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E O E O yyyyN N A E S A E S S S S L S L T T A A E A E A C C R C I R C I yyyyN S M N S M S E S E E H E H C C C C T N T N IO A December 2006IO A Vol. LXXXV, No. 4 yyyyC C N • AMERI N • AMERI
Monthly Meeting Making the Connection Medicinal Chemistry Symposium: “New An Article on Good Hiring Practices Approaches on Depression” by Megan Driscoll, Jennifer Sass and Scott Szczesny Book Review Report from NERM “Leaps in the Dark. The Making Of Scientific 2006 Reputations” by John Waller. Reviewed by Dennis Sardella By Morton Z. Hoffman featured a chemist, an environmental logistics. The Board elected Christo- Report from activist, a local newspaper reporter, a pher Masi (Westfield State College; public health specialist, and a local Central Massachusetts Local Section) member of the New York State Assem- and Wayne Jones to two-year terms NERM 2006 bly, who discussed the ramification of (starting 1/1/07) as Secretary and Trea- Morton Z. Hoffman, the TCE spill at the IBM manufactur- surer, respectively; they will replace Boston University ing site; the career services provided Willem Leenstra (University of Ver- NESACS Representative to the Board by the ACS Chemjobs Career Center, mont; Green Mountain Local Section), of Directors, Northeast Region of the who has held the combined positions ACS, Inc. since the incorporation of the North- east Region in 2005. Continuing as The 34th Northeast Regional ACS Chair and Vice Chair of the Board until Meeting was held in Binghamton, NY, the end of 2007 will be Julianne Smist on October 5-7, 2006. Hosted by the (Springfield College; Connecticut Val- Binghamton Local Section, the meet- ley Local Section) and Richard Cobb ing had “Emerging Technologies and (Rochester Local Section), respec- the Chemical Sciences” as its theme, tively. The Board voted to participate and offered 554 presentations; more in the Division of Chemical Education than 850 registrants, including 120 (l-r) Wayne Jones(Binghamton University), Tobin Marks (Northwestern University), Ann undergraduate students, were in atten- Nalley (ACS President) dance. With numerous grants to sup- photo by Morton Z. Hoffman port programs within the meeting, which included career workshops, more than 20 exhibitors, many organi- résumé reviews, and the use of the zational supporters, and a very strong Career Center database by job seekers; program, the meeting was the best a symposium for K-12 teachers that attended NERM (and one of the most attracted more than 40 attendees. The profitable) in recent years. Among the details of the meeting program and attendees from ACS governance were the abstracts of the papers can be James Burke (Chair of the Board of found at http://www.nerm2006.org/. Richard Cobb (Eastman Kodak), at right, win- ner of theRegional Award for Volunteer Service, Directors), Anne O’Brien (District I The following were honored at the receiving congratulations from Morton Hoffman Director), Ann Nalley (President), and awards reception and dinner: Brenda (Boston University), designated recipient of the Catherine Hunt (President-Elect); also From (Manhattan High School for 2007 Award for Volunteer Service to the ACS. present were three of the four current Girls, New York, NY), Excellence in photo from Morton Z. Hoffman candidates for President-Elect High School Chemistry Teaching Regional High School Teacher Award. (Rhodes, Shakhashiri, and Walsh). Award; Richard Cobb (Eastman A preliminary bid from the Connecti- Kodak), Regional Award for Excel- cut Valley Local Section to host lence in Volunteer Service; Kenneth NERM 2009 in Hartford, CT , or Takeuchi (University of Buffalo), Stan- Springfield, MA, was received; a full ley C. Israel Regional Award for proposal from the Northern New York Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Local Section to host NERM 2010 in Sciences; Voya Markovich (Endicott Potsdam, NY, was accepted. The idea Interconnect Technologies), Patricia of holding the 2011 NERM jointly Burns, Grazyna Kmieciek-Lawrynow- with the Middle Atlantic Regional icz, Hwee Ng, and Chieh-Min Cheng Meeting (MARM) at a site near the (all of Xerox), Regional Industrial border of the two regions ( e.g., (l-r) Ann Nalley (ACS President), Anne O’Brien Innovation Award. Westchester County, NY) was favor- (District I Director), Katie Hunt (ACS Presi- The Board of Directors of the ably discussed; local sections in the dent-Elect) photo by Morton Z. Hoffman Northeast Region, Inc., held its annual Northeast Region are invited to Notable in the program were the meeting on October 7 at which time it express interest to serve as a host. following features: the keynote lecture unanimously voted to commend Inasmuch as there will be no NERM in by Tobin Marks (Northwestern Univer- Wayne Jones (Binghamton University; 2007, the Board will next meet at the sity) on “New Materials and Processes Binghamton Local Section), the Gen- Boston ACS meeting. for Organic Transistors, Inorganic eral Chair of NERM 2006, for leading NERM 2008 will be hosted by the Transistors, and Printed Electronics;” the organizing committee of this very Green Mountain Local Section on June the public interest symposium on “Liv- successful NERM and for engaging the 29-July 2 in Burlington, VT. See ing in a Chemical World: Trichloroeth- more than 60 volunteers who worked
2 The Nucleus December 2006 The Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc. Contents Office: Marilou Cashman, 23 Cottage St., Natick, MA 01360. 1-800-872-2054 (Voice or FAX) or 508-653-6329. Report from NERM 2006 ______2 e-mail: mcash0953(at)aol.com By Morton Z. Hoffman. Photos by Morton Z. Hoffman Any Section business may be conducted via the business office above. Book Review by Dennis Sardella______4 NESACS Homepage: http://www.NESACS.org Leaps in the Dark. The Making of Scientific Reputations, by John Waller Sathish Rangarajan, Webmaster ACS Hotline, Washington, D.C.: Monthly Meeting ______5 1-800-227-5558 Medicinal Chemistry Symposium: New Approaches on Depression Officers 2006 Chair: Chemists in the Community ______8 Patricia Mabrouk ACS leadership and members help out at San Francisco Meeting by Lee Latimer Chemistry Department, Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115 2007 National ACS Award Winners from NESACS ______8 613 373 2845; p.mabrouk(at)neu.edu Chair-Elect: Call for Nominations______9 Mukund Chorghade James Flack Norris Award, Philip L. Levins Memorial Prize 14 Carlson Circle, Natick, MA 01360-4205 508-651-7809 and 508-308-3891 Making the Connection 10 Chorghade(at)comcast.net ______Immediate Past Chair: An article on good hiring practices by Megan Driscoll, Jennifer Sass and Amy Tapper Scott Szezesny of PharmaLogics Recruiting Peptimmune 64 Sidney Street, Suite 380, Chemists in the Community ______14 Cambridge, MA 02139 613-715-8005; amy.tapper(at)peptimmune.com NESACS Member Helps at San Francisco Zoo Secretary: Student Affiliate Chapters Honored 14 Michael Singer ______Sigma-Aldrich 3 Strathmore Rd. Natick, MA 01360-2447 Pictures from the September and October Meetings ______16 508-651-8151x291 msinger(at)sial.com By Morton Z. Hoffman, James Phillips and Venu Neelagiri Treasurer: James Piper Cover: Meeting of Argentinian and American journal donation collaborators, 19 Mill Rd., Harvard, MA 01451 Professor Maximo Baron (r) and Daniel Eustace (NESACS) in Buenos Aires at 978-456-3155 piper28(at)attglobal.net AQA headquarters on October 10, 2006. Dan’s article on journal donations in Auditor: Anthony Rosner the Summer edition of the Nucleus prompted a member to donate 40 years of J. Archivist: Phys. Chem. and J. Electrochem. to the AQA. Prof. Baron is now trying to figure Myron S. Simon out how to transport the collection to Argentina. Photo provided by Dan Eustace. 20 Somerset Rd. Newton, MA 02465; 613-332-5273 Deadlines: February 2007 Issue: December 8, 2006 romysimon(at)mindspring.com Trustees: March 2007 Issue: January 10, 2007 Joseph A. Lima, Esther A.H. Hopkins, Michael E. Strem Councilors Alternate Councilors Term Ends 12/31/2006 Michaeline F. Chen Wallace J. Gleekman Catherine E. Costello Howard R. Mayne The Nucleus is distributed to the members of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Patricia A. Mabrouk Alfred Viola Society, to the secretaries of the Local Sections, and to editors of all local A.C.S. Section publications. Julia H. Miwa Barbara G. Wood Forms close for advertising on the 1st of the month of the preceding issue. Text must be received by the Dorothy J. Phillips David Warr editor six weeks before the date of issue. Term Ends 12/31/2007 Editor: Michael P. Filosa, editor, Ph.D., ZINK Imaging Incorporated, 1265 Main Street, Thomas R. Gilbert Arlene W. Light Michael J. Hearn Timothy B. Frigo Waltham, MA 02451 Email: Michael.Filosa(at)zink.com; Tel: 781-386-8479. Michael Singer Mary Mahaney Associate Editors: Myron S. Simon, 20 Somerset Rd., W. Newton, MA 02465, Tel: 613-332-5273 Pamela Nagafuji Mark Froimowitz Nancy Simons, Analytical Chemist, Corporate R&D, Boston Scientific Corp., Term Ends 12/31/2008 1 Boston Scientific Place A4, Natick, MA 01360-1537. Doris I. Lewis Patrick M. Gordon Email: Nancy.Simons(at)bsci.com; Tel. 508-650-8603; Fax 508-647-2329 Morton Z. Hoffman Michael P. Filosa Sheila E Rodman, Konarka Techologies Inc., 116 John St. Suite 12, Lowell, MA Christine Jaworek-Lopes Lawrence Scott Mary Burgess Liming Shao 01852 email:srodman(at)konarka.com tel 978-569-1414 Donald O. Rickter S. B. Rajur Board of Publications: Mary Mahaney (Chair), Martin Idelson, Vivian K. Walworth Business Manager: Karen Piper, 19 Mill Rd., Harvard, MA 01451, Tel: 978-456-8622 All Chairs of standing Advertising Manager: Vincent J. Gale, P.O. Box 1150, Marshfield, MA 02050, Committees, the editor Tel: 781-837-0424; FAX: 781-837-1453 of THE NUCLEUS, and Contributing Editors: Morton Hoffman, Feature Editor; Dennis Sardella, Book Reviews; the Trustees of Section Calendar Coordinator: Sheila Rodman, email: srodman(at)konarka.com Funds are members of the Photographers: Morton Z. Hoffman and James Phillips Board of Directors. Any Councilor of the American Chemical Society Proofreaders: Donald O. Rickter, Myron S. Simon, Vivian K. Walworth residing within the section area is an ex officio Webpage: Webmaster: Sathish Rangarajan, sathish.rangan2(at)gmail.com member of the Board of Directors. Copyright 2006, Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc. The Nucleus December 2006 3 Book Review Corporate Patrons and Golf Iridium Leaps In The Dark. The Making Of Scientific Reputations, Astra Zeneca R&D Boston by John Waller Genzyme Drug Discovery & Dev (Oxford University Press, 2004) 292 pp., Hovione IBM ISBN 0-19-280484-7; $24.95 hardcover) IRIX Pharmaceuticals Reviewed by Dennis J. Sardella Department of Chemistry, Johnson-Matthey Pharma Solutions Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Lyophilization Service of New Eng- land Not long ago the winners of the 2006 their fair share of credit, or who are Merck Nobel Prizes in science were given credit for things they never did. Phasex Corporation announced. This year’s choices appear Ten years ago I read an intriguing book Sepracor to have been non-controversial, though entitled Lies My Teacher Told Me, in Strem Chemicals, Inc. that has not always been the case. I which the author pointed out that many Zone Enterprises have occasionally heard colleagues topics in American History books are Corporate Sponsors and Golf complain that someone got the prize presented in either a misleading or an Rhodium less for scientific achievements than for incorrect way. In a sense, Leaps In The Aerodyne Research, Inc. good publicity or a large body of good, Dark falls into a similar genre. How- Cambridge Isotope Laboratories but not really exceptional work, or that ever, Waller, a Lecturer in the History Cambridge Major Laboratories the prize should have been shared with of Medicine and Biology at the Univer- New England BioLabs, Inc. some else. Perhaps these complaints sity of Melbourne, is not a muckraker, Pfizer are nothing more than sour grapes, but but a serious historian of science. Sigma-RBI the uneasy possibility exists that some Waller divides his book into four Shasun Pharma Solutions might not be entirely baseless. parts, the first of which (“Falling From Donors and Golf Tungsten While the idealistic view of sci- Grace”) deals with case studies of sev - Consulting Resources Corp. ence might lead one to expect – or at eral otherwise excellent scientists Dishman Pharmaceuticals least hope – that the system of inde- whose negative reputations derive And Chemicals Limited pendent verification and peer review from the fact that they took positions Houghton Chemical Company might ensure that credit is allocated that were consistent with the best sci- Organix, Inc. fairly, rewards given equitably, and ence of the time, but that ultimately Vertex misattributions of credit corrected were shown to be incorrect (a case of promptly, science is a human endeavor, “the evil that men do lives after them; one who happened to be on the wrong practiced not by brilliant, disinterested the good is oft interred with their end of a serious scientific debate. automatons, but by people who do not bones”). For instance, he profiles Laz - Waller next turns to cases of what check their humanity at the laboratory zaro Spallanzani (1729-1799), the Ital- he calls the “Eureka!” moment — the door. The passions and competitive ian biologist who devised numerous blinding flash of insight or the critical spirit that draw them to the laboratory elaborate experiments to test the theory experiment that ushers in a new para- in the quest for knowledge also fuel the of preformationism — the idea that liv- digm that brings clarity and organiza- quest for recognition of their achieve- ing beings exist fully-formed in minia - tion to what was heretofore a chaotic ments, and human frailties, such as ture in the egg or the sperm, merely mass of baffling data. For example, greed or simple dishonesty, have cer- growing into their full size during ges - Archimedes soaking in his bath, tainly led to misattribution, fabrication tation rather than developing. While Kekulé dozing by the fire, Newton of data or plagiarism. Yet, the scientific the theory was ultimately shown to be relaxing under the apple tree. Waller community generally seems to support incorrect, much evidence appeared to examines three cases — Newton’s the notion that the truth will always support it at the time, and countervail - development of his theory of light and win out, and that a person’s scientific ing evidence only emerged slowly, and color, James Lind’s discovery that reputation will be a faithful reflection Spallanzani’s championing of it was scurvy can be cured and prevented by of the quality of their body of work. eminently sensible in the light of what citrus fruits, and Semmelweis’ linking Leaps In The Dark: The Making was considered good science at the poor hygiene to childbed fever — and Of Scientific Reputations, by John time. Only the advantage of hindsight shows convincingly that the truth is Waller, takes on the topic of how repu - makes his experiments appear laugh- vastly more complex than the simplis- tations in science are made (or able, yet this, rather than his many tic, almost moralistic tales that are unmade), focusing on several case other achievements and facility as an often repeated. As Waller puts it, studies of scientists who have either investigator, are what Spallanzani is “Writers weaned on the romantic not received credit that was their due, remembered for, and he is often treated tropes of great-man history have not or who have either received more than as a scientific joke, rather than some- Continued on page 15
4 The Nucleus December 2006 Speakers Monthly Meeting Speaker: Phil Skolnick, Ph.D., D.Sc. th (hon.) The 874 Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the American (Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Chemical Society Vice President, DOV Pharmaceuticals, Jointly with the Medicinal Chemistry Group Inc.) Biography Symposium: New Approaches on Depression Phil Skolnick was born in New Organized by the Medicinal Chemistry Division York City, where he attended Northeastern Section, American Chemical Society Stuyvesant High School. After gradua- Thursday – December 14th, 2006 tion he went on to Long Island Univer - Wellesley College Club, sity and The George Washington 727 Washington St (Rt. 16), Wellesley, MA University School of Medicine, where he received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology Sponsored by Sepracor Inc. in 1972. He then moved to the NIH, Program where he spent 22 years in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, 2:00 pm Introductory Remarks ending as a senior investigator and Liming Shao, Ph.D., Chair of Medicinal Chemistry Division Chief of the Laboratory of Neuro- 2:15 pm Differentiating Antidepressants of the Future: Novel Approaches to science of the National Institute of the Treatment of Depression, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Lee E. Schechter, Ph.D., Therapeutic Area Head/Director of Depres- Diseases. In 1997 he moved to Eli sion and Anxiety Research Neuroscience Discovery, Wyeth Research) Lilly, where he was a research fellow in Neuroscience until 2001, when he 3:00 pm Dominant-Submissive Relationships in Paired Animals for Antimanic left to become the Chief Scientific and Antidepressant Drug Testing Officer and Vice President at DOV Ewa Malatynska, Ph.D. (Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Devel- Pharmaceuticals. He was promoted to opment) Senior Vice President in 2003. Dr. 3:45 pm Coffee Break Skolnick was on the faculty at the Uni - formed Services University of the 4:05 pm TBD Health Sciences while at the NIH, on 4:50 pm Broad Spectrum Antidepressants: Molecules, Mice, And Men, Phil the faculty of the Indiana University Skolnick, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon.) (Chief Scientific Officer and Executive School of Medicine while at Eli Lilly, Vice President, DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc.) and has been a Research Professor of 5:40 pm Social Hour Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine since 2001. Dr. 6:30 pm Dinner Skolnick has received a number of 7:30 pm Glutamatergic Modulators for the Treatment of Mood Disorders, prestigious awards and lectureships Carlos A. Zarate, Jr., M.D. (Chief Mood Disorders Research Unit and also received honorary Doctor of Associate Clinical Director, Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiol- Science degrees from Long Island Uni- ogy National Institute of Mental Health) versity in 1993 and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1995. Dr. Dinner reservations should be made no later than noon, Thursday, December 7, Skolnick has served and serves on the 2006. Please call or fax Marilou Cashman at 800-872-2054 or e-mail at editorial board of a number of journals, Mcash0953(at)aol.com. Please specify vegetarian. Reservations not cancelled at published several books and scholarly least 24 hours in advance must be paid. Members, $28.00; Non-members articles and also holds several patents. $30.00; Retirees, $15.00; Students, $10.00. Abstract THE PUBLIC IS INVITED Broad Spectrum Antidepressants: Directions to Wellesley College Club: Take Route 128/I95 to exit 21B-22 and Molecules, Mice, And Men proceed west on route 16 through the town of Wellesley. Turn right at the The majority of antidepressants in entrance to the College across from the golf course and parking lot. The club is current use inhibit the uptake of sero- the first building on the left inside the entrance. For more detailed directions go tonin (5-HT) and/or norepinephrine to http://www.wellesley.edu/Collegeclub/directions.html . (NE). Both preclinical and clinical studies indicate that a molecule capa- Continued on page 6
The Nucleus December 2006 5 Symposium of Molecular Pathophysiology and has written a number of book National Institute of Mental Health) chapters and reviews. Continued from page 5 Biography Abstract ble of inhibiting the uptake of 5-HT, Carlos Zarate received an M.D. Glutamatergic Modulators for the NE and dopamine (DA) (triple reup- from the Catholic University of Cor- Treatment of Mood Disorders take inhibitors that are also referred to doba (Argentina) School of Medicine It is clear that for a number of as broad spectrum antidepressants) will in 1985 and did internships in cardio- patients with mood disorders, current be superior to current therapies in one vascular surgery and general medicine. pharmacotherapy is generally insuffi- or more dimensions, including speed His residency in Adult Psychiatry was cient. In spite of adequate treatment, of onset, efficacy (defined here as an at the Massachusetts Mental Health patients continue to have recurrent increase in the proportion of patients Center/Brockton Veterans Administra- mood episodes, residual symptoms, exhibiting a meaningful clinical tion Medical Center, where he was functional impairment, psychosocial response, including remission), and Chief Resident from 1991 to 1992. He disability and significant medical and side effect profile. The central tenets then spent several years as a Research psychiatric comorbidity. There is supporting this hypothesis are derived Fellow in Psychiatry and Epidemiol- increasing evidence that, although not from evidence linking deficits in ogy at McLean Hospital in Belmont, classical neurodegenerative disorders, dopaminergic transmission to anhedo- Massachusetts. He served on the fac- severe mood disorders are associated nia, and the role of dopamine, and ulty of both Harvard Medical School with regional impairments of structural more specifically, the mesocorticolim- and the University of Massachusetts plasticity and cellular resilience. This bic pathways subserved by dopamine, Medical School before moving to the suggests that effective treatments will in cognition, reward, and incentive- Washington D.C. area and NIMH in need to provide both trophic and neu- driven, goal oriented behaviors. This 2001, where he also serves on the fac- rochemical support, which serves to lecture will review preclinical and clin- ulty of both Howard Medical School enhance and maintain normal synaptic ical studies that support this hypothe- and as a Clinical Professor of Psychia- connectivity, thereby allowing the sis, and summarize recent findings try at George Washington University. chemical signal to reinstate the optimal with a family of azabicyclohexane He is on the Editorial Board of Journal functioning of critical circuits neces- triple reuptake inhibitors. . of Clinical Psychiatry and Atlantic sary for normal affective functioning. Speaker: Carlos A. Zarate, Jr., M.D. Psychopharmacology. He has given For many refractory patients, drugs (Chief Mood Disorders Research Unit over 200 invited presentations, pub- mimicking ‘traditional’ strategies, Associate Clinical Director, Laboratory lished more than 100 original papers which directly or indirectly alter monoaminergic levels may be of lim- ited benefit. Newer “plasticity enhanc- ing” strategies that may have utility in the treatment of mood disorders include glutamatergic modulators such as inhibitors of glutamate release, NMDA antagonists, AMPA potentia- tors, and enhancers of glutamate uptake. Speaker: Lee E. Schechter, PhD (Therapeutic Area Head/Director of Depression and Anxiety Research Neu- roscience Discovery, Wyeth Research) Biography Lee Schechter began his academic training at Upsala College in East Orange NJ, where he received a BS in Biology and Environmental Studies in 1977. After working for both the EPA and local government in New Jersey, he spent a year at the Institute of Experimental Pathology and Toxicol- ogy at Albany Medical College. He then went on to the Department of Pharmacology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, where he earned a
6 The Nucleus December 2006 in monoaminergic neurotransmission appointed Assistant Professor at Indi- Sepracor appear to be involved based upon the ana University School of Medicine in mechanism of the previously devel- 1996 and promoted to tenured Associ- oped array of efficacious antidepres- ate Professor in 2002. Her work at Sponsors sants which include the monoamine Indiana University was on develop- oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective ment of dominant-submissive relation- MedChem serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) ship based model of mania and and the serotonin norepinephrine reup- depression; in addition, she continued take inhibitors (SNRIs). While these her earlier work on affective disorders Symposium drugs have provided significant and the interaction of the GABA advances to the treatment of depres- receptors and known antidepressants. The Northeastern Section ACS wishes sion there are still unmet clinical needs In 2002 she accepted a position as a to thank Sepracor, Inc. for their gener- in terms of efficacy and side effects. Principal Scientist at Johnson and ous sponsorship of the December Med- The design of new antidepressant med- Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and ◆ icinal Chemistry Symposium. ications is clearly a challenging area Development, where she is continuing and current drug development efforts her research on the mechanism of are evaluating multiple new targets and action of antidepressants and applying Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1989. His strategies which range from subtype that to the development of new antide - next stop was the Institut nationale de selective approaches to combination pressants. la sante et de la recherché medicale therapies. From a treatment perspec- Abstract (INSERM) in France, where he was a tive this would include strategies that postdoctoral fellow and visiting scien- Dominant-Submissive Relationships in target symptomatic therapy, while Paired Animals for Antimanic and tist in Cellular and Functional Neuro- other new exciting approaches are biology from 1988-1990. Since 1993 Antidepressant Drug Testing exploring potential disease modifying This presentation discusses domi- Dr. Schechter has been at Wyeth effects based upon the finding that Research in Princeton New Jersey, nant-submissive relationships (DSR) depression may have neurodegenera- formed between paired animals, mice where he is currently the Therapeutic tive underpinnings. Taken together Area Head and Director of Depression or rats in a food competition test. We this presentation will discuss the differ- are using dominant behavior for anti- and Anxiety Research. Dr. Schechter entiation of antidepressants of the has also been active at the Medical manic and submissive behavior for future and the scientific rationale antidepressant drug testing in the College of Pennsylvania since his behind novel drug development efforts. Ph.D. work there, working as a tutor reduction of dominant behavior model and lecturer, and has been an adjunct Speaker: Ewa Malatynska, Ph.D. (RDBM) or the reduction of submis- Instructor since 1991. The author of (Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & sive behavior model (RSBM), respec- numerous patents, book chapters and Development) tively. In our experiments, Sprague- original manuscripts, Dr. Schecter has Dawley rats or C57Bl/J6 mice were Biography food-restricted, randomly paired and also given lectures in both the U.S. and Ewa Malatynska first began work- Europe. placed in an apparatus allowing them ing on antidepressants in graduate to compete for a food reward. A frac- Abstract school, where she developed a new tion of rat and mouse populations Differentiating Antidepressants of the behavioral test for antidepressant activ- tested developed dominant -submissive Future: Novel Approaches to the Treat- ity, the clonidine reversal of domi- relationships over a two-week period, ment of Depression. nance behavior test. Her postdoctoral which was stable for at least three Depression is a devastating psy- work at the University of Arizona weeks. The experimental conditions chiatric illness with estimates of preva- focused on the allosteric modulation of have to be adjusted for mice as com- lence reaching 21% of the world GABA stimulated 36Cl- uptake and pared to rats. Sprague-Dawley rat population. The World Health Organi- resulted in the discovery of antidepres - dominant behavior is sensitive to anti- zation has predicted that by the year sant interactions with the complex. In manic drugs. Submissive mice, similar 2021 depression will only be second to subsequent work at The Ohio State to rats, are sensitive to antidepressants ischemic heart disease in regards to University as a NARSAD Young of different classes. The utility of the disease burden of the health care sys- Investigator, she demonstrated differ- model to estimate and compare activity tem. Although the past decade has ences between the chronic and acute onset time for various antidepressant resulted in clear advances in our under- actions of antidepressants at the and antimanic drugs will be discussed standing of major depressive disorder, GABA-stimulated chloride ionophore as well as attempts to dissect molecular several issues still remain regarding complex and demonstrated differences differences between dominant and sub- treatment, while the etiology and patho- in the function of this complex missive animals to further understand- genesis of the disease remain essen- between dominant and submissive rats ing of underlying mechanism of drug tially unknown. Indeed abnormalities treated with antidepressants. She was activity. ◆
The Nucleus December 2006 7 Chemists in the 2007 Community at SF ACS National Meeting ACS Award By Lee Latimer On Saturday September 9th at the San members and ACS governance includ- Winners Francisco ACS National Meeting, 120 ing President Nalley, Past President meeting attendees invested 4-5 hours Bill Carroll, President Elect Katie From each in the first Chemists in the Com - Hunt, Executive Director Madeleine munity service project at a national Jacobs and members of the Board of meeting. Organized by members of the Directors who made a special effort to NESACS Santa Clara Valley and California Sec- rearrange their schedules to be able to Seven NESACS chemists will receive tions and ACS Staff, the groups of vol- participate and meet members. A lot of ACS awards at the national meeting in unteers were bused to one of four sites: dirt and weeds were moved and a Chicago in March 2007. the San Francisco Zoo, Heron’s Head record number of boxes were filled at Park, the San Francisco Food Bank or the Food Bank! A video of the effort at ACS Award in Pure Chemistry spon- Fort Funston in Golden Gate National one of the sites is on the ACS website sored by Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity Recreation Area. The locations were chemistry.org. and the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational identified and coordinated by Hands- All agreed they had a great time Foundation, Xiaowei Zhuang, Har- on Bay Area, a local nonprofit group working together and plan to do it in vard University. other cities where meetings are held, with branches in other major cities. As ACS Award in the Chemistry of Mate- such as Chicago and Boston in 2007. an added aspect President Ann Nalley rials sponsored by E. I. du Pont de chose this effort as one of her Presi- Lee Latimer, Councilor, Calfornia Sec- Nemours & Company, Robert S. dential Events. tion, Co-chair for the organizing com- Langer, Massachusetts Institute of A special aspect of the event was mittee for Chemists in the Community Technology. the broad participation of Council for the Fall 2006 National Meeting. ◆ Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society sponsored by the American Chemical Society, Morton Z. Hoffman, Boston Univer- sity. Herbert C. Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods spon- sored by the Herbert C. Brown Award Endowment, David A. Evans, Harvard University. F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry sponsored by the F. Albert Cotton Endowment Fund, Christopher C. Cummins, Massachu- setts Institute of Technology. Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry sponsored by Mallinckrodt Baker, Anirban Banerjee (student), Rocke- feller University; Gregory L. Verdine (preceptor), Harvard University. The Priestley Medal sponsored by the American Chemical Society, George M. Whitesides, Harvard University. ◆
8 The Nucleus December 2006 Call for Call for Nominations Nominations Philip L. Levins Memorial Prize Nominations for the Philip L. Levins Nominations may be made by a James Flack Norris Award Memorial Prize for outstanding per- faculty member, or the student may for Outstanding Achievement formance by a graduate student on the submit an application. A biographical in the Teaching of Chemistry way to a career in chemical science sketch, transcripts of graduate and should be sent to the Executive Secre - undergraduate grades, a description of Nominations are invited for the 2006 tary, NESACS, 23 Cottage St., Natick, present research activity and three ref- James Flack Norris Award for Out- MA 01760 by March 1, 2007. erences must be included. The nomina- standing Achievement in the Teaching The graduate student’s research tion should be specific concerning the of Chemistry. The Norris Award, one should be in the area of organic analyt- contribution the student has made to of the oldest awards given by a Section ical chemistry and may include other the research and publications (if any) of the American Chemical Society, is areas of organic analytical chemistry with multiple authors. presented annually by the Northeastern such as environmental analysis, bio- The award will be presented at the Section. The Award consists of a cer- chemical analysis, or polymer analysis. May 2007 Section Meeting. ◆ tificate and an honorarium of $3,000. Nominees must have served with special distinction as teachers of chem- istry at any level: secondary school, college, and/or graduate school. Since should not exceed thirty pages and the Norris Award, see www.nesacs.org 1951, awardees have included eminent should not include books or reprints or Send nomination packets (as hard and less widely-known but equally software. copy, or electronically in Adobe PDF effective teachers at all levels. Please direct questions about the format) to Ms. Marilou Cashman, The awardee for 2006 was Profes- content of the nomination to the 2007 NESACS, 23 Cottage St., Natick, MA, sor Brian P. Coppola of the Depart- Chair of the Norris Award Committee. 01760. email: mcash0953 (at)aol.com. ment of Chemistry of the University of The chair will be appointed in Decem - The deadline for nominations is Michigan. ber 2006. For more information about April 15, 2007. ◆ Nominations should focus on the candidate’s contributions to and effec- tiveness in teaching chemistry. The nominee’s curriculum vitae should be GATEWAY CHEMICAL included. Seconding letters are also an important part of a nominating packet. TECHNOLOGY These may show the impact of the nominee’s teaching in inspiring col- CUSTOM SYNTHESIS leagues and students toward an active • Pharmaceuticals life in chemistry and/or related sci- • Agrichemicals ences, or may attest to the influence of • Combinatorial Platforms the nominee’s other activities in chem- • Competitor's Products ical education, such as textbooks, jour - • Intermediates nal articles, or other professional • Analytical Standards activity at the local or national level. • Metabolites 1 Materials should be of 8 ⁄2 by 11 inch size. The nomination packet PROCESS DEVELOPMENT • Process Evaluation • New Route Development
Looking for seminars in SPECTROSCOPIC SERVICES the Boston area? • LCMS (APCI and API-ES) • NMR (300 MHz) Check out the NESACS Calendar • GCMS (EI) 11810 Borman Dr • Saint Louis, Missouri 63146 www.nesacs.org/seminars 314.220.2691 (office) • 314.991.2834 (fax) www.gatewaychemical.com • [email protected]
The Nucleus December 2006 9 Making the Connection Tips On How To Successfully Select, Hire and Retain Employees Megan Driscoll, Jennifer Sass, and Scott Szczesny. PharmaLogics Recruiting, 220 Forbes Road, Braintree, Massachusetts. www.pharmalogicsrecruiting.com There are several key components that description, specific responsibilities as well as a summary of key responsi- will need to coalesce to make a suc- and the skills required. Hiring man- bilities. It is crucial to write a fresh job cessful hire. First, a hiring manager agers should ask these key questions: description for every opening and keep needs to successfully attract, select, Does everyone in the group understand it clear and concise. If there are too and hire the right candidate. Once the how the new hire impacts their work? many requirements, it may discourage candidate has been hired, not only does Do my superiors agree with the the right candidate from applying. A the candidate have to live up to the hir- requirements for the open position? Is great job description identifies not only ing company’s expectations, but in the Human Resources liaison aware of the critical experience necessary, but order to turn that new hire into a last- what the hiring manager is looking also the skills that would be considered ing employee, the company has to live for? Finally, if the open position is a “nice to have.” Once the job descrip- up to the new hire’s expectations as management role, do the employees tion has been written and approved, it is well. The company must then develop that will report to this person know time to post the opening on the proper the new employee and assess their suc- what they are looking for in a man- websites and search engines. Of course, cess. Finally, once the candidate has ager? Once the hiring manager has the first posting is going to be on the settled into his or her position, the spoken with and gathered information company website. Many candidates company must retain that new from all of these parties, it will be eas - “follow companies” and regularly employee and ensure they are success - ier to write a thorough and effective check industry specific news as well as ful. The first step in the process of job description. the websites of companies that interest finding the right candidate begins with A job description should include them. If these potential candidates see communication. The hiring manager the critical requirements and experi- an opening that is appropriate for their must make sure that everyone affected ence that a candidate must possess in background, they may apply directly. by the hire is in agreement with the job order to be considered for the opening This is a great situation because the
10 The Nucleus December 2006 Making Connection learning curve significantly. Many ing the appropriate background and times a candidate’s ability to fit in to a interest in the position. This saves time Continued from page 10 company’s corporate culture becomes and allows human resources to focus candidate is not only interested in the a big part of the reason for hiring them. on other important tasks. Recruiters are specific position posted, but also in the When a candidate comes from within, also able to identify and attract candi- company itself. Company website job it is apparent that he or she will have dates that are not even looking for a postings are also easy to maintain and the right personality to work within the job. These are candidates that would keep track of because they are filtered organization. Second, hiring internally never have known about the opening into the corporate database. is also a great tool in retaining current because they are not going to company A company may also want to post employees. Before posting a job exter - websites nor are they looking at job the opening on appropriate and popular nally, hiring managers should consider postings on the Internet. PharmaLogics job boards. Search engines can be a all of the employees within the group Recruiting estimates that roughly nine good resource in generating large vol- and envision them in the role trying to out of ten people that accept new jobs umes of candidates. If the opening is be filled. When managers pass over in the pharmaceutical industry are not entry-level, these job sites can be quite current employees and choose to hire actively looking for new opportunities. helpful by often giving a hiring man- from outside rather than promote from Recruiters are also able to provide the ager an enormous amount of inter- within, the employees passed over may company with information about the ested, and often relevant, candidates. become frustrated and therefore look candidate that a company would not be But when looking for senior level can - for opportunities for advancement else- able to find out on their own, with didates, these sites can often be frus- where. If there are no appropriate can - regard to relocation concerns, salary trating and time consuming. Because didates in the group, be sure to expectations, etc. Good recruiters have there are going to be a huge number of consider other parts of the company wonderful relationships with their can- applicants who are not appropriate for where qualified candidates might exist. didates, spending hours of time getting the job, rifling through masses of Bottom line, hiring managers should to know them. The information resumes often requires more of a time work with the appropriate Human recruiters have about candidates is commitment than many hiring man- Resources partner to make sure that the often information that ultimately deter- agers in the pharmaceutical industry opening is properly marketed inter- mines if the candidate will not only have the ability to give. Since senior nally. The second approach to find- receive an offer from a company, but level job descriptions are extremely ing candidates not necessarily on the ultimately accept an offer from them. specific in terms of years of experi- market is networking. Hiring managers Hiring managers should keep in mind ence, and contain multiple experience should reflect back on previous work that finding the right recruiter is impor- requirements, searching or counting on experiences and colleagues to see if tant. They should look for a recruiter job boards to produce the perfect can- there is anyone that sticks out that that specializes in the same area for didate is almost like “finding a needle could be a good fit for the position. which he or she has an opening. Many in a haystack.” While posting an open- This is where keeping an active net- recruiters are generalists and try to be a ing on major job boards can be posi- work can pay off. Contacting old col- “one stop shop” for every kind of tive and helpful dependant on the leagues, professors, managers, and opening and, this defeats the purpose level, it does not address the problem friends can lead to referrals and poten - of using a recruiter at all. These types of how to attract potential candidates tially the perfect candidate. Tasking the of recruiters cannot effectively screen that are not actively looking for new entire team to network can also help candidates for the opening because it is opportunities. These types of candi- uncover the right candidate. Hiring a likely that they do not fully understand dates are many times the most valu- known commodity has its advantages the requirements themselves. For able, as they are usually happy where because people within the company are instance, if the opening is in chemistry, they are, and are only willing to leave already aware of their strengths as well then find a recruiter that only special- for the perfect opportunity. There are as the areas where they will need izes in chemistry placements. It not two approaches to finding candidates development and mentoring. The only ensures a smooth hiring process, that are not applying on-line. “inside scoop,” is invaluable. but also a successful placement in a The first approach may seem very If internal sourcing and network- much shorter amount of time. obvious, but is sometimes taken for ing does not work, using a recruiter is Once the “specialized” recruiter is granted. Before sourcing in any other another viable option, especially if the identified, be very specific with what way, smart hiring managers always do opening is a senior role. There are sev- skills are important for the position. internal sourcing first. Hiring from eral reasons why recruiters are benefi- For example: within the company is always a great cial to companies. The recruiter does Do not say: “I am looking for some- option that should never be over- all of the filtering before submitting one with good technical skills” looked. There are two reasons that hir - resumes. When a hiring manager Do say: “I am looking for someone ing within is beneficial: First, hiring receives a resume, the candidate has who understands Hits to Lead” from within the company reduces the already been qualified in terms of hav - Continued on page 12
The Nucleus December 2006 11 Making Connection date is qualified and goes a long process is the next crucial step. The way towards keeping the candi- first step is to conduct a phone inter- Continued from page 11 date’s interest level high. If a com- view with out of town candidates or Specific details will help the recruiter pany waits too long after the phone have a casual lunch with those that are narrow down the search to only the interview to invite a candidate in, it local. Once the phone screen or lunch most qualified and relevant candidates. can send a message to him or her is complete, a formal face-to-face The hiring manager should also arm that perhaps they did not meet the interview is the next step. If the candi - the recruiter with relevant selling company’s expectations. It can also date is coming in from out of town it is points for both the position and the reflect poorly on the organization’s a good idea to have them in the night company. Remember, the best ability to make decisions. Remem- before and meet them at their hotel for recruiters are going to proactively ber that the candidate is evaluating dinner. This gives the candidate a sign approach candidates who are not their desire to work for the company that the company is thankful that they advertising their desire for a new posi - throughout this process as well. have taken time off to interview, and tion. Equipping the recruiter with 2) Waiting too long after a successful this is a great way to welcome them to strong, “selling points” as to why the interview to move to the offer stage. the area. It also gives the hiring man- organization is a great company to If a candidate comes in for a formal ager a chance to meet the candidate in work for is a great resource. Also a interview, and a week goes by with a relaxed environment which leads to a detailed job description, facts about the no word of interest after the inter- better understanding of their personal- group, and tidbits on the opportunity view, the likelihood of getting the ity and how they can fit into the group. itself (i.e. size of the group, advance- candidate on board dwindles signif- The actual face-to-face interview ment opportunities, management icantly. Prepare all of the members should be an efficient process as well. responsibility, etc), help the recruiter of the interview team to give their Whenever possible, aim to complete paint a vivid picture to potential candi - feedback immediately after the can- the process in one full day, as opposed dates. Once this is accomplished, the didate leaves. It often makes sense to conducting a second round inter- hiring manager can sit back and relax to schedule a debrief meeting to go view. Even if the candidate is local, and only worry about choosing among over the positives and potential they have likely taken at least one day all of the highly qualified resumes that question marks of each candidate off of work for the meeting. Complet- are sent directly to his or her attention. while the interview is fresh in ing the process in one day as opposed Now that the methods for gather- everyone’s mind. Remember that to breaking it up into multiple inter- ing appropriate resumes have been the hiring manager is responsible views is more efficient and cost effec- established, it is imperative to consider for driving the interview process to tive for everyone involved. If given the the issue of timing in the process. completion. If it does take longer choice, most candidates prefer inter- Timing is everything when it comes to than a week for an offer to be pre- viewing on a Friday or a Monday, recruiting. It is not possible for a com - sented, be sure someone is commu- because it is easier to justify taking pany to move too quickly through the nicating with the candidate in the time off from work. This also helps interview process. The bottom line is interim to keep them informed of with out of town candidates as it allows that great candidates are not on the the process as well as to keep their them the opportunity to come a day market very long and if, “you snooze interest level high. This communi- earlier or stay a day later to look you lose.” When going through the cation should come from the hiring around, see the city and get a sense of interview process, it is important to be manager, the Human Resource rep- the housing that is available. Compa- mindful of how long each step takes. resentative or the recruiter. nies should support candidates spend- Here are some examples of common ing additional time in the area, as it mistakes regarding timing that need to 3) Many companies establish a mini- becomes important if they will be inter- be avoided: mum number of candidates that viewing on site only once. Further- 1) Conducting phone interviews with need to be interviewed before pro- more, it is less expensive to book an all of the candidates before inviting ceeding to the offer stage. While it additional night in the hotel, as opposed anyone in for a formal interview. is helpful to make comparisons to flying them in a second time. Once a successful phone interview amongst multiple candidates, be When the interview day arrives, has occurred, it is good practice to mindful that the first candidate may the hiring manager must make sure extend an invitation for an onsite be the best. Again, timing is key. that all of the members of the inter- interview immediately. Do not wait Do not risk losing the ideal candi- view team are prepared. He or she is until all of the phone interviews date simply for the sake of meeting responsible for making sure everyone have been completed to express a pre-determined number of appli- has reviewed the CV, thought of appro- continued interest in any one candi - cants. priate questions, and understands the date. Inviting someone in for an Now that some timing mistakes have job description and the challenges of interview establishes that the candi- been identified, the actual interview the open position. The hiring manager needs to assign someone to give the
12 The Nucleus December 2006 Making Connection stage follows. This crucial stage can be of them. Employees should know that exciting as well as stressful. If the an evaluation will be based on the suc - Continued from page 12 company has communicated with the cess of accomplishing the goals that candidate a tour of the facility. Some- candidate effectively, executed the are outlined. It is also good practice to one should also be tasked with dis- interview in a timely manner, and been allow the new employee to write out a cussing the benefits of working with honest with the candidate throughout list of their expectations and personal the company, potential growth oppor- the entire process, there should be no goals. This will ensure that the new tunities, health coverage, and how and question that the offer and acceptance employee will be focused with firm when bonuses are paid. When an inter- will come hand in hand. An offer is goals in mind, as well as informing view runs smoothly it reflects posi- comprised of several different compo- their hiring manger of what is impor- tively on the hiring manager and more nents. The base salary is the most tant to them. For instance, if a hiring importantly, the entire company. Con- important ingredient. On average, an manager is aware that gaining experi- versely, there is nothing more frustrat- offer includes a 5-15% increase over ence in HPLC is something the ing for a candidate than showing up in the candidate’s current salary (this does employee desires to strive for, an someone’s office for an interview and not include cost of living adjustments opportunity may arise or be created realizing that the person is reading for relocated candidates). Remember that could facilitate the achievement of their CV for the first time. It is also to account for any annual bonus as this personal goal.. unprofessional to make candidates wait well. A good rule of thumb is to offer Rewarding employees is an longer than a few minutes for someone the candidate an increase in both base essential and excellent tool for reten- on the interview schedule to arrive. salary and total compensation. Addi- tion. Many people think of rewards as The interviewing team should be tionally, a sign-on bonus is a great tool monetary or tangible in some way, but aware of the schedule and agree to to use when the base salary cannot non-tangible rewards are equally, if not stick with it as closely as possible. meet the candidate’s expectations. more, important. There are two main Once feedback has been gathered Relocation is another factor that reasons why employees either stay and the interest level has been estab- demands careful consideration. There with their company or, conversely, lished, it is time to move on to refer- are many different components that choose to leave. The first is whether ences. This should only be done after can go into a relocation package. they have positive or negative feelings the completion of an interview, and These components need to be estab- about their manager. The second is when it has been determined that an lished before the offer stage. Some whether or not the employee feels offer is likely to be made to the candi - important costs to consider are: the there is growth potential within the date. The practice of “backdoor” refer- cost of the actual move, closing costs company. It is interesting to note that ence checking is not professional (I on each end, temporary housing, etc. neither of these reasons is related to assume this means asking people other If the company offers a lump sum to money. Employees like to be recog- than those listed by the candidate for a cover all of the moving costs, it is nized in front of their peers. A simple reference. I have had that happen a few important to make sure the tax ramifi- word of thanks or congratulations for times.) and should be avoided. Any cations of the lump sum are considered. their particular effort goes a long way. candidate that comes in for an inter- If a company can understand a Here are two examples of how to view is making a confidential inquiry candidate’s expectations and a candi- incorporate non-tangible rewards: into a position. This is a vulnerable date can understand the company’s Year-End Congratulations- time for the candidate, as he or she limitations, a negotiation should be What if at the end of the year, each does not want people to know that they successful. Once the offer letter is sent employee received a list of all of are looking at other opportunities. out, a hiring manager should always things their hiring manager felt they Conducting a “backdoor” reference follow up to answer any questions. accomplished and were doing excep- check jeopardizes that confidentiality The job as a hiring manager is not tionally well on? What if this were because references are usually col- over once the candidate has been hired. posted publicly so everyone else would leagues, former managers, and profes- It is time to ensure that the company know how valuable each individual is sors. It is well known that people talk lives up to the candidate’s expectations to the company? How would this make and the pharmaceutical world is a very and the candidate successfully meets employees feel? This goes beyond the small! If there are any questions about the needs of the job. The first step in yearly review because this is a simple what is or is not appropriate regarding ensuring that both will happen is set- recognition of only the positive contri - reference checks, hiring managers ting goals and expectations for the new butions that person has made to the should consult their Human Resources employee. Making a list of goals for group. department. the first six months as well as for the Creation of Personal Path For- Once the hiring manager and the first year is an excellent start. The hir- ward- People want to feel like they rest of the team have identified the ing manager should then discuss each have a place to go within an or ganiza- candidate of choice and references goal with the new employee so he or tion. They want to know that there is a have been checked, the important offer she fully understands what is expected Continued on page 17
The Nucleus December 2006 13 Student NESACS Member Affiliates Participates in Chemists Chapters in the Community Paula Fox, a new member of the informal and productive way.” She Honored Northeastern Section from Peterbor- helped out at the San Francisco Zoo. The Society Committee on Education ough, New Hampshire has been a Each month a number of community (SOCED) has announced the 2005–06 member of the ACS National Commit- groups help with landscaping at the Student Affiliates Chapter Awards, tee on Community Service for two zoo. The ACS group was part of this which honor 34 outstanding, 55 com- years. In addition to her involvement larger effort. “The work wasn’t glam- mendable, and 75 honorable mention with National Chemistry Week activi- orous, but it was really needed. ACS award-winning chapters. Among the ties she recently participated in the first made it very convenient. They had bus chapters cited as commendable are Chemists in the Community Service transportation from the Convention those from Northeastern University, project at the National Meeting in San Center. The event was well-organized Boston (President, Amy Kallmerten; Francisco on September 9, 2006. Simi- and people only had to do what they Advisor, Thomas Gilbert) and Suffolk lar community service efforts are were comfortable doing.” —MPF ◆ University, Boston (President, planned at the Chicago and Boston Michelle Constante; Advisors, Doris meetings in 2007. Lewis and Angela Buffone). Plaques Paula thought the service project will be presented to the winning chap - sounded like a neat idea. “It was a way Q. Exactly, how many awards and ters during the 233rd ACS national to meet people at the meeting in an scholarships does NESACS sponsor? meeting in Chicago, IL, in March 2007. A) One b) Two c) Many The Suffolk University SA Chap- ter will also be recognized by the ACS chapter” for successfully completing www.nesacs.org/awards Green Chemistry Institute as a “green green chemistry activities. ◆
14 The Nucleus December 2006 Book Review Brauner Continued from page 4 only tended to exaggerate the clarity of our subjects’ experiments. In the case Memorial of Semmelweis and Lind, many have also overstated the similarities between Lecture their ideas and modern orthodoxies. … Blundering in with a ready-made tem- plate comprising a Eureka moment, a Professor Bassam Z. Shakhashiri decisive experiment, and an ignorant during the Phyllis A. Brauner opposition really won’t do.” Memorial Lecture given at Welles- The third section of Leaps In The ley College on October 22, 2006. Dark (“Heroes Made To Measure”) deals with cases of two people — Johann Weyer (1515-1588) and Photo by Morton Z. Hoffman. Philippe Pinel (1745-1828) — widely regarded as heroic figures who became discoveries by minimizing or suppress- context of the times. While Waller the “fathers” of modern clinical psy- ing the contributions of a number of stands firmly on the side of science in chiatry, Weyer by opposing the Inquisi- coworkers. the culture wars, rejecting the assertion tion and insisting that insanity was not Leaps In The Dark made interest- that all of scientific knowledge is cul- the result of demonic possession, and ing and enjoyable reading. Waller has turally determined, Leaps In The Dark Pinel by initiating the humane treat- a clear and readable style, and con- makes it clear that “certain ideas have ment of the insane by marching into vincingly supports his point that, been much more likely to arise and to two Parisian madhouses and ordering although the modus operandi of sci- strike a sympathetic chord in certain the unshackling of hundreds of brutal- ence is effective at detecting and cor- times and places than in others. ized inmates. Unfortunately, neither recting errors of scientific fact or Social, economic, and political factors ever actually did what was attributed to interpretation, whether intentional of introduce a degree of contingency that him. Rather, Waller’s analysis shows unintentional, issues of credit and attri- must be factored into our accounts of that both were made into heroic figures bution are influenced by the social scientific discovery.” ◆ by members of an insecure profession (psychiatry) seeking to establish its cre- dentials as a true scientific discipline. Waller closes his book by examin - ing cases of people falsely credited with scientific discoveries, which they either misappropriated from coworkers or for which they claimed undue credit (“Do-it-yourself Heroes”). Unlike the rest of the book, where the reasons for the misattributions of credit examined in the previous two sections, while wrong, are relatively benign, the two cases profiled here seem to illuminate the dark side of the scientific psyche, the deliberate “theft” of credit legiti- mately due co-workers by individuals intent on claiming the rewards for themselves. If there are real miscreants in Leaps In The Dark, they may be here: Robert Watson-Watt, the British scientist widely known as the sole inventor of radar, and Selman Waks- man, discoverer of streptomycin, both of whom, Waller argues, used their positions to claim full credit — and the attendant financial rewards — for the
The Nucleus December 2006 15 September 2006 Meeting Pictures Courtesy of Venu Neelagiri of CreaGen Biosciences Inc
Raj Rajur and Tomi Sawyer. LR: Raj (SB) Rajur (Program Chair), (Speakers): Beverly A. Teicher, Michael Block, Dennis France, and Tomi Sawyer
October 2006 Meeting photo by Morton Z. Hoffman Amy Kallmerten (Northeastern University undergraduate), recipient of Mukund Chorghade (NESACS Chair-Elect), Ann Nalley (ACS a NESACS Service certificate, flanked by Patricia Mabrouk (North- President), Harry Mandeville (Peptimmune, Inc.) eastern University), at left, and Ann Nalley (ACS President) photo by Morton Z. Hoffman
NESACS Board Member, Cathy Costello introducing Dorothy Phillips. Professor Doris Lewis, Suffolk University and Dorothy Phillips recipi- photo by James Phillips ent of the Henry A. Hill award for service to the Northeastern Section ACS. photo by James Phillips
16 The Nucleus December 2006 BUSINESS DIRECTORY NESACS SERVICES SERVICES Members Receive Awards Professor David A. Evans of Harvard University and Professor Steven L. Buchwald of M.I.T. have received awards that recognize their contribu- tions to chemistry. Evans is the 2006 Seaborg Medalist, and received his award on November 4 at a symposium at UCLA. He was cited for his research in the design of stereoselec- tive reactions and the applications of these reactions to natural products syn - thesis. Buchwald, the recipient of the 2006 Siegfried Medal for his achieve- ments in process chemistry, received his award at the Siegfried Symposium on September 21 at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He was recog- nized for his work on the synthesis of fine chemicals and active pharmaceuti- cal ingredients. For more information, see September 18, 2006, issue of C&EN (p. 40). ◆
Making Connection might even learn a thing or two about new ways an employee can contribute Continued from page 13 to the organization. 2 or 5-year plan in mind for them, but In conclusion, successfully select- they also want to feel that this plan is ing, hiring, and retaining the right can - flexible to include what they hope to didate is a multi-step process that do, and not what will be dictated for every company should master and take them to do. This applies to both the seriously. Companies that practice Research Associate and the Director of good hiring techniques and maintain a the Department. At every year’s end, healthy and positive work place, will each employee should be asked what retain employees and make a “posi- they hope to achieve over the course of tive” connection with each individual the next upcoming year. The hiring they hire. It is the pharmaceutical com- manager should ask them what they panies following these practices that are looking for in a 2-year plan. engage more qualified candidates and Although, not all of the employees’ ultimately are able to hire the best expectations are going to be met, giv- chemists in the world. Because this ing them a path forward that accom- industry is reliant on the capability and modates some of what they are success of the scientists themselves, expecting is a great start. This will go a having a strategy to successfully long way in giving the employee a attract, select and retain those scientists feeling that the company supports their is essential, and it all begins with mak - professional growth. A hiring manager ing a successful connection. ◆
The Nucleus December 2006 17 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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The Nucleus December 2006 19 Harvard, MA 19 Mill Road 01451 AMERICAN CHEMICAL U.S. POSTAGE P OPOI ORG. NONPROFIT NOR SOCIETY SECTION THEASTERN AID
Calendar Dec 1 Dec 6 Dec 12 2006 Sukant Tripathy Annual Memorial Dr. Amit Basu, (Brown Univ.) Prof. Jeffrey S. Johnson (Univ. North Carolina, Symposium “Glycolipid Interactions at Membranes” Chapel Hill) Wannalancit Mills, 600 Suffolk St.,Lowell, MA Northeastern Univ. Hurtig Hall “Polarity Reversal Catalysis: New Strategies 01854 Rm 129 and Applications” 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 12 Noon. Boston College Merkert 130 Speakers listed at Jillian Buriak (Univ. of Alberta) 4:00 PM. www.uml.edu/tripathysymposium “Nanoscale Patterning of Semiconductor Dec 13 Dec 4 Surfaces via Self Assembly.” Dr. Vesa Nevalainen, (UMass Dartmouth) Prof. Scott Miller (Yale Univ.) Woodward Lecture Series, Harvard-MIT “Aldol-transfer reactions - a short history of” TBA Inorganic Chemistry.) UMass Dartmouth Building Group II, Brandeis Univ. Gerstenzang 122, MIT, Room 6-120, Room 115. 3:45 PM. 4:00 PM. 4:00 PM. Mei Hong (Iowa State Univ.) Dr. James D. Stuart, (U. Conn.) “Analyses of Phenolic Endocrine Disrupting Dec 14 “Immobile Beta-Barrels, Rotating Helical Wilfred van der Donk (Univ. Illinois,Urbana- Bundles, and Change Transport Through Lipid Chemicals in Marine Samples using SPE and both GC/MS and LC/MS”. Champaign) Membranes: TBA Exploring Membrane Protein Structure and UMass Dartmouth Building Group II, Room 115. MIT, 6-120 Dynamics by Solid-state NMR” 4: 30PM. MIT, 56-114 4:00 PM. 4: 30PM. Dec 7 Please check NESACS website Dec 5 Dr. Loon-Seng Tan (Air Force Research and university websites for late Prof. Eric Anslyn, (Univ. Texas , Austin) Laboratory) breaking changes. “Organic Chemistry Approaches to Single and “TBA” MultiAnalytes Sensing” U.Mass Lowell, Olney Hall OH218 All notices for the Calendar Tufts Univ. Pearson Chemistry Building P106 3:30 PM. should be sent to 4:30 PM. Prof. Christopher J. Bardeen (U. California) Sheila Rodman Dr. Andrzej Cieplak (Yale Univ.) “Energy Transport in Amorphous and Konarka Technologies, Inc. “Backbone Energy and Fold Stability in Crystalline Organic Materials” 116 John St., Suite 12 Proteins” Physical Chemistry Seminar Lowell, MA 01852 Univ. New Hampshire, Iddles Auditorium Boston College, Merkert 130 srodman (at) Konarka.com Room L103 4:00 PM. 11:10 AM. Dec 11 Prof. Steven Bruner (Boston College) Tomas Kirchhausen (Harvard Medical School) “Structural and Mechanistic Enzymology of “Chemical Biology of Membrane Traffic.” Complex Natural Product Biosynthesis” Woodward Lecture Series, Organic Chemistry Boston College, Merkert 130 Harvard Univ. Pfizer Lecture Hall, 4:00 PM. 12 Oxford St., 4:15 PM.