Outside Speakers
Typically we have approximately five-to-six visiting speakers every semester. The speakers' research areas should be spread approximately evenly among the sub-disciplines of analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Speakers with interests in environmental and materials chemistry are also encouraged. Historically visitors have been from academic institutions, but speakers from other areas, such as industry or government laboratories, provide significant value for our students.
Visitors from institutions (e.g., graduate programs) that would typically be of interest to our students are most encouraged. We also ccasionally bring UR chemistry/BMB alumni back as visiting speakers.
We can handle food and lodging for the speakers, but every effort should be made to have the speaker's own institution cover travel cost. That said, there is some money available for travel; check with the seminar coordinator and department chair for more information. Currently, we do not give honoraria except for the Powell lecturer.
In terms of scheduling, please communicate with the seminar coordinator and check the current (tentative) schedule here. Try to keep things "balanced" in two senses: in terms of sub-disciplines (about 2-3 speakers each) and in terms of semester (about 5-6 speakers each semester). In scheduling for the Fall semester, please try to fill up the early slots first (i.e., in September) because students are usually not prepared to present during that month. Finally, avoid scheduling any speaker for the month of February in case the Powell lecture needs to be rescheduled for some reason.
Faculty Mentors
Students are allowed to pick a primary research paper or their own research as the subject for the oral presentation and written report.
If the topic is a primary literature research paper, the following should be considered:
- Is the paper that the student chose appropriate for chemistry seminar? In other words, is this a research paper in an area of chemistry or biochemistry? Is the subject matter too advanced? Is there enough 'meat' to the paper?
- Are you the logical person in the department to serve as the student's mentor for this paper? There are some papers that may require advice from several faculty members, but you should be able to answer most of the student's questions.
If the topic is the student's research, one should ask:
- Are there enough results? If the student does not have enough interesting results to share, s/he can still present or write about their research subject, but in that case more time should probably be spent on developing a deeper understanding of the background of the research.
Independent of all that:
- Are you able to devote time enough to mentor the student? I would suggest an upper limit of approximately 4 students per mentor, unless we have an unusually large senior class. If you are at that limit, then you might want to suggest alternative mentors.
When a student tells the seminar coordinator that s/he has selected a paper and a mentor, the seminar coordinator will confirm this with the mentor. This is to avoid any misunderstandings among all the parties. Please respond promptly with your verification that (a) the paper/research choice is appropriate and (b) you have agreed to serve as mentor. A prompt response is important since the student cannot schedule his/her presentation until it is received.
Mentors will also be expected to attend the presentation of his/her mentees, to introduce the student, and to facilitate the questions/discussion that follows each presentation. If you cannot be present, please inform the seminar coordinator. Mentors do not have to worry about bringing the attendance signup sheet, or the student's abstract, or the evaluation forms used by faculty.
The mentor will also be expected to evaluate both oral and written reports of his/her mentees.
Evaluations of Presentations
Students deserve timely feedback on their presentations. For proper assessment, we need at least two department members to provide an evaluation of each student presentation (and ideally more than that). The mentor's evaluation should be one of these. If you are providing evaluation of a student presentation, please make sure to submit it on the day of the presentation if possible, but no later than the Tuesday following his/her presentation.
Evaluations of Written Reports
There will be two graders for each written report, and one of these will be the mentor. These evaluations should be submitted as soon as possible,so please return the graded paper, along with the completed evaluation form, within a week after you receive the paper, if possible, and certainly by the end of Final Exam week at the absolute latest. See the Report Assignments for more details.