side with physicians, who can potentially provide letters of recommendation. This is also a great opportunity for students who are taking gap years before beginning medical school, PA school etc.

A summer internship opportunity is available at Interplastic Corporation.  Specifically, they are looking for a Lab Services Intern for their Minneapolis plant located at 2015 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.  They are looking for Chemistry major students in their Junior/Senior year.  They prefer someone with chromatography experience and who can use instrumentation to run standardized tests.   
Please see attached for our internship description. 
Lauren Kopp 
Human Resources Assistant 
 
IP-Corporation 
1225 Willow Lake Blvd 
St. Paul MN 55110 
Direct Phone: 651-766-3825 | Confidential Fax: 651-481-9170 
IP Corporation | Interplastic Corporation | North American Composites | Molding Products

U Frankfurt is seeking to fill a PhD position for CLOUD within the CLOUD-MOTION network (www.cloud-motion.eu). The position involves the analysis of Highly Oxidized organic Molecules (HOMs) and their molecular clusters during aerosol nucleation experiments at the CLOUD chamber at CERN using our CI-APiTOF mass spectrometer. The project includes a comprehensive training program. Applicants must comply with the EU's Marie Sklodowska Curie mobility rule, i.e., researchers may not have resided in the host country (Germany)  for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment. Starting dates can be arranged between 1 June and 1 September 2018.

If you are looking to volunteer, we have our own departmental opportunities - Outreach, Energy and U….just ask for faculty/staff who run these programs.

And there are opportunities through the university

https://cse.umn.edu/r/volunteer-opportunities/

or the Twin Cities like this one

http://www.handsontwincities.org

We asked one of our majors, Emma Corcoran, to share her thoughts on volunteering. Here are her very wise thoughts on the subject.

Here is a unique opportunity to have an impact on an international scale by attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

If you are interested in pre-med, medical technologies, and healthcare in general, here are two undergrad courses offered next academic year. Healthcare Marketplace (MILI 5585) will be offered in Fall'18; and Medical Technology Evaluation in Action (MILI 5589) will be offered in Spring'19.

If yes, please complete this survey about why you’re a chemistry major.  The survey is a part of a Term Project for IE 5541.

The survey link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQJ0yOYlQMpCH7G5RHqXglSGCUZPtdNEDipaNbch64YANpXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

To help us to prepare for the upcoming celebration of diversity in our department, please complete this survey. All questions are optional. We look forward to your feedback!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WGBQZHD

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/patents-people-pizza-tickets-44090744604

Attend FREE Informational LUNCH.

Patents, People, & Pizza

Monday 26 March

11:30am - 12:30pm

University of Minnesota Law School Mondale Hall, Room 65 (West Bank sub-plaza)

You will learn to:

Use patents as tools for business, research, and data analytics;

Expand your STEM education with practical legal knowledge; and

Identify career opportunities linking technology, business, and law.

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13

Kate & Michael Barany Conference Room (117/119 Smith Hall)

Stop in for just a few minutes or stay for the full time!

All undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral associates, faculty members, and staff members are invited to the Diversity Committee's Open House. Stop in and learn about the work of the Department of Chemistry's Diversity Committee. Share your thoughts and ideas about what is working well or not working well.

Living in Diversity

We hope that you had the opportunity to read and contemplate the scenario that was provided in the e-news last week. To promote the ongoing dialog about diversity in our department, we will provide our perspectives on these scenarios in the form of additional questions and information.

We intentionally left details out of the description of this scenario so that you could fill them in. Often, when we encounter a new situation, we use heuristics as a tool to construct the bits of information that aren't readily available. But these mental shortcuts can be subject to implicit bias. 

Answer the following questions about your reactions when you read the scenario involving Stan and John last week:

Did you make assumptions about what race each member of the couple was? Why?
Did you make assumptions about the race of the couple that approached John? Why?

Did you make assumptions about whether or not this couple was heterosexual? Why?
Did you imagine that John was the same race as the couple that approached him? Why?

What is Implicit Bias?

Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Implicit biases are pervasive. Everyone possesses them, even people committed to impartiality. Implicit biases are malleable. Our brains are incredibly complex, and the implicit associations that we have formed can be gradually unlearned through a variety of debiasing techniques.

To continue to promote an inclusive and open environment in our department, the Diversity Committee will submit content for inclusion in the Departmental Newsletter and the informational blog for our undergraduates. We plan to include information on upcoming events, stoplights on department and UMN community members and items to spur discussion. Suggestions are welcome! Below you will find a scenario that we hope will prompt discussions and contemplation.

John and Stan are an inter-racial couple that has been living in their neighborhood for a number of years and has found it to be a welcoming place to raise their family. One afternoon they decide to plant some trees in the yard to provide more privacy for themselves and for their new neighbors. John has run out to buy more fertilizer while Stan has begun digging holes for the trees. Upon John's return, their new neighbors come over to say hello. They approach John and start chatting, expressing their excitement over the nice looking yard and lamenting that they don’t have the time to keep up their own. They motion to Stan and ask John where he found his gardener.

What should the couple do and why?

The U of M Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program is now accepting applications for summer 2018. 

McNair Program At-a-Glance:

The goal of McNair Scholars is to give undergraduate students intensive, faculty-driven research experiences and prepare students for entry into graduate school.

During the the 10-week summer research program students:

Develop a great relationship with a professor that is essential for applying to graduate school.

Receive a $3,500 stipend.

Conduct research with a professor.

Develop a quality research paper.

Receive guidance through the graduate school process (e.g. identify graduate programs, write a personal statement, create a curriculum vitae).

Present research at poster sessions held on campus.

Qualifications:

First generation college student and low income, or from an underrepresented group

GPA of 2.75 and above

Full-time sophomore or junior and a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident

Students with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) focus are strongly encouraged to apply to the McNair Scholars Program, as are student veterans.

http://www.cehd.umn.edu/trio/mcnair/apply/

There will be an Aluminum Anodizers Council conference in the Twin Cities in October and they are looking for graduate and undergraduate students who might be interested in presenting at a poster session. In addition, they will be providing information for some undergrad internships.

Info sessions will be on February 22 (morning) and February 23 (afternoon)

If you are interested in attending, please contact Mollie Dunlap ([email protected]) at your earliest convenience so that we can make sure that the room we have reserved is large enough and how many sessions need to be held. 

https://osa.umn.edu/nutritious-u

Nutritious U is an on campus food pantry that will be open to all University of Minnesota students today and tomorrow.

This is a talk that you may be interested in attending. It’s close to campus (Augsburg is right off West Bank) and there will be people from industry to meet - not to mention an inexpensive dinner. There is no cost if you just go to the Panel Discussion at 7pm. 

This is a great chance to work on your networking skills.

Join us in congratulating Katie in receiveing this prestigious award.

https://chem.umn.edu/news/undergraduate-katie-landy-receives-im-kolthoff-enrichment-award

Every year, the Amgen Scholars Program provides 240 selected undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of Europe, USA, and Asia's premier educational institutions - posted on Trialect . Eligible students enrolled at colleges and universities throughout the world may apply. Stipend, Housing and round-trip travel costs are covered and the amount depends on the host University. Depending up on where you live, you can apply to the following programs:

Amgen Scholars Europe
Amgen Scholars USA
Amgen Scholars Worldwide


We appreciate if you can refer medical students and undergraduate students in life sciences to these programs.

Best regards,
Sandra
Trialect Support
+1.805.850.6002 (USA)
[email protected]

Note 1: Please do not contact Trialect for any award related queries. Please use the weblink on the posting.
Note 2: Please add [email protected] to your contact list so our emails are directed to your inbox.

The Seperations-Mass Spec Group at 3M Corporate Research Analytical Laboratory is looking for a summer intern. The focus of this internship position is VOC analysis/method development for the analysis of volatiles using GC/GC-MS -based methodologies. If interested please contact:

Katri Huikko | Senior Research Specialist, PhD
3M Corporate Research Analytical Laboratory
3M Center, Bldg 201-BS-03, Office 201-W117 | St. Paul, MN 55144
Office: 651-737-3675 | Fax: 651-736-0669
[email protected] | www.3M.com

The ACS Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students majoring in undergraduate chemistry-related disciplines, and are also intending to pursue careers in chemistry-related fields. Selected recipients are awarded up to $5,000* per academic year. To date, over 3,000 students have received a funding from the ACS Scholars Program.

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/scholarships/acsscholars.html

Here is an opportunity to present your undergraduate research. http://www.mnmas.org/annual-meeting/winchell-undergraduate-research-symposiumannual-meeting

Are you considering going on to Pharmacy?

Take a look at this video of a former chemistry major in Pharmacy School.

Also you may find these links helpful:

Action Plan https://www.healthcareers.umn.edu/build-your-student-portfolio/health-program-action-plans

Prereqs to pharmacy programs http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/admissionrequirements/Pages/default.aspx

Prereqs to the U of MN Pharmacy program https://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/degrees-programs/doctor-pharmacy/admissions/prerequisites

Approved Pharmacy courses https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LwtjLxuL_rbIQn1NtEmeaq9TROIKJdIdohiOvwBJQbM/pubhtml#

Health Careers https://www.topmedicalassistantschools.com/top-50-health-care-jobs/

We have faculty advisors in my office.  All you need to do is set up an appointment at least a day in advance.

• Monday – Doreen Leopold 12:00-2:00
• Tuesday – James Johns 11-1 & Jason Goodpaster 1:00-3:00
• Wednesday – Lee Penn 1:00-3:00
• Thursday – Stephanie (except from 12-1:30)
• Friday – Stephanie

These are 30 minute appointments.  Let me know what works for you and what your ID# is. [email protected]

Today is the first day of registration. You should not need to see an advisor prior to registration.

• Make sure, if you have a DS Hold on your record, it is set for F18 or later.
• If you need a permission number for a chemistry course be sure to include the section you are wishing to get in to when you email me [email protected].
• If you need a permission number for Directed Research please go to http://www1.chem.umn.edu/grad/directed_research.lasso to complete the contract.
• If you have questions about what to register for please set up an appointment.

Thinking about getting involved in research?

• Watch this video of one of our seniors currently in research.
• Start looking for research on campus in the things that interest you. Don't limit that search to the chemistry department. Chemistry is happening all over campus!
• When you find projects that interest you, email the professor (Principle Investigator). I recommend about four to start with.
  • State you name and major and how much time you have left in the program (no one wants someone who has only one term left)
  • Indicate what it is about their research that interests you. [This lets them know you know soemthing about what they do and didn't just send out a generic "can I work for you" email.]
  • If there are things that you can boast about definetly add it to the email. [If you are trying to get in to a polymer lab and already had the polymer lecture that would be a good thing to let them know.]
• Once you and the PI have agreed upon the right project for you, you have options:
  • You can volunteer [no pay and no credit]
  • You can get credit [this is the most common] 
    • Decide which course you will register for CHEM 2094 (usually for freshman), 4094W, 4094V (honors)
    • Decide on the number of credits (this is based on the amount of time you can committ to lab work). Note that 1 credit requires a minimum of 45 hours of effort per term.
    • Determine how you will be graded for your efforts. If it is writing intensive you can expect to have at least one rewrite.
    • Complete the contract at https://z.umn.edu/directed_research_contract. Once this is approved you will be sent a permission number. NOTE: advisor needs to be sure to indicate stephs as final approver
  • You can get paid. It is rare if a PI has money in their grants to pay undergrads. Look to UROP for an opportunity to get paid to do research.

Check out the Think Like a Researcher program from the Library