Chemistry Education Seminar

Integrating technology into undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratories:

Experiences with the chemistry education teaching assistantship

Aleksandra Popowich, Michael Reid, Yanwen Lin, and Charles Lucy

Department of Chemistry

University of Alberta

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Abstract!on!next!page.!

DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 TIME: 11:00 a.m.

PLACE: Room E3-25 Chemistry Centre !

“Integrating technology into undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratories: Experiences with the chemistry education teaching assistantship”

The chemistry education teaching assistantship is a full time three-year position devoted to chemistry education in analytical and environmental chemistry that began in Fall 2016. Primary duties include the production of instructional videos and a project of the TAs own design.

Videos are an effective way to supplement classroom learning and help students understand concepts, retain information, and draw connections. In our Chem Ed TA we produced a series of short instructional videos to reinforce in-lab demonstrations. Over twenty videos were created for second year analytical chemistry lab, although techniques such as weighing (https://youtu.be/18kIzjvJ__c) are applicable to other courses.

Specific focus was given to instructing proper analytical techniques essential for students’ laboratory success. The difficulty and importance of addressing appropriate cognitive load, student engagement, and active learning will be discussed in relation to making successful demonstration videos. The process of converting laboratory demonstrations into effective educational videos will be presented; including idea generation, script writing, required filming equipment, filming, video editing, and what not to do.

We have also developed a low cost portable colorimetric apparatus to be integrated into a Chem 213 lab. Students compare the performance between a laboratory based instrument and a cell phone.

We will discuss our experiences and perspective from the first term of the new chemistry education teaching assistant position.

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Chemistry Notices

For the Week of February 20 to February 24, 2017 Submissions: Please send to newsletter@chem.ualberta.ca by Wednesday for the following week’s edition

VISITING  SPEAKERS  AND  SEMINARS  

SAS (ext: 26659)

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Analytical!Division!Invited!Speaker!

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Arthur!Chan!!

Assistant!Professor!Department!of!Chemical!Engineering!and!

Applied!Chemistry!University!of!Toronto!

!will!present!on!

Characterizing!airborne!particulate!matter!using!ion?mobility!mass!spectrometry!and!GC!with!

soft!ionization!mass!spectrometry!!

February!21,!2017! 1!p.m.–2!p.m.!E3D25,!Gunning/Lemieux!Chemistry!Centre!

!Organic!matter!comprises!the!dominant!fraction!of!particulate!matter,!but!its!composition!is!very!complex.!Both!the!aliphatic!and!oxygenated!fractions!contain!a!large!number!of!isomers!that!are!difficult!to!resolve.!In!our!research!group,!we!employ!gas!chromatography!with!soft!ionization!to!resolve!the!hydrocarbon!isomers!(by!position!and!degree!of!branching,!and!carbon!numbers).!This!development!has!allowed!us!to!model!the!atmospheric!chemistry!of!typical!complex!hydrocarbon!mixtures.!For!oxygenated!compounds,!we!use!ESI!with!ionDmobility!mass!spectrometry!(IMS/MS)!to!gain!insights!into!compound!groups!and!oxidation!chemistry.!IMS/MS!is!a!promising!technique!to!provide!rapid!separation!and!can!be!combined!with!chromatography!and!timeDofDflight!mass!spectrometry.!Collision!cross!sections!can!be!calculated!to!provide!fundamental!constraints!when!identifying!molecular!structures.!

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  

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NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position number: Jemere Position title: Co-op student Classification: Effective Date (R&U): May 1, 2017 – August 31, 2017 Background NRC plays a central role at the heart of Canada’s   innovation system. Working with clients and partners, we provide strategic research, scientific and technical services to develop and deploy solutions to meet Canada's current and future needs. Our vision is to be the most effective research and technology organization in the world, stimulating sustainable domestic prosperity. Guided by our core values of impact, accountability, leadership, integrity and collaboration; NRC is a dynamic and vibrant organization that, in its ongoing evolution, is seeking a Co-op student. Your Challenge Our team (in collaboration with Defence Research Development Canada) is developing novel electrochemical biosensors utilizing toll-like receptor proteins immobilized on nanoporous electrodes for the capture, detection and classification of pathogens. Unlike other sensors that exploit specific pathogen recognition elements, toll-like receptor-based biosensors have the potential to carry out broad-spectrum detection and classification of pathogens in near real time. The development of such a broad-spectrum detection and classification platform is a significant step toward the development of fast, inexpensive clinical tools for early warning diagnoses and immediate on-site treatment. While these sensors offer a route to appoint-of-care detection of pathogens and their components, there remain fundamental hurdles to overcome for reliable use, including addressing the issue of electrode fouling due to protein non-specific binding and the time required for a working sensor fabrication. We are exploring voltage-mediated molecular self-assembly of thiols to speed up the sensor fabrication steps. The incumbent co-op student will assist Research Officers in the fabrication, surface modification and characterization as well as evaluation of biosensors’  performances. Organization Structure The position reports to a Research Officer. Key Activities fabrication and characterization of electrodes surface modification of electrode materials

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

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assist in the designing and characterization of protein antifouling surfaces explore routes for fast fabrication of sensing surfaces data collection and analysis of biosensor performance working with other members of the research team data collection and analysis of biosensor performance Working with other members of the research team

Key Specifications The work will be performed under supervision; however, the incumbent will be required to exercise technical judgment and initiative in order to identify problems encountered in the performance of the work.

Statement of Qualifications

Education: Students in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical and electrical engineering, and nanotechnology. Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident students enrolled in a certified co-op program with a cumulative average of B+ that will be returning to full time studies in the fall are eligible. Experience: Experience in a laboratory environment. Experience with data acquisition and data processing. Experience with handling of chemicals. Technical Competencies: Knowledge of laboratory safety including the handling of hazardous materials and nanomaterials. Knowledge of laboratory equipment. Ability to communicate. Ability to complete a job and to meet deadlines. Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision. Ability to work as part of a team and with people at all levels. Ability to learn and acquire new skills and techniques. Behavioural Competencies Creative Thinking: 1 Results Orientation: 1 Teamwork: 1 Communication: 1 Initiative: 1 Self-knowing and self-development: 1

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

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Interested candidates can contact: Dr. Abebaw Jemere, Senior Research Officer National Institute for Nanotechnology 11421 Saskatchewan Drive Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M9 Phone: (780) 641 1712\ Email: Abebaw.jemere@nrc.ca Or Can directly apply through NRC’s  student  employment  program  (http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/careers/programs/student_employment.html ) mentioning this job advertisement.

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

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NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position number: Makeiff Position title: student – chemistry Classification: Effective Date (R&U): May 1, 2017 Background NRC plays a central role at the heart of Canada’s innovation system. Working with clients and partners, we provide strategic research, scientific and technical services to develop and deploy solutions to meet Canada's current and future needs. Our vision is to be the most effective research and technology organization in the world, stimulating sustainable domestic prosperity. Guided by our core values of impact, accountability, leadership, integrity and collaboration; NRC is a dynamic and vibrant organization that, in its ongoing evolution, is seeking a Co-op student. Your Challenge The NRC National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) is seeking a summer student to support research activities towards projects within NINT’s Innovation Support program as well other strategic research programs involving materials synthesis and characterization. The primary responsibility of the candidate will work closely with a NINT research officer to carry out experiments to synthesize and characterize small organic molecules, polymers, as well as other nanostructured materials. The candidate will also be required to assist in carrying out other miscellaneous laboratory experiments. Organization Structure The position reports to a Research Officer. Key Activities Synthesis of organic compounds, polymers, nanomaterials. Characterization of organic compounds, polymers, and nanomaterials including,

• NMR • Mass Spectrometry

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• UV-Vis • FT-IR • GCMS and LCMS • SEM

Preparation of coatings and characterization of electrical, optical, and other properties. Data collection and analysis. Key Specifications The work will be performed under supervision; however, the incumbent will be required to exercise technical judgment and initiative in order to identify and problems encountered in the performance of the work.

Statement of Qualifications

Education: Students in chemistry, engineering and nanotechnology. Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident students enrolled in a certified program with a cumulative average of B+ that will be returning to full time studies in the fall are eligible. Experience: Experience in a laboratory environment. Experience with handling of chemicals and laboratory equipment. Experience with data acquisition and data processing. Technical Competencies: Knowledge of laboratory safety including the handling of hazardous materials and nanomaterials. Knowledge of laboratory equipment. Ability to communicate. Ability to complete a job and to meet deadlines. Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision. Ability to work as part of a team and with people at all levels. Ability to learn and acquire new skills and techniques.

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Behavioural Competencies Creative Thinking: 1 Results Orientation: 1 Teamwork: 1 Communication: 1 Initiative: 1 Self-knowing and self-development: 1

Interested candidates can contact: Dr. Darren Makeiff, Research Officer Project Leader – Innovation Support National Institute for Nanotechnology 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M9 Phone: (780) 641 1920; Mobile: (780) 616 0068 Email: darren.makeiff@nrc.gc.ca

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

Toronto Research Chemicals Inc. 2 Brisbane Rd, Toronto, ON

Canada, M3J2J8 Tel: 416-665-9696

Fax; 416-665-4439 Email:orders@trc-canada.com

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Toronto Research Chemicals | 2 Brisbane Road | North York, ON M3J 2J8 | 416-665-9696 | hr@trc-canada.com !

Toronto Research Chemicals has significantly grown from a one-man part-time operation in 1982 to a world leader in manufacturing complex organic chemicals for biomedical and pharmaceutical research, with over 250 employees. TRC is growing again! We are very excited to announce a major expansion. Come join our team of incredible, intelligent, committed individuals that are able to make a big impact in the industry with their technical expertise. The Toronto Research Chemicals Story With offices located in North York and Richmond Hill, TRC specializes in products for innovative research. TRC manufactures over 90,000 research chemicals used by scientists in more than 90 countries; supplying bio-analytical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing companies, as well as hospitals, universities and research institutes.

President David Dime was influenced to pursue a career in chemistry by his father, a former pharmacist. In the early 1980s, David began a small company to supply researchers with chemicals not commercially available. On October 26, 1983, the company was incorporated and in 1985 his brother Charles joined as his business partner. TRC has continued to grow steadily over the years, David is still the Head of Science and his brother Charles handles the financial aspects of the company. David says that the company’s success can be accredited to the innovative way in which they have dealt with problems while emphasizing the need for continuing to hire excellent employees! We now have full time positions available for: Senior Synthetic Organic Chemists and Analytical Chemists, Synthetic Organic Chemists. Junior Chemists, New Grads and co-op students may also apply!

Synthetic Organic Chemist Under the supervision and guidance of the Lab Supervisor, you will perform complex organic synthesis, produce complex molecules on various scales. Job Requirements & Responsibilities

• A Master’s degree or PhD in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or similar technical program

• Advanced knowledge of organic chemical reactions, mechanisms and the ability to plan and develop complex multi-step syntheses

• Strong knowledge of a wide variety of organic chemical techniques including, photochemistry, dry reactions, water and oxygen sensitive chemistry, microscale manipulations, photochemical transformations, radical reactions, modern organometallic synthetic methods as applied to long multistep syntheses and extraction of natural products

• The ability to characterize products of complex structure by interpretation of spectral data • Perform process development and research • Set up reactions to synthesize and purify organic molecules and develop methodology for

separating complex mixtures and advanced purification techniques such as ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography, including the development of crystallization techniques for the avoidance of such chromatography for separation of complex mixtures

• Work on a number of different projects of varying lengths and complexity Analytical Chemist As an Analytical Chemist, you will be responsible for analyzing samples from various sources according to our established procedures.

If there are any questions, please directly contact: Laura Ricci HR Manager Toronto Research Chemicals Inc. 2 Brisbane Road North York, ON Canada, M3J 2J8 Tel: 416-665-9696 ext. 262 laura.ricci@trc-canada.com www.trc-canada.com

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

Toronto Research Chemicals Inc. 2 Brisbane Rd, Toronto, ON

Canada, M3J2J8 Tel: 416-665-9696

Fax; 416-665-4439 Email:orders@trc-canada.com

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Toronto Research Chemicals | 2 Brisbane Road | North York, ON M3J 2J8 | 416-665-9696 | hr@trc-canada.com !

Job Requirements & Responsibilities • Bachelor or Master of Science degree in synthetic organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry or

similar technical program with an emphasis on analytical chemistry • Good theoretical and practical knowledge of NMR and MS and analytical methodology and

separation techniques • Solid knowledge and experience using analytical techniques and instrumentation such as: Thin

layer chromatography, melting point, nuclear magnetic resonance, optical rotation, gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Karl Fischer, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and various wet chemistry techniques

• Able to interpret and report analysis results in accordance with applicable procedures while adhering to strict guidelines of documentation and reporting

• Order chemicals and laboratory supplies as required • Appropriately dispose of waste solvents and maintain compliance with all health and safety

standards Working at TRC Our employees are our best resource! TRC ensures safety always comes first. Our commitment to safety is imperative to delivering high quality products. Our employees also enjoy, medical and dental benefits, corporate gym discount, Monday to Friday, 40 hours/week, flexible start and end times and a casual dress code. If you are interested in being considered for one of the above positions, along with your resume please submit the following documents to hr@trc-canada.com, indicating the position in the subject line:

• A short cover letter highlighting your experience and fit • Current reference list • For Organic Chemists: submit synthetic schemes summarizing your research, no paragraphs of

text please Please note that applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. TRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer; promoting accessibility and inclusivity at work and offering accommodation for applicants as required and requested.

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

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7128!Ada!Blvd.!Edmonton,!AB!

T5B!4E4!

concordia.ab.ca!

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1.866.479.5200!

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Concordia University of Edmonton strives to be a community of learning grounded in scholarship and academic freedom, preparing students to be independent thinkers, ethical leaders, and citizens for the common good. Concordia University of Edmonton is situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood. Supporting a student body of approximately 2000, Concordia is known for its small class sizes and its excellence in teaching. Our small classes, and diverse student population, provide an excellent opportunity for engaging with students in a sustained and nurturing way unique within the Canadian University system. Concordia is also an institution that values research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and management. The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences within the Faculty of Science at Concordia University of Edmonton invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. The successful candidate will have a proven record of excellence in organic chemistry. Of particular interest are candidates with expertise in synthetic chemistry and whose research would interface with biochemistry or environmental chemistry. The successful candidate will:

• Develop and prepare relevant materials (lecture and laboratory). • Effectively deliver assigned teaching duties. • Contribute to the operational activities to both the faculty of science and the Chemistry

Program including meetings, and program planning. • Participate in research and scholarship that actively engages undergraduate students.

Requirements for the position include:

• A Ph.D. in Chemistry; • University-level teaching experience in relevant areas; • A demonstrated record of strong research; and • Demonstrated ability to work collegially as a team member.

The normal teaching assignment is 4 courses per semester; however, faculty are encouraged to apply for a reduction in teaching to allow for an active research program. In addition, the successful candidates must be committed to building professional relationships with faculty, staff, students, and the broader community.

EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,  continued  

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Closing Date: Application review will commence March 6, 2017 and will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date for this position is July 1, 2017. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience as per Concordia’s Collective Agreement. For more details about our current collective agreement, please see as follows: http://concordia.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Collective- Agreement-Final.pdf Interested individuals may contact the Chemistry Program Coordinator who is also the Department Chair for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Dr. Vladimir Pitchko, for further information at vladimir.pitchko@concordia.ab.ca. All applications and supporting documentation must be sent to Human Resources at the address below. Application packages must include:

• Curriculum vitae; • A statement of citizenship/immigration status; • Transcripts of all graduate-level courses; • A list of refereed publications. • Description of teaching experience. • Description of research interests. • Three professional and/or post-secondary confidential letters of reference forwarded

to the following address under separate cover by the referees.

Concordia is an equal-opportunity employer. Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Please forward all documents in hard-copy or electronic format to: Human Resources

Concordia University of Edmonton 7128 Ada Boulevard

Edmonton, AB T5B 4E4 Fax: (780) 479-2793 Tel: (780) 479-9214

E-mail: humanresources@concordia.ab.ca

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.