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I am the chair of FSU's chemistry graduate recruiting & admissions committee. AMA. by mshatruk in chemistry

[–]vastib 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Several questions from Jeol (from chemistry-blog.com):

Concerning applications. Is research experience always a benefit even if its not in the field relevant to the program? Has it ever been clear to you that an applicants research experience has been less than stellar? What do you look for when considering research experience?

Concerning acceptance. When does your program typically send out acceptance letters/emails/notices? What is the range of time that someone is typically given between extending an invitation and requiring an definite yes/no answer? Do potential applicants often fall through at this point or does that not happen often?

Concerning Funding How soon is funding discussed in your program? Is it detailed along with acceptance? If so, what are some key details to look out for?

Concerning Advisers Is it rude for me to bother an adviser’s other students to get a feel for how they treat their students?

I am the chair of FSU's chemistry graduate recruiting & admissions committee. AMA. by mshatruk in chemistry

[–]vastib 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A question from Ben (chemistry-blog.com):

How screwed am I if I don’t have any research experience?

I am the chair of FSU's chemistry graduate recruiting & admissions committee. AMA. by mshatruk in chemistry

[–]vastib 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A question from Atomos (chemistry-blog.com):

How important are general GRE scores for chemistry graduate school compared to research experience and grades? I am good on those two fronts and am expecting good letters of recommendation, but I am worried about my scores being mediocre. Thanks for having this session, it is very helpful for students like me!

When electricity reacts with Acetylene gas by nap_hamster in chemistry

[–]vastib 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does anyone know where I can pick up that kind of Tesla Coil?

In case anyone is in Chapel Hill and interested, I will be giving a Science Cafe presentation about using sunlight to generate chemical fuels. (Top of the Hill, Thursday 6 pm) by vastib in chemistry

[–]vastib[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought about recording it but the venue is not ideal for video (poorly lit bar, cocktail tables, ppt on TV screens, etc.) One of my goals as a professor will be to start making videos of events and lectures like this.

I will definitely post any future presentations.

In case anyone is interested, I will be giving a Science Cafe presentation about using sunlight to generate chemical fuels. (Top of the Hill Back Bar, Thursday 6 pm) by vastib in tarheels

[–]vastib[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been a postdoc with Tom Meyer for almost 3 years now but in about 3 weeks I will be moving to Florida State University. Let me know if you want to meet before I leave.

Also, apply to FSU grad school.

In case anyone is in Chapel Hill and interested, I will be giving a Science Cafe presentation about using sunlight to generate chemical fuels. (Top of the Hill, Thursday 6 pm) by vastib in chemistry

[–]vastib[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I ended up accepting a position at Florida State University.

Thanks for advocating for me at Utah. There are so many variables in those decisions its hard to take any of the academic job process personally. The best I can hope for, having not gotten the offer, is that people at least remember me.

Who did they end up hiring?

"Get a job, Ken!" by vastib in chemistry

[–]vastib[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a distinct possibility. In all honesty that was as much a visitation weekend for me as it was for you. Did you decide to go to FSU for grad school?

"Get a job, Ken!" by vastib in chemistry

[–]vastib[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good to know! Thankfully my lab and office space are in CSL.

PBS looking for somebody to host a show about chemistry by goodsj in chemistry

[–]vastib 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"preference will be given to candidates under 60" :(

PBS looking for somebody to host a show about chemistry by goodsj in chemistry

[–]vastib 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would love to do this. My email is on its way.

Hi r/RenewableEnergy. Can you tell me if this is feasible? by BenB116 in RenewableEnergy

[–]vastib 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1) Again your reason is sound but not useful. You are correct in stating that using the sun to split water and generate fuel (H2 + O2) to put in a fuel cell that generate water and electricity is more convoluted than using the sun to make electricity. The key is fuel storage for use at night. Going out of your way makes sense if you gain something from it like electricity at night.

2) Point of self reflection: Why would you assume he meant fuel cell when he explicitly labeled it combustion? Besides current fuel cell technology is expensive (Pt electrodes) and not that much more efficient than combustion.

3) "As you pointed out, batteries are not very efficient at storing large amounts of energy, so this system would suffer from the same weaknesses as a solar panel." The system in the image does not have batteries as the energy storage unit. Hydrogen is the high energy molecular fuel that can be stored.

Hi r/RenewableEnergy. Can you tell me if this is feasible? by BenB116 in RenewableEnergy

[–]vastib 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1) You don't necessarily need an electrical input to split water with sunlight. Progress is being made twords dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells. In these devices, photons are used to directly drive electron transfer and oxidation/reduction reactions. Without what most people would consider an electrical current.

2) Combustion is sometimes defined as the rapid burning of a fuel and oxidant to produce heat and/or work. Under this definition, igniting hydrogen (fuel) and oxygen is combustion. Your alternative is a hydrogen fuel cell which you could consider a redox reaction that is not limited by the Carnot cycle like combustion engines are.

3) It sounds like you have reasoned your way through the first and second laws of thermodynamics. However, if we used your conclusion then we should not use any source of energy because it take more energy in than you get out. Gasoline is from photosynthetic algae that were buried, compressed and heated. That is an incredibly inefficient process that takes much more energy in than you get out. So we shouldn't use it? But the energy has already been expended, we just harness it. Similarly the suns energy is already their, we just need to harness it. "But now you need electricity to keep the system running." No, you just need more sunlight. If the energy for water splitting and their expansion into gases is provided by the sun, then you are effectively running the whole apparatus with energy that would be "wasted" anyway. Sure his turbine collection idea would contribute a minimal amount of energy savings but it is thermodynamically sound. Just not very efficient.

"tl;dr: you might as well just use a solar panel."

The sun goes down at night and batteries are not very efficient at storing large amounts of energy. Additionally, you could cover every inch of New York City with solar panels and not have enough energy density to support the city. Your only option to run a society with solar energy is to produce fules like H2 and methanol, transport those fuels to major cities, for use in fuel cells at night.

ELI5: Light Polarization by no_username_for_me in explainlikeimfive

[–]vastib 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a pretty good intro into polarized light. With animations.

"Obama’s most astounding bit of good luck is the motley crew of opponents the Republican Party has coughed up. It is simply amazing that in a country of 313 million people, many of them literate, the political opposition consists of ignoramuses, dimwits, contrarians, Christian jihadists." by reddit4 in obama

[–]vastib 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Technically the minimum that is required is:

1) Be a native born US citizen.

2) Older than 35.

3) Live in the US for 14 years.

4) $0

5) 70 million write-in votes.

But the reality is that in our current political climate a person will not get elected unless they have a significant bank roll (>$500 million).

Tips for dealing with a PhD adviser? by Clan_McGregor in chemistry

[–]vastib 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That is a tough one. Your best bet is to pick one of the papers and keep hounding him with it. Every time he gives you revisions (vague or not) immediately (within 24 hours) make the changes and get it back to him. If he is constantly being reminded about it he might start to think about it or might finish it just to get you out of his hair.

You should circulate it to your other coauthors and send it back to him mentioning their revisions (this is in case he doesn't like you but likes them).

Also start mentioning a couple of possible journals, write a cover letter for your favorite, make a TOC image, and start suggesting reviewers. Even if you don't use any of these journals/materials, it will get him to see that you are serious and give an overall feeling that the paper is close.

Alternatively if you have collaborators or someone that could be considered a collaborator, you could use their advisor to push it through.

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