ACS NEWS
PETROLEUM RESEARCH FUND RETURNS TO ROOTS New director steers grant program back to its mission in funding petroleum research
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ITH TWO DAUGHTERS
still in grade school, you wouldn't expect W. Christopher Hollinsed to announce his retirement. Yet, that's exactly what he did earlier this year. After 15 years at DuPont, Hollinsed, 56, decided to take early retirement. But it wasn't to travel the world or pursue his hob bies. He had bigger plans. This past August, Hollinsed started work as the director of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Re search Fund (ACS PRF), replacing Lawrence A. Funke, who died late last year. Hollinsed is no stranger to PRF. In fact, PRF supported his own graduate research on tricyclic hydrazines at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the 1970s. After graduating, Hollinsed went to workforPola roid. There, he climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming a group leader in the Chemical Development Laboratory. At DuPont, Hollinsed was manager of Academic Programs, heading DuPont's Young Professor grant program and the
ACS PRF AT A GLANCE The fund awarded Λ98 grants, totaling
S22.3 million, in 2005. Types of grants available include: Type AC grants for research at Ph.D.granting institutions Type Β grants for research at primarily undergraduate institutions Type G "starter" grants for new faculty Type SE grants for support of science education In addition, 22 ACS PRF grants in three pilot programs (Alternative Energy Postdoctoral Fellowships, Undergrad uate Faculty Sabbaticals, and Sum mer Schools) were awarded in 2005 and were valued at more than $1.5 million. The pilot programs are cur rently under evaluation and a decision to continue or terminate them will be made later this year. A complete list of the grants can be found on the PRF webpage: www. acsprf.org
WWW.CEN-0NLINE.ORG
after seven major oil companies, in an at tempt to avoid an antitrust lawsuit, do nated stock to found a charitable scientific and educational trust. ACS was named the recipient of the income, with instructions from the trust documents on how the funds were to be used. In 2001, ACS acquired the entire trust, reestablishing it as ACS PRF. As part of the transfer, $5.1 million was set aside to fund three pilot programs: the ACS PRF Alter native Energy Postdoctoral Fellowships, the ACS PRF Summer Schools, and the ACS PRF Undergraduate Faculty Sabbaticals. These programs are now under evaluation to determine whether they should be included in future budgets. PRF is known among the scientific com munity for launching careers, Hollinsed
Science & Engineering grants program. He sees his new position with PRF as a new challenge. With the fund valued at $527 million and a 2006 budget of $25.8 million, Hollinsed sees an opportunity to make a difference in the impact scientific research can have on global energy problems. This year alone, PRF awarded 498 grants, totaling $22.3 million. Hollinsed's job is to make sure PRF stays fo cused on its original man date, which is "advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the 'petroleumfield.'" With requestsforfunding up 35% this year—possi bly because of sluggish federal research fund ing—Hollinsed says PRF and its advisory board have to be more selec tive about which projects they can fund. "We don't have 35% more money," he says. Beginning in 2006, grant applicants will have to include a statement in their proposals explain IN CHARGE HolUnsed wants to see the Petroleum ing why their research is Research Fund support research focused on its both fundamental and original mission. related to the petroleum field. In the past, Hollinsed explains, the points out, and has even supported the work criteria were "open to looser ^εφΓεί^ΐίοη," of 20 Nobel Laureates. "These grants have and PRF sometimes found itself funding re been really critical to getting a lot of young search not clearly related to its mission. people off the ground." Another change for 2006 is the switch Looking ahead, Hollinsed sees the need to electronic proposal submission. Although to keep up with the internationalization this will make life easier for Hollinsed's of chemistry research. Currently, 95% of staff, which includes four program officers PRF grants are going to fund U.S. research. and four senior program administrators, he "But there will come a point in time when doesn't anticipate it shortening the applica absolutely world class research will be done tion process. outside the U.S., and we need to be there with it," Hollinsed says. "The main thing that takes time is get ting busy reviewers to send their reviews But with that challenge comes oppor back," Hollinsed says, pointing out that a tunity. "I think we have an opportunity to thorough review "really ensures that we have make a difference and to have an impact," a high-quality process for choosing the best Hollinsed says. "People do not see us as the research to fund." splashy, exciting contributor to world science that I think we are."-LI Ν DA WANG The PRF trust was established in 1944 C&EN
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ACS NEWS ment under Harvey Lodish at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. After completion of her Ph.D., Tegen joined the Proceeding of the NationalAcademy ofSciences as the journal's recruiting editor. O R M E R L Y S E N I O R E D I T O R OF Nature Structural ir MolecularBiology There, her key responsibilities included expanding the journal's chemistry content, (NSMB) and chief executive officer commissioning and editing commentaries, of the RNA Society, Evelyn Jabri joined ACS Chemical Biology as executive editor and managing special feature issues. on Nov. 14. Jabri received her doctorate from Cornell's department ofbiochemistry, molecular, and cell biology and has a double degree in chem istry and biology from the University ofColo rado. She did her postdoc at the University of OLLEGE EDUCATORS ARE INVITED TO Colorado with Thomas R. Cech and served apply for a position as a mentor for on the faculty at Indiana University before the U.S. National Chemistry Olym joining the editorial staff of NSMB, and ris piad program. Duties during the three-year ing through the ranks there. term include helping to conduct the national Sarah B. Tegen joined^GS ChemicalBi study camp for high school students held at ology as managing editor on Oct. 17 Tegen the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado, in mid-June 2007,2008, and 2009. Gener earned her doctorate in molecular and cell ally, in their second and third years, mentors biology from the University of California, accompany four U.S. student competitors Berkeley, where she studied tyrosine kinase to the International Chemistry Olympiad signaling and gene expression under G. Ste (IChO). During the competition, the men ven Martin. As an undergraduate at Massa tors serve as members ofthe IChO jury. The chusetts Institute ofTechnology, she studied 2008 and 2009 IChO events are scheduled the biochemistry of red blood cell develop
ACS Chemical Biology Names Editors
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Chemistry Olympiad Mentors Wanted
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to be held in Hungary and England, re spectively. ACS sponsors the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program. Most students at the study camp have completed advanced placement chemistry or the equivalent; therefore, instruction at the camp is well beyond the level of high school general chemistry courses. Successful applicants are expected to have a broad background in organic, theoretical, and descriptive chemistry with classroom experi ence and should demonstrate involvement with students in special projects or activities. Applicants must make a three-year time com mitment. ACS paysforall expenses and travel costs and provides an honorarium. Interested individuals may obtain an application form at chemistry.org/educa tion/olympiad.html or by writing to U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Program, ACS, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D C 20036; phone (202) 872-6328. The deadline for completed applications is Jan. 30,2006. Applicants must have three letters of reference forwarded to Cecilia Hernan dez by Feb. 6,2006, at the address above. For more information, call Hernandez at (202)872-6169."
The Highest Impact
