Main Chemical Feed

Novo goes on deal spree amid semaglutide patent expiries

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:44:00 +0000

Danish firm aims to bolster pipeline of weight-loss and metabolic disease therapies

The Nobel prize in chemistry 2026 as it happens – Live

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:26:00 +0000

Join as in the run-up to the announcement of the biggest prize in chemistry

High-energy neutrino detection captures Nobel prize in physics

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:33:00 +0000

Francis Halzen spearheaded the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica and is the first solo-winner of the physics prize since 1992

AI helps chemists consider more options when it comes to picking the best reactants for an experiment

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:57:00 +0000

Algorithm can standardise substrate selection to improve performance and structural diversity

Job posting: two positions, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:50:00 +0000

From the inbox, these two positions:

Visiting Assistant Laboratory Professor - Spring 2027 (Organic Chemistry)
The Department of Chemistry invites applications for a one-semester, full-time, position for Spring 2027. Applicants should have a Ph.D. / M.S. (preferred) or a B.A. / B.S. (with experience) in Chemistry or a closely related field. A demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching organic chemistry laboratory is expected. Responsibilities of the position include the preparation, teaching, and grading of three sections of Organic Chemistry I lab and one section of Organic Chemistry II lab in collaboration with a current organic lab professor teaching other sections of the established CHEM 0205/0305 lab curriculum.
Visiting Assistant Laboratory Professor (General Chemistry)
The Department of Chemistry invites applications for a two-year, full-time position starting in Spring 2027 and extending through Spring 2029. Applicants should have a Ph.D. (preferred) or M.S. in chemistry. Experience teaching chemistry laboratory is expected. Responsibilities of the position include the preparation, teaching and grading of four sections of General Chemistry laboratory per semester in collaboration with current lab professors teaching other sections of the established CHEM 0105 lab curriculum.

Full ads here and here. Best wishes to those interested.

Sanctions, regulation and prices restrict access to medicines

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:38:00 +0000

Having medicines available when we need them is a privilege, but access more globally is complex and relies on sometimes fragile supply systems.

How to make the most of tutorials

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:38:00 +0000

Five tips to boost your learning experience

How to tutor students

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:34:00 +0000

Five tips to enhance the support you provide

Discovery of light-activated proteins and their application in neuroscience wins Nobel prize in medicine

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:48:00 +0000

Optogenetics has helped researchers better understand the brain and is enabling new treatments for neurological conditions

NYT on Indian generics manufacturing

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Via the New York Times, this interesting article:

...India’s advantage is not just expertise. Peter DeYoung, the American-born chief executive of Piramal Global Pharma in Mumbai, runs more than a dozen factories, including in Europe and the United States. In America, he said, labor is the highest cost “by a wide margin,” followed by energy and materials. In India, it’s the reverse: Materials are the greatest cost and workers the least.
Mennisha Paka, 23, supervises a line at the F.T.O. U-3 factory for Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, packaging generic metoprolol, a beta blocker prescribed to heart patients. She earns $3,840 a year and uses part of her salary to pursue a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry. One of her subordinates, Susmita, who goes by one name, earns about $2,000 a year.

I recommend reading the whole thing if you would like to understand what Indian generics manufacturers see as their advantage. I think it is particularly interesting that they view the relative lack of API manufacturing in India (compared to China) as their vulnerability, and that Indian construction is faster than the United States (not a particular surprise.)

I have consistently imagined that 500-600% tariffs are needed in order to level the playing field, and those are economically not viable (especially now!) It's taken probably over a century for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing to leave the United States, and it will not return overnight.

Younan Xia on his career path

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Via C&EN's Prachi Patel, this article:

I like to say I’m an accidental chemist.
It wasn’t possible to control your own destiny when I was in high school 45 years ago. In the China I grew up in, your future was decided by where you were born, by your elders, and by the government.
I didn’t choose to study chemistry. I didn't even choose where I went to college. But when you are forced into something, you can either complain and give up, or do your best with what you are given and create your own destiny. I chose the latter. It was a long road, but I developed a love for this foundational science, and with hard work and patience found my dream job and a happy life.
I feel lucky. I’m really grateful to all the people who helped me become who I am. At every point, there were people who helped me. You can work hard, but you need support and help from others to succeed.

I really enjoyed reading about his background and how his teachers drove his path. Strong recommend.

CaSE calls for government and science sector to ensure R&D remains relevant in UK

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:05:00 +0000

Science policy organisation says a long-term vision and stable funding base is needed as public support for R&D is not a given

中国朋友们！

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:23:58 +0000

如果你是中国人并且您使用Chemistry Faculty Jobs List,请给我发邮件 (chemjobber@gmail.com)。谢谢你！

US watchdog calls for voluntary replacement for expired chemical plant security programme

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:10:00 +0000

Government Accountability Office urges reintroduction of vetting for terrorist threats

Have a good weekend

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000

This has been such a weird, hard, chill week. I hope that you had a good week, and I hope that you have a good weekend. I'll see you (maybe! maybe!) on Monday (gonna try hard!)

The Moscow Times: "7 Reported Killed in Explosion at Ammunition Plant Near Moscow"

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:45:00 +0000

The Moscow Times/social media

Via the Moscow Times (and a Google Alert for "chemical plant explosion"):

Seven people were killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in Russia’s Moscow region, the Telegram news channel Shot reported, as emergency crews responded to a fire at the facility.

The blast hit the Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant, which produces ammunition and pyrotechnics, according to publicly available information. Authorities had not commented on the incident, and the reported death toll remained unconfirmed.

Shot reported that the seven people were inside workshop No. 4, which collapsed completely. Survivors said more workers had been inside, the channel reported, adding that rescue operations were continuing.

I imagine this was an accidental explosion, but these days, with Ukraine's abilities to penetrate Russia, you never really know...

Home chemist flies to Yemen, gets arrested

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Via the Department of Justice:

Department of Energy Employee Arrested in Washington State on Charges of Attempted Material Support to Houthis
...According to court records, Ellaboudy, who was a Department of Energy employee, came to the attention of the FBI after they received information that he had purchased precursor chemicals, components, and other materials commonly used in the construction of homemade explosive devices. In addition to the precursor chemicals, the investigation revealed Ellaboudy had also purchased parts used for the construction of drones and remotely operated aerial systems.
The complaint alleges that in December 2024, the FBI learned that Ellaboudy took sick leave from his employment, claiming that it was due to having been exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid, a common chemical used in the construction of explosive materials. In September 2025, Ellaboudy, using an official passport previously issued to him when employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, traveled from Richland, Washington to Oman. Upon arriving in Oman, Ellaboudy used this same passport to cross the border into Yemen with the intent on traveling to Sanaa, Yemen, the country’s capital, which is under the control of the Houthis. Upon returning to the United States, Ellaboudy stated to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers that he had travelled overseas on official government business. Subsequent information from Ellaboudy’s DOE supervisor revealed he did not have any authorized official government travel to that region.

Well, that's not a great example of home chemistry.

How are the winners of the Nobel prizes chosen?

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:17:00 +0000

Despite being one of science’s most prestigious prizes, the process of awarding the prize is shrouded in mystery

Susumu Kitagawa: ‘I tell my students three words: luck, stubbornness and perseverance’

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:50:00 +0000

The winner of the 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry on books, porous materials and his mantra for success

Tagging AI-generated proteins during design process will let scientists know who made them

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Google DeepMind researchers who developed the method say that this will help uphold scientific integrity and prevent misuse of protein designs

Tool flags ‘lurking menace’ isomers before they become an expensive problem for drug developers

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:29:00 +0000

Open-source workflow developed at AstraZeneca screens drug candidates for atropisomerism

‘They don’t see a sustainable future for research’: US science coming under increasing pressure

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Chemistry World spoke to Waynes Jones, director-at-large of the American Chemical Society, about falling funding, graduates’ employment prospects and a need to rethink how chemistry is funded

Job posting: Associate Director, Technical Operations (Small Molecule CMC), Travere Therapeutics

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Via Indeed:

The Associate Director, Technical Operations (Small Molecule CMC) will provide technical oversight for small molecule API development and manufacturing activities conducted at Travere CDMOs. This role is a critical contributor within Technical Operations (CMC) and broadly supports the product development, clinical manufacturing, commercial launch planning, logistics, and lifecycle management of small molecule drug products.
This individual will partner closely with Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment, risk management, and successful achievement of program milestones. The successful candidate will bring substantial experience in small molecule API development and manufacturing, appropriate for advancing a late-stage development asset to commercial readiness.
Responsibilities:

Provide technical oversight of API production, scale up, process characterization, and process performance qualification (PPQ) for a small molecule, solid oral drug product manufactured at Travere CDMOs.
Review and approve manufacturing-related documentation, including change notifications, batch records, process development, tech transfer, process characterization, and validation protocols/reports.

Education/Experience Requirements:

B.S. degree in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, chemical engineering, or related Life Sciences discipline required. M.S. or Ph.D degree preferred. Equivalent combination of education and applicable job experience may be considered.
8+ years of relevant experience required with emphasis on late-phase clinical development, scale-up, and commercialization.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.

Fifty years after he won the Nobel, Lipscomb’s insights into boranes continue to pay dividends

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:33:00 +0000

From fundamental bonding theory to practical applications, William Lipscomb’s influence can still be felt across chemistry

Batteries that break down in the body could power ingestible medical devices

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Magnesium–molybdenum battery powers wireless trackers and stimulation capsules for days before safely breaking down in the gut

The PhD to biotech series: Understanding the biotech landscape and where you fit

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:30:00 +0000

In the second article of the series, Matteo Tardelli describes the different types of organisations looking to hire you

Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences hit by Russian drone, killing two

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Academy is now calling on the scientific community to ‘stand united’ against Russian attacks on science

Nobel prize in chemistry 2026: predictions

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:40:00 +0000

We discuss our picks for this year’s chemistry Nobel prize. Plus, are there certain traits that make a Nobel laureate?

Song Lin receives 2026 MacArthur Fellowship

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Via a Stanford press release:

Song Lin, a professor of chemistry in the School of Humanities and Sciences, has been awarded a 2026 MacArthur Fellowship from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The fellowship recognizes Lin for his frontier research developing electrochemical methods for building large, complex organic molecules. Conventionally, electrochemistry—which employs electricity to drive chemical reactions—is used for applications such as energy storage in batteries and various industrial processes. Lin’s research seeks to bridge electrochemistry and the life sciences, ultimately offering more efficient, sustainable ways to synthetically create drugs.

Congratulations to Professor Lin - this is pretty cool.

C&EN: "Former Asahi Kasei employee arrested in Japan"

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Via C&EN, this news (by Alex Tullo):

Police in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, have arrested a former Asahi Kasei employee for stealing confidential information and passing it to a Chinese company. The information was related to an Asahi latent curing agent, used to harden epoxy resins, and was given to Shandong Shengquan New Materials, Asahi says. The company promises to start civil proceedings against the former employee and Shandong Shengquan, demanding that the firm destroy and restrain from using the confidential information. Asahi also plans to implement greater controls over its trade secrets.

Well, at least it's not American companies losing their trade secrets.

Autocatalytic networks could lie at the beginning of evolution

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:57:00 +0000

New modelling suggests how compartmentalised cross-catalysing networks can evolve adaptations that are passed on through chemical states

New boron allotrope is up to 10 million times more conductive than any other

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Imma-B60 produced by innovative strategy that might enable discovery of new allotropes of other elements

Industry-sponsored study concludes recycling initiatives outperform cap on virgin plastic production

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Cap would cost consumers more than landfill taxes but research didn’t consider health and environment under business-as-usual

From preservative to poison

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:32:00 +0000

75 years after experts raised the alarm about sodium nitrite poisoning, new concerns have arisen about the chemical’s deliberate misuse

Looming social media ban for under-16s in UK sparks debate on accessing science online

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Restrictions on children’s access to site like YouTube and TikTok will begin in March 2027

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 204 research/teaching positions and 18 teaching positions

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The 2027 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List has 204 research/teaching positions and 18 teaching positions.

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

On October 7, 2025, the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 211 research/teaching positions and 22 teaching positions. On October 1, 2024, the 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 313 research/teaching positions and 26 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? Here is the first open thread.

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread.

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet.

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 55 research/teaching positions and 4 teaching positions

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:30:00 +0000

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Todd N. Whittaker) has 55 research/teaching positions and 4 teaching positions.

Want to chat? Go to the open thread.

Hats off for new, lower temperature route to unzip plexiglass for recycling

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Hydrogen atom transfer agents key to solvent-free method to produce pristine monomers from old acrylic

300MW electrolyser construction starts off Spanish ‘hydrogen valley’

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:41:00 +0000

Project tests benefits of siting in renewable energy-rich country

Elemental sulfur found in mammalian cells for first time

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Analysis suggests that there could be tens of grams of S8 across a human body

NMR spectroscopy from its origins to hyperpolarisation and beyond

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:32:00 +0000

From Richard Ernst’s Nobel prize-winning techniques to hyperpolarisation and in-situ battery analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy continues to reinvent itself

C&EN: "BASF is in talks to buy Evonik"

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

From C&EN, this news (article by Alex Tullo):

In a deal that would combine Germany’s two largest chemical makers, BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, says it is in talks to purchase Evonik Industries.
In recent years, both firms have been hammered in Europe by high production costs, cheap imports, and moribund regional demand. Both firms have responded by cutting costs and trimming their portfolios.
BASF, which generated $67.4 billion in sales in 2025, has reduced costs by about $2 billion since 2023 and has cut its payroll by about 4,800 positions over the past 2 years.
In 2024 BASF’s CEO Marcus Kamieth announced a strategy to focus on its core basic chemical, specialty chemical, and materials businesses. It subsequently sold a majority stake in its coatings business, one of world’s largest producers of automotive paints, to the Carlyle Group. It is also planning to spin off its agricultural chemical unit next year.

Wow! I guess that things have been pretty bad in Europe for a while, but this seems like big news. BASF says this is exploratory, but we shall see.

Have a great weekend

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Well, it's been an interesting week here. Not a bad one (yet!) I hope that you have a great weekend, and we'll see you on Monday for (hopefully) another 5-day week.

Simple organic catalyst walks phosphate groups along sugar backbones

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:59:00 +0000

Inspired by nature, method is first example of autonomous mechanical motion in small molecules

Semafor: "Trump administration backing off NIH grant order amid pushback"

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Via Semafor, this news:

The Trump administration is backing off its initial plan for an executive order that would give the president greater influence over decisionmaking on National Institutes of Health grants, according to three people familiar with the process.

The move comes after Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, pressured the Office of Management and Budget to abandon the effort outright.

While the White House is changing course on the planned order, it still may release one on NIH grants that takes a different tack. The White House and NIH declined to comment.

In an interview with Semafor on Wednesday, Collins said she’s been raising concerns about the politicization of NIH grants since July and believes she’s “making progress” on fending off the executive order....

...“There is still a question of ‘Is it dead?’ versus ‘We don’t actually have a choice but to wait, so we might as well not do this before the midterms,’” said one pharmaceutical industry lobbyist.

If the administration had advanced the original scope of the planned NIH order, it could sink Congress’ ability to pass a stopgap spending bill at the end of the year.

“They have to” pull back, a person familiar with the talks said. “They won’t be able to pass a CR on December 11 if they issue an EO.”

The Trump Administration clearly has targeted NIH for special treatment. It's a shame that it seemingly takes an enormous amount of political pressure from Congress simply for the White House to leave them alone.

Elsevier teams up with AI firm to extract chemical structure data from papers

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Publishing giant will host data on Reaxys but researchers have concerns about independently validating the method

Ineos temporarily closes UK acetyls plants

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:13:00 +0000

Owing to high high gas prices, the plants are uncompetitive, despite their high efficiency

Google DeepMind’s mutation Atlas shines a light on our dark DNA

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

AI’s predictions on the impact of changing each and every base of the human genome will help scientists understand genetic basis of disease

Job posting: Entry Level Chemist, Thermo Fisher, Middleton, WI

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Via Indeed:

Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought leaders and therapeutic experts. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.
Discover Impactful Work:
As a Scientist I, you will use innovative technologies to perform high-quality sample testing for key pharmaceutical clients across the industry. Your sample preparation and analysis serve as an integral piece in helping PPD accomplish our goal of helping bring life-changing therapies to market.
Education
Bachelor's degree (Life Sciences degree preferred) or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification
Experience
Previous work experience which is comparable to 0-2 years, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.

Meet diamondiyne, the new diamond-like carbon allotrope predicted 35 years ago

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Unusual mix of sp and sp3 bonding could furnish porous material with unique properties