Sean Elliott
@profsje.bsky.social
Professor of Chemistry at Boston University; Labradoodle wrangler; T1 Diabetic; friend of English Majors
Hey #ChemSky -- what is your department doing about the increasing costs associated with ChemDraw? Anything? Are there better alternatives at scale?
November 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Hey #ChemSky -- what is your department doing about the increasing costs associated with ChemDraw? Anything? Are there better alternatives at scale?
"commensurate" not "commeasurement" -- come on brain. It's only your birthday, you could have figured this out by now...
though commeasurement surely seems like it should be a word.
though commeasurement surely seems like it should be a word.
November 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"commensurate" not "commeasurement" -- come on brain. It's only your birthday, you could have figured this out by now...
though commeasurement surely seems like it should be a word.
though commeasurement surely seems like it should be a word.
Reposted by Sean Elliott
If you want to know what AI in the university will look like, you can go back and watch 1985's "Real Genius."
October 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
If you want to know what AI in the university will look like, you can go back and watch 1985's "Real Genius."
Reposted by Sean Elliott
Happy Mole Day for all who celebrate
October 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Happy Mole Day for all who celebrate
When you crack open the Inbox to find a bit of spam with the subject heading: "Burnout in academia is real — here’s how to spot it early"
a man with a mustache and a blue shirt is laughing with his mouth open .
Alt: Pedro Pascal laugh-crying with great vigor
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:28 PM
When you crack open the Inbox to find a bit of spam with the subject heading: "Burnout in academia is real — here’s how to spot it early"
GET TO KNOW ME
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Macallan, neat -- or anything sugar-free
Anything without raw onions (migraine) and as a lettuce wrap
Local Hero and/or The Fisher King
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Macallan, neat -- or anything sugar-free
Anything without raw onions (migraine) and as a lettuce wrap
Local Hero and/or The Fisher King
GET TO KNOW ME
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Campari with ice
BBQ with an onion ring
When Harry Met Sally
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Campari with ice
BBQ with an onion ring
When Harry Met Sally
GET TO KNOW ME
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Paloma with fresh grapefruit juice
Swiss, mushrooms and extra pickles
Out of Sight
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Paloma with fresh grapefruit juice
Swiss, mushrooms and extra pickles
Out of Sight
October 20, 2025 at 2:11 AM
GET TO KNOW ME
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Macallan, neat -- or anything sugar-free
Anything without raw onions (migraine) and as a lettuce wrap
Local Hero and/or The Fisher King
Share:
- a drink you might order
- a burger you might order
- a movie you love that might surprise others
Macallan, neat -- or anything sugar-free
Anything without raw onions (migraine) and as a lettuce wrap
Local Hero and/or The Fisher King
Reposted by Sean Elliott
We’re starting to look for postdocs for 2026 and beyond. Nothing official yet, but if you want to use your synbio skills and the growing Microbe-Mineral Atlas to build cutting-edge biomining technologies read more below:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Microbe-Mineral Atlas Engineering
The Barstow lab at Cornell University is looking for a new postdoc for 2026 and beyond to help us with the next phase of our Microbe-Mineral Atlas project. We plan on going from basic scientific disco...
docs.google.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We’re starting to look for postdocs for 2026 and beyond. Nothing official yet, but if you want to use your synbio skills and the growing Microbe-Mineral Atlas to build cutting-edge biomining technologies read more below:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Sean Elliott
The NSF GRFP is now limited to undergrads and first-year grads drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/t...
The NSF GRFP is now limited to undergrads and first-year grads
The solicitation for the 2025 submission dates for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is out, with the first deadline of November 10 for life-sciences disciplines. The big news is that el…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The NSF GRFP is now limited to undergrads and first-year grads drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/t...
Reposted by Sean Elliott
New paper from the group @jmaterchem.rsc.org - we characterized how strong light-matter coupling impacts the photophysical properties of chlorophyll a. Read here: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
September 25, 2025 at 11:57 AM
New paper from the group @jmaterchem.rsc.org - we characterized how strong light-matter coupling impacts the photophysical properties of chlorophyll a. Read here: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
AH THE JOYS OF CALLING ALL THE CVSs ... to go through the same crappy phone try to leave the same voice saying "HEY, DO YOU HAVE MY LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY? YOUR NEIGHBHOR SAID YOU DID, but then again someone else said they had the tech in stock, and then when they called me back, they did not..."
September 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
AH THE JOYS OF CALLING ALL THE CVSs ... to go through the same crappy phone try to leave the same voice saying "HEY, DO YOU HAVE MY LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY? YOUR NEIGHBHOR SAID YOU DID, but then again someone else said they had the tech in stock, and then when they called me back, they did not..."
New #DexcomG7 sensor day -- also last sensor as I just ordered a resupply... & it failed. It's too early to call pharmacies. And I need to get to work, and have a zillion meetings. Tech is amazing, but it also fails... Looks like this #T1D will be going commando, pancreatically, for a spell.
September 8, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Sean Elliott
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
September 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
Reposted by Sean Elliott
I am delighted to announce that the UW Department of Biochemistry has opened searches for TWO tenure-track positions.
Descriptions and links in the following two posts.
Descriptions and links in the following two posts.
August 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I am delighted to announce that the UW Department of Biochemistry has opened searches for TWO tenure-track positions.
Descriptions and links in the following two posts.
Descriptions and links in the following two posts.
Do I know anyone in Canada would be willing to invite me to give a seminar in the Fall so I can get a vaccination while I'm there? I wish I were only joking. Kinda not joking. Last time I had covid, my Diabetes leveled up; I don't want to get it again.
August 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Do I know anyone in Canada would be willing to invite me to give a seminar in the Fall so I can get a vaccination while I'm there? I wish I were only joking. Kinda not joking. Last time I had covid, my Diabetes leveled up; I don't want to get it again.
Reposted by Sean Elliott
Check out these two new papers from our group (1/2): With @cschaack.bsky.social and Wendu Ding's groups at Wake Forest University, we demonstrate how protonation can significantly modulate the optical properties of allenes @jacs.acspublications.org pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Allenes as Stimuli-Responsive Chromophores for Visible to Near-Infrared Optical Modulation
Despite their rigid, orthogonal π-systems and synthetic modularity, allenes remain underexplored in functional material design. Here, we report that tetraaryl-substituted allenes undergo clean and rev...
pubs.acs.org
August 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Check out these two new papers from our group (1/2): With @cschaack.bsky.social and Wendu Ding's groups at Wake Forest University, we demonstrate how protonation can significantly modulate the optical properties of allenes @jacs.acspublications.org pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Reposted by Sean Elliott
One of the problems is that civilians hear “grant“ and think it’s a “fill out a form and get money” process, not a “harrowing Hunger Games competition against the brightest minds in the country” process.
August 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
One of the problems is that civilians hear “grant“ and think it’s a “fill out a form and get money” process, not a “harrowing Hunger Games competition against the brightest minds in the country” process.
Reposted by Sean Elliott
#facultychemjobs weather report: Trump Administration impact visible
Today (8/15/25), there are 81 tenure-track research/teaching positions and 8 teaching positions for the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List.
8/13/24: 105 tenure-track, 7 teaching
8/15/23: 104 tenure-track, 4 teaching
Today (8/15/25), there are 81 tenure-track research/teaching positions and 8 teaching positions for the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List.
8/13/24: 105 tenure-track, 7 teaching
8/15/23: 104 tenure-track, 4 teaching
The 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List
docs.google.com
August 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
#facultychemjobs weather report: Trump Administration impact visible
Today (8/15/25), there are 81 tenure-track research/teaching positions and 8 teaching positions for the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List.
8/13/24: 105 tenure-track, 7 teaching
8/15/23: 104 tenure-track, 4 teaching
Today (8/15/25), there are 81 tenure-track research/teaching positions and 8 teaching positions for the 2026 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List.
8/13/24: 105 tenure-track, 7 teaching
8/15/23: 104 tenure-track, 4 teaching
slightly diminish a band:
Spinal Nudge
Bruce Springsteen & the F Street Band
Ambling Stones
Spinal Nudge
Bruce Springsteen & the F Street Band
Ambling Stones
August 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
slightly diminish a band:
Spinal Nudge
Bruce Springsteen & the F Street Band
Ambling Stones
Spinal Nudge
Bruce Springsteen & the F Street Band
Ambling Stones
Reposted by Sean Elliott
Let's talk about the #GenCon panel on AI I I did with @bradymcagent.bsky.social @jasonsanford.bsky.social and @johannah.bsky.social who moderated. This was a difficult conversation b/c we realized a # of people came looking for HOW to use AI in their creative writing. That's not what they got.
August 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Let's talk about the #GenCon panel on AI I I did with @bradymcagent.bsky.social @jasonsanford.bsky.social and @johannah.bsky.social who moderated. This was a difficult conversation b/c we realized a # of people came looking for HOW to use AI in their creative writing. That's not what they got.
Reposted by Sean Elliott
Scientists in the greater Boston area: if you’re an academic lab looking for lab supplies, or you’re an industry lab looking to donate lab supplies, get in touch with my friend April aka The Pipetting Pigeon 🧪 www.labconscious.com/blog/pipetti...
The Pipetting Pigeon Connects Donated Lab Supplies to Labs that Need Them Labconscious®
What would you do after retiring from a life long career in a field you loved? In April Blodgett’s case, she saw a way to give back by enabling science education and new avenues of research with her ...
www.labconscious.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Scientists in the greater Boston area: if you’re an academic lab looking for lab supplies, or you’re an industry lab looking to donate lab supplies, get in touch with my friend April aka The Pipetting Pigeon 🧪 www.labconscious.com/blog/pipetti...
One truth I grapple with: why don't I have a name that I could easily spell out with chemical symbols like the cool kids? WHY OH CRUEL WORLD, WHY?
August 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
One truth I grapple with: why don't I have a name that I could easily spell out with chemical symbols like the cool kids? WHY OH CRUEL WORLD, WHY?
Reposted by Sean Elliott
August 7, 2025 at 9:20 AM
BIOCHEMISTS! We are looking for a new post-doctoral colleague at BU who will be devoted to a combination of teaching Biochemistry and engaging in Research. Ask me anything! The deadline is short, but the job is awesome. #ChemJobs You can apply here: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/BU/CH/PA...
Boston University, BU Chemistry
Job #AJO30270, Postdoctoral Associate Teaching Scholar, BU Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, US
academicjobsonline.org
August 4, 2025 at 8:14 PM
BIOCHEMISTS! We are looking for a new post-doctoral colleague at BU who will be devoted to a combination of teaching Biochemistry and engaging in Research. Ask me anything! The deadline is short, but the job is awesome. #ChemJobs You can apply here: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/BU/CH/PA...
Reposted by Sean Elliott
I am on a glide path to retirement. So my colleagues are looking for a new physical/analytical chemist. I have had a terrific 40 year run at Bryn Mawr…and will miss the students a ton. #chemsky #womeninSTEM apply.interfolio.com/170426
Apply - Interfolio
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apply.interfolio.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I am on a glide path to retirement. So my colleagues are looking for a new physical/analytical chemist. I have had a terrific 40 year run at Bryn Mawr…and will miss the students a ton. #chemsky #womeninSTEM apply.interfolio.com/170426
Not on vacation ... not yet. Why? because we are not in a post-COVID era, but very much an actual-COVID era....
July 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Not on vacation ... not yet. Why? because we are not in a post-COVID era, but very much an actual-COVID era....