The role of the NJACS Younger Chemists Committee is to promote the interests of members under the age of 35 (or close to that age).It provides graduate students, post-doctoral chemists, and young professionals with the opportunity to interact with other chemists in the section, to help them better direct their careers, and to increase their involvement in the ACS.
We do it through organizing social events, volunteering, networking and mentor/mentee opportunities, talks, seminars, and generally having a bit of fun. Membership is free.
We have been revamping and reinvigorating the club in the last few years and have a host of new and exciting activities planned for this year.
So What Can You Do?
If you are under 35 (or just think you are!!) we need your feedback. What events do you want to see? How can we help you? We are here to serve you, so please send us your comments and suggestions. Better still, get involved!
For more information about our group or upcoming events please please email us, join us on Twitter (@NJACSYCC), or check out the new National ACS YCC site: https://acsycc.org.
Executive Committee
- Mary Chiọma Okorie (Co-Chair)
- Tiffany R. Olivera (Co-Chair)
- Sandra Keyser (Councilor)
- Lauren Castelli (NJACS Advisor)
- Kholud Dardir (Member at Large)
Contacts
(Recent Event)
Nov 28, 2023 – YCC Fall Seminar Series
“How to Translate Your Academic Studies into an Industry Career”
(Dr. Jackson Hall, Associate Principal Scientist, Small Molecule Analytical R&D at Merck)
Biographical Sketch: Jackson Hall was born and raised outside
of Allentown, PA. Seeking warmer weather, he attended
University of Richmond, where he received his Bachelor’s in
Chemistry and, more importantly, discovered his love for
analytical/bioanalytical research.
From there, he traveled to the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill where he completed his PhD in Analytical
Chemistry, with his research focusing on developing analytical
techniques for the detection and quantification of small
gaseous molecules (primarily hydrogen sulfide and nitric
oxide) in biologically relevant solutions.
Since July 2020, Jackson has been in the Small Molecule
Analytical R&D department at Merck in Rahway, NJ. He is
working on both early- and late-stage projects, including a few
that have made it to market. He is also part of the UNC-CH
recruiting team and has worked on his department’s hiring
team.
| Date: | Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 |
| Time: | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Place: | Zoom:Join Zoom Meeting https://american-chemical-society.zoom.com/j/88629643610?pwd=ZlRWSkQ1b21zMDU0ZG9rUGw1MDUxZz09 Meeting ID: 886 2964 3610 One tap mobile
|
(Past Events)
April 13, 2023 – YCC Spring Seminar Series
“How to Translate Your Academic Studies into an Industry Career”
(Dr. Ritwika Ray, Senior Scientist, Discovery Process Chemistry at Merck)
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Ritwika Ray is currently a Senior Scientist at Discovery Process Chemistry, Merck! Ritwika received her B.S. in Chemistry from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata, India betore completing her Master’s in Chemistry at Jadavpur University. Ritwika then moved to the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay where she worked under the joint supervision of Professors G. K Lahiri and Debabrata Maiti to conduct her PhD studies. After completing her doctoral studies, Ritwika moved to the United States and joined the lab of Professor John Hartwig where she continued to work with earth-abundant metals and discovered a Cu-catalyzed coupling of aryl and some heteroaryl halides with nitrogen and oxygen nucleophiles with exceptionally high turnovers Outside of the lab, Ritwika loves to travel and explore new places. She is a foodie, loves to cook and play badminton on the weekends.
| Date: | Thursday, April 13, 2023 |
| Time: | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Place: | Zoom:Join Zoom Meeting https://american-chemical-society.zoom.com/j/83930898056 Meeting ID: 839 3089 8056 One tap mobile +16465588656,,83930898056# US (New York) +16469313860,,83930898056# US Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US
|
(Past Events)
Jan 24, 2023 – YCC Spring Seminar Series
How to Translate Your Academic Studies into an Industry Career
(Dr. Jarod Grossman, Senior Scientist, Software & Informatics at Agilent Technologies)
Biographical Sketch: Jarod Grossman received his B.A. in both Chemistry and Environmental Science from Drew University in 2012. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Syracuse University in 2016, working in physical and environmental/ atmospheric chemistry. Jarod’s Ph.D. research centered around the study of chemistry in earth’s various environments, specifically the photochemical fate of pollutants in the natural environment, most notably waters. Jarod is a Senior Scientist in the Software & Informatics Division at Agilent Technologies, leading software marketing strategy, content, and commercialization. Prior to this role, he was an Application Scientist focusing on designing comprehensive solutions for customers by developing and implementing HRMS, informatics, and statistical workflows specialized for small molecule analysis. Before Agilent, Jarod was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the US EPA’s National Exposure Research Lab where he developed workflows for non-targeted analysis and suspect screening to map the chemical space of common media and environments, leading to novel exposure forensics and exposure classification. Jarod has become a leader in the field of Exposomics, consulting with researchers and scientists around the world as one of the foremost experts.
| Date: | Monday, January 24, 2023 |
| Time: | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Place: | Zoom:Join Zoom Meeting https://american-chemical-society.zoom.com/j/89725608827 Password: YCC2023 Meeting ID: 897 2560 8827 |
(Past Events)
Oct 19, 2019 – YCC at ChemExpo – Liberty Science Center
ChemExpo at Liberty Science Center.
Join the YCC for a fun day of hands-on science demonstrations for children at the Liberty Science Center. This year’s theme is “Marvelous Metals”. Volunteers may sign up to help from 10:30-12:30, 12:30-3 or all day and can visit the LSC exhibits for free after the ChemExpo.
For the full picture of NJACS activities for ChemExpo / NCW at LSC that day, click www.njacs.org/NCW.
| Date: | Saturday, October 19, 2019 |
| Time: | 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Place: | Liberty Science Center |
(Past Events)
Nov 28, 2018 – YCC Trivia Night – in Morristown!
Trivia Night at George & Martha’s American Grille
Join the NJ-YCC for a fun social event where you can network with other local younger chemists. Test your general knowledge – with free appetizers – on Wednesday, November 28th at 8 pm. (You do not need to be 21 or older to participate!)
| Date: | Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 |
| Time: | 8:00PM |
| Place: | George & Martha’s American Grille Morristown NJ |
Please RSVP by 11/26 by email to njacsyoungerchemists@gmail.com
We hope to see you there!
(Past Events)
Oct 20, 2018 – YCC at ChemExpo – Liberty Science Center
ChemExpo at Liberty Science Center.
Join the YCC for a fun day of hands-on science demonstrations for children at the Liberty Science Center. This year’s theme is “Chemistry is Out of This World”. Volunteers may sign up to help from 10-12, 12-2 or all day and can visit the LSC exhibits for free after the ChemExpo.
Please contact Sandra Keyser (sandrakkeyser@gmail.com) if you plan to participate in this event.
| Date: | Saturday, October 20, 2018 |
| Time: | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Place: | Liberty Science Center |
(Past Events)
Feb 14, 2018 – Two NJ Students Win Project SEED Scholarships
2017-18 Project SEED Scholars
[Excerpt from an article by Linda Wang in the C&EN News. The full article is here.]
The ACS Committee on Project SEED has announced the winners of its 2017–18 college scholarships. The recipients, who were selected from participants in ACS’s Project SEED research program, received one-year nonrenewable scholarships of up to $5,000 to help cover tuition and fees during their first year of college. The 27 scholarships for the 2017–18 academic year, which have a total value of $135,000, were funded by private corporations and individual donors. Additionally, three Project SEED alumni in their sophomore year received the three-year renewable Ciba Specialty Chemicals scholarship, which provides $5,000 per year.
Project SEED is ACS’s summer research program that enables economically disadvantaged high school students to conduct hands-on research. For more information, visit www.acs.org/projectseed.
Alfred & Isabel Bader
Alfred Bader is one of the founders of Aldrich Chemical, now Sigma-Aldrich. The Baders have supported Project SEED for many years and contributed to the initiation of the Summer II SEED program.
National SEED Scholars from New Jersey
Camila Sierra Gutierrez graduated from Union City High School in New Jersey. Under the mentorship of Roman Voronov and Long Pham at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, she conducted research titled “Simulation of Artificial Bone Tissue: Chemotaxis of Stem Cells in Microfluidic Devices.” She is majoring in chemical engineering at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, N.J.
Nicole Taylor graduated from East Orange STEM Academy in New Jersey. She conducted research titled “Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 with Microwave-Enabled One-Pot Metal/Carbon Catalysts” under the mentorship of Huixin He at Rutgers University in Newark. She is majoring in chemical physics and physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.
(Past Events)
Apr 12, 2017 – YCC Trivia Night
Trivia Night at Fox and Hound
Join the YCC for a fun social event where you can network with other local younger chemists. Trivia starts at 7pm!
| Date: | Wednesday, April 12, 2017 |
| Time: | 7:00PM-10:00PM |
| Place: | Fox and Hound, Edison NJ |
Please register here.
(Past Events)
Feb 26, 2017 – Montclair State Open House re: MS Chemistry Scholarship
OPEN-NJ Scholarship Program
Dear NJ-ACS members:
I want to let Northern NJ young chemists know about a scholarship we have at Montclair State University for M.S. study in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry.
The program is called OPEN-NJ. For details, please visit www.montclair.edu/csam/open-nj and view
Basically the scholarship pays for most of a student’s tuition for a 2 year M.S. program at MSU (Chemistry, Biochemsitry, Pharmaceutical Biochemistry). Classes are at night starting at 5:30 pm or later Monday–Thursday.
On Sunday, February 26th, there will be a graduate open house at MSU. Students can meet with me and other chemistry faculty to discuss the program, and Open House attendees who apply to a program will receive a $60 application fee waiver.
Here is the link to register for the open house: register
Thanks,
Nina M. Goodey, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Science and Mathematics
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 07043
goodeyn@mail.montclair.edu
973-655-3410
(Past Events)
Oct 20, 2015 – Tales of Lab Safety: How to Avoid Rookie Accidents
Tales of Lab Safety: How to Avoid Rookie Accidents
YCC will be hosting a the national webinar about Tales of Lab Safety: How to Avoid Rookie Accidents. Refreshments will be provided.
Details: [ Tales of Lab Safety ]
Please register here.
| Date: | Tuesday, October 20, 2015 |
| Time: | 6:45 PM – 8:00PM |
| Place: | Seton Hall University in the Amphitheater in McNutty Hall |
Latest News
2021 Baekeland Award
The North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society will award the 2021 Leo Hendrik Baekeland Award on May 12, 2022, to Dr Prashant K. Jain.
The Section presents the Award biennially to commemorate the technical and industrial achievements of Leo Hendrik Baekeland and to encourage younger chemists to emulate his example.
Message From Justyna Sikorska
It is a great honor to serve as Chair for 2023. I look forward to leading this incredible and diverse group of volunteers . . . My goals for 2023 start with supporting our diverse topical groups and committees in organizing exciting seminars . . .
