Nepali Scientist Receives $539,737 NSF Grant to Study Decision Making

A Nepali Physics professor (Dr. Mukesh Dhamala) working at Georgia State University has received a $539,737 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)-NSF CAREER award, to pursue research that may lead to a better understanding of neurological disorders. This will allow Prof Dhamala to study how the brain puts information together from the senses to help make decisions.

To know about his research visit his website (click on his name above).

He did his BSc and MSc from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and PhD from University of Kansas, USA.

Nepalese Chemists community would like to congratulate Prof Dhamala for his success. We are proud of him.

This news can be read in detail here.

The NSF CAREER award is the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education. 

"Dance your PhD" finalist of Chemistry

What's your Ph.D. research about? One works for ~5 yrs to get PhD degree and when time comes to explain it to other people it is not easy. Once way one can give a presentation.

Or you could dance and explain your research.

That's the idea behind "Dance Your Ph.D." Over the past 3 years, scientists from around the world have teamed up to create dance videos based on their graduate research and is organized by AAAS( American Association for Advancement of Science), an organization which publishes the Science journal.

This year's contest, launched in June by Science, received 45 brave submissions.

Judges—including scientists, choreographers, and past winners—announced the finalists in four categories: physics, chemistry, biology, and social sciences. Each receives $500.

The judges will announce the winner next month at the Imagine Science Film Festival in New York City. 

I am puting the one of the finalist dance video from chemistry catagory.

Mechanism of Integration of NBU1, a Bacteroides Mobilizable Transposon from Lara Rajeev on Vimeo.

About this video: The microbiology of the bowels has never been danced so beautifully. Rajeev's Ph.D.—completed at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign—is about how special pieces of DNA called a transposon (represented here by handkerchiefs) moves around between bacteria in the intestine. Certain bacteria naturally present in our human intestines have developed a mechanism to become resistant to antibiotics. When these bacteria are faced with the antibiotic, as in when we eat antibiotics, they transfer a special piece of DNA called the transposon to those bacteria that don’t yet have resistance. In this way, more bacteria in our intestines become resistant to the antibiotic, and the striking aspect is that the more antibiotic we eat, more and more bacteria are becoming resistant.

If you want to know more about the video click here

NAST(Nepal Academy of Scicence and Technology) accepting proposals for funding

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) is now accepting applications with proposal for the following subject areas:  

1.                  Applied Physics

2.                  Automobile Engineering

3.                  Chemical Engineering

4.                  Climate Change Specialist

5.                  Electronics Engineering

6.                  Library Science and Information Technology

7.                  Molecular Biotechnology

8.                  Nuclear Physics

9.                  Renewable Energy Technology

10.              Science Communication Expert

11.              Science Policy Manager

 General Requirements

• Qualification preferably Ph.D / Masters Degree
• Apply with CV and Project Concept Note (PCN)

NAST will contact the short listed candidates evaluating their PCN

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)

Khumaltar, Lalitpur
GPO Box 3323, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-5543406 / 5547717

Fax: 977-1-5547713

Email: info@nast.org.np

Nepalese Chemists Hosting Polychar 19: International Conference on Advanced materials

Polychar 19 is going to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 20-24, 2011. POLYCHAR World Forum on Advanced Materials is a scientific initiative targeted at discussion of new developments in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). The Forum has been providing a firm platform for discussion of recent advances and innovations in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) among the scientists both from academia (including young scientists and students) and industries. Nepal has got such oppurtunity to host 19th version of this series. Previous series were held in USA, European and some other Asian countries.

The technical programme of POLYCHAR 19 will comprise the symposia with oral presentations and poster sessions providing a survey of recent developments in MSE. Among other topics, the conference POLYCHAR 19 will focus on nanostructured polymers and bio-related green materials and composites.

The International Year of Chemistry 2011 announced by the IUPAC coincides with the Year of Tourism declared by Nepal Government. Therefore, parallel to the high scientific quality of the meeting, we will put our full effort also to offer our delegates the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Nepal. During and after the conference, excursions in and around Kathmandu will be organized. 

Upon request, the tours outside Kathmandu (e.g. to Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, Lumbini etc.) will be arranged.


It would be a good oppurtunity for Nepalese students and faculties to listen on the recent progress on this subject area and to be in contact with international scientific community.


Timeline of the Conference:
Abstract submission :   October 15th, 2010, contact nepalpolymer@yahoo.com 


Details here


Contact:
Prof Dr. Rameshwar Adhikari
nepalpolymer@yahoo.com 

MS PhD Scholarship opportunities to chemistry students in Korea

School of Display and Chemical Engineering at Yeungnam Universitylocated near Daegu, the 3rd largest city in Korea, offers full scholarshipsto foreign students who want to study their MS and PhD studies.

Area of study:Polymers, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Nano Technology, Clean Technology, Catalysis, Process Control, etc.

Who can apply:(1) Candidates having upper BSc or MSc degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, and related area.
(2) English competency: TOEFL or IELTS

Other Informations:Download full information here:

Introduction_Chemical Engineering_Yeungnam

MS PhD Postions available_Spring 2011
Contact:Jae-Jin Shim, Ph.D.
214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 712-749, KOREA
Tel : (53)810-2587
Fax : (53)810-4631
E-mail : jjshim@yu.ac.kr

Informal inquiries can be made at dinesh@ynu.ac.kr
Dinesh

Postdoctoral Researcher – Computational Catalyst Design @ The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado

Job / Research Summary:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, is the nation's primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The National Bioenergy Center at NREL has an opening for a full time Postdoctoral Researcher. The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal.

Job Duties: 
Successful candidates will use quantum mechanical calculations to design catalysts for conversion of organic polymers to monomers. This work is central to the deconstruction of the plant cell wall into fuels and
chemicals. An experimental program will support this work in which catalysts designed in silico will be tested in the laboratory. The successful candidate will be able to work independently. The metrics for this position include generation of new catalyst architectures and authorship of peer‐reviewed publications.

Minimum Qualifications: A recent Ph.D. (less than 3 years) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with quantum mechanical calculations (e.g., Q‐CHEM, NWChem, Gaussian, etc.), transition state search algorithms, experience with inorganic complexes in quantum mechanical calculations, ability to communicate scientific results effectively, both written and oral, and the ability to work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary team of engineers, chemists, and biologists.

To Apply:
Visit the Jobs site at www.nrel.gov. Apply for the requisition
number 1502BR.

Nepalese Chemists Abroad

This is a list of Nepalese Chemists working or studying outside Nepal. Please note that this is not official list. If you are Nepalese Chemist working or studying abroad or you know somebody whose name is missing please email us to this email address: nchemgrad@gmail.com. We are on facebook and also we have Google group. You are welcome to join this group. This blog (NepaChem) is dedicated to Nepalese Chemists community.

If there is anything that you want to have changed in the list below, please let us know.

SN	Name	Organization/University	Country
1	Achyut Adhikari	University of Karachi	Pakistan
2	Akabar Khan	Southern Illinois Univ, Edvirdsville	USA
3	Amita Sharma	Kansas State University	USA
4	Ananta Babu Marahatta	Tohoku University	Japan
5	Anuradha Singh	University of Oklahoma-Norman	USA
6	Arbin Rajbanshi	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	USA
7	Archana Mishra	Wichita Sate University	USA
8	Arjun Acharya	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
9	Arjun Sharmah	University of California at Davis	USA
10	Bal Kumari Khatiwada	University of Oklohama, Norman	USA
11	Basant Giri	University of Wyoming	USA
12	Basu Dev Panthi	Baylor University	USA
13	Beni B. Dangi	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
14	Bhanu Bhakta Neupane	Kansas State University	USA
15	Bharat P Jaishy	University of Utah	USA
16	Bharat Raj Bhattarai	University of Connecticut	USA
17	Bhoosan Kafle	Inha University	S Korea
18	Bikram Subedi	Baylor University	USA
19	Bimala Lama	University of Akron	USA
20	Binod P Pandey	University of Missouri-St.Louis	USA
21	Bipin Pandey	Kansas State University	USA
22	Birendra Dhungana	Baylor University	USA
23	Bishnu Dhakal	New Mexico State University	USA
24	Bishnu P Joshi	University of Michigan	USA
25	Bishnu P Khanal	Los Alamos National Laboratory	USA
26	Bishnu Paudel	Wayne state University	USA
27	Bishnu P. Bastakoti	Saga University	Japan
28	Bishnu Regmi	Louisiana State Univeristy	USA
29	Bishnu Sharma Kandel	Sunmoon University	S Korea
30	Bishnu Subedi	University of Texas at Arlington	USA
31	Buddha Khatri	Temple University	USA
32	Buddha Ratna Shrestha	Tokyo Institute of Technology(TIT)	Japan
33	Chakra Prasad Joshi	University of Toledo	USA
34	Chandra Bikram KC	Wichita State University	USA
35	Chuda Raj Lohani	Inha University	S Korea
36	Dambar Hamal	Kansas State University	USA
37	Daya Nidhi Kharel	Wayne Sate University	USA
38	Deepak Bhandari	The University Of Tennessee, Knoxville	USA
39	Deepak Chand	University of Idaho	USA
40	Deepak Koirala	Kent State University	USA
41	Deepak Subedi	New Mexico State University	USA
42	Dipak Aryal	Clemson University	USA
43	Digendra Khadka	Inha University	S Korea
44	Durga P. Pokharel	Michigan Technological University	USA
45	Gaumani Gnawali	Oklohama state university	USA
46	Gopal P Ghimire	Sun Moon University	S Korea
47	Gyan Hari Aryal	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
48	Hari Khatri	Purdue University	USA
49	Hari Paudyal	Saga University	USA
50	Harishchandra Subedi	Kent State University	USA
51	Hem Raj Khatri	University of Toledo	USA
52	Himendra Jha	Hokkaido university	Japan
53	Hom Nath Luitel	Saga University	Japan
54	Hum Nath Jnawali	Sunmoon University	S Korea
55	Januka Budhathoki	Western Carolina University	USA
56	Jay Kishan Bhattarai	University of Missouri- St. Louis	USA
57	Kedar Baryal	University of Toledo	USA
58	Khadga Man Shrestha	Kansas State University	USA
59	Khem P Acharya	Kansas State University	USA
60	Kosh P Neupane	University of Michigan	USA
61	Krishna K Panthi	Bowling Green State University	USA
62	Krishna P. Acharya	Bowling Green State University	USA
63	Krishna P Barakoti	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
64	Krishna P. Sharma	Southern Illinois University	USA
65	Krishna Sahteli	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
66	Laxman Devkota	Baylor University, Texas	USA
67	Laxman Pokhrel	Kansas state University	USA
68	Laxmi Prasad Thapa	Sunmoon University	S Korea
69	Lekh Nath Adhikari	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
70	Lekh Nath Sharma	University of Georgia	USA
71	Lekh Nath Sharma Gautam	West Virginia University	USA
72	Lila Ballab Pandey	Kansas State University	USA
73	Madhab P. Bajgai	Chonbuk National University	S Korea
74	Mahesh Bhatta	University of Texas at Dallas	USA
75	Mahesh P Paudyal	University of Missouri-St. Louis	USA
76	Mrigendra Bir Karmacharya	Inha University	S Korea
77	Mukunda Koirala	Kansas State University	USA
78	Naween Dahal	University of Texas at Austin	USA
79	Narayan Bhandari	Temple University	USA
80	Narayan P Niraula	Sunmoon University	S Korea
81	Narayan P. Sharma	University of Michigan	USA
82	Naresh Chandra Osti	Clemson University	USA
83	Nirmal Lamsal	University of South Carolina	USA
84	Nirmal Pahadi	University of Kansas	USA
85	Nirmala Jamarkattel	Kyung Hee University	S Korea
86	Omkar R Parajuli	Pennsylvania State University	USA
87	Pitambar Khanal	University of Arizona	USA
88	Prabin Rai	Kent State University	USA
89	Prabodh Satyal	University of Alabama in Huntsville	USA
90	Pragya Adhikari	University of Utah	USA
91	Prakash Kumar Kandel	Clemson University	USA
92	Pramod P. Poudel	University of Kentucky	USA
93	Prashant Rajbhandari	Kent State University	USA
94	Pushpa Chhetri	University of Nedava, Reno	USA
95	Raghu Nath Dhital (OASIS)	Graduate University for Advanced Studies	Japan
96	Raj Kumar Dani	Kansas State University	USA
97	Raj Kumar Malla	University of Missouri- St. Louis	USA
98	Rajendra Acharya	Kumamoto Health Science University	Japan
99	Rajendra Acharya	University of Akron	USA
100	Rajendra Ghimire	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
101	Rajendra Joshi	Max Planck Research Institute	Germany
102	Rajendra Mahat	University of Wyoming	USA
103	Rajendra Uprety	Western Carolina University	USA
104	Ramesh C. Dhakal	Clemson University	USA
105	Ramesh Pant	George Mason University	USA
106	Rameshwar P. Pandit	Yeungnam University	S Korea
107	Ram Krishna Hona	New Mexico State University	USA
108	Ravi M Adhikari	Bowling Green State University	USA
109	Rekha Chhetri	Middle Tennessee State University	USA
110	Remanta B. KC	University of South Carolina	USA
111	Rishi R Parajuli	The State University of New Jersey	USA
112	Romnath Baral	Central Michigan University	USA
113	Rumi Chand	Saga University	Japan
114	Sailesh Malla	SunMoon University	Japan
115	Santa Raj Bhattarai	University of California, Berkeley	USA
116	Santosh Aryal	University of California, San Diego	USA
117	Sarita Sitaula	Xavier University of Louisana	USA
118	Sitaram Acharya	University of Missouri-St.Louis	USA
119	Soma Nath Dhakal	Kent State University	USA
120	Subhash Pokharel	California Institute of Technology	USA
121	Subin Adhikari	Clark University	USA
122	Sudhina Guragain	Saga University	Japan
123	Sudhir Sharma	University of California, Berkeley	USA
124	Suman Pokhrel	Universität Bremen	Germany
125	Sunil Hamal	University of Nevada, Reno	USA
126	Surendra Dawadi	University of Missouri- St. Louis	USA
127	Surendra Gautam	Banaras Hindu University	India
128	Suresh Chandra Regmi	Louisiana State Univeristy	USA
129	Surja Ghale	New Mexico State University	USA
130	Surya Adhikari	University of Toledo	USA
131	Tara P. Sigdel	Stanford University	USA
132	Tej B. Shrestha	Kansas State University	USA
133	Upendra Adhikari	Utah State University	USA
134	Upendra Purush Dahal	University of Washington, Pullman	USA
135	Uttam Raj Pokharel	University of Kentucky	USA
136	Yam B. Poudel	University of Utah	USA

Last Updated: 09/14/2010