Bowie, Maryland, United States
• Highly adept in a vast array of analytical techniques and instrumentation used to identify, characterize, and/or quantify materials in general. Including techniques such as XRD, XPS, TEM, SEM, AFM, DLS, DSC, TGA, FT-IR, chromatography, and mass spectrometry among many others. • Excellent troubleshooting and problem solving skills based on a broad knowledge and hands-on experience in analytical instrumentation. • Solely managed the Chemistry Department Analysis Laboratory Facility at Kansas State University as a graduate student. • Excellent communication skills and interdisciplinary experience throughout my time in academia. • Experienced with instrumentation purchasing, setup, customization, data acquisition, maintenance, repair, method development, training of users, and development of SOPs. • Experienced in a wide array of advanced synthetic techniques, such as wet methods, metal vapor, and Schlenk synthesis. • Experienced in academic research in the areas of materials science, inorganic chemistry, catalysis, surface science, life science, and nanochemistry. Analytical Skills Advanced laboratory, analytical, and problem solving skills. Extensive hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge of specialized laboratory equipment and techniques: XRD, TEM, SEM, AFM, DLS, DSC, TGA, FT-IR, Raman, GC/LC-MS, mass spectrometry (ICR-FTMS, Quadrupole, Magnetic Sector, MALDI), XPS, BET, TPD, Particle Size Analyzer, Electrochemical methods, UV-VIS, SQUID, 1H and 13C NMR, HPLC (GPC, reverse phase, ion exchange), fluorimetry, HV and UHV systems.
• Instruct students and teaching assistants on the setup, safe operation and theory behind experimental equipment used in undergraduate materials science and chemical engineering courses. • Prepare materials for and, on occasion, run experiments for undergraduate materials science and chemical engineering courses. These experiments utilize equipment including mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction, materials characterization, mechanical testing, gas chromatographs, dynamic light scattering instruments, and small scale semi-commercial chemical engineering unit operations equipment among others. • Coordinate and design experiments in Materials Lab I & II and Mechanical Properties Lab and the Chemical Engineering Laboratory for the (100+ students in CHBE and MSE per year). • Maintain a broad range of complex and varied experimental equipment. • Complete course assessment and documentation of course materials for ABET for these laboratory courses.
- Synthesis and characterization of Iron Gallate precipitates as part of a collaborative research project between the LOC and the Surface Analysis Center at the University of Maryland to elucidate the structure and composition of Iron Gall inks commonly found in historical documents. This research includes the development of new techniques as a tool for the detection of chemicals markers associated with historical documents at risk of deterioration. - Active participation in the submission process of an unsolicited NSF proposal to the Chemistry division, MSN program. - Invited main speaker for the Preservation Science Symposia, organized by the Library of Congress. October 11, 2012 (http://www.loc.gov/preservation/outreach/symposia/igi.html)
- Research focused on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles using graphene oxide as a substrate and their potential application as electrocatalyst in PEM fuel cells. - I successfully synthesized well dispersed and surfactant-free metallic, alloy, and intermetallic nanoparticles supported on Functionalyzed Graphene Sheets. - Nanocomposites morphology, structure, and catalytic activity were characterized utilizing XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, Electrochemical methods, and a VG Prima δB Process Mass Spectrometer. - I participated actively in the design of an updated version of an aluminum monohalide co-condensation reactor.
- Duties in this position involved the training of users, equipment maintenance, sample preparation, data acquisition, and data interpretation. The instruments at this facility were an XPS, a confocal Raman, and an AFM. - This experience involved working with faculty, student, and technicians from a range of different disciplines from academic and non-academic institutions.
- Research focused on investigating the protein interaction of lens crystallins during disease states of human eyes. - Developed a technique based on micro-equilibrium dialysis to quantify, for the first time, the magnitude of the weak protein-protein interaction under true equilibrium conditions using liquid chromatography. - Use of bioanalytical techniques for the characterization of proteins.
- Synthesized, for the first time, well organized copper nanocrystal superlattices by self-assembling of novel monodispersed thiol-stabilized nanoparticles. - Applied the digestive ripening process to obtain monodispersed nanoparticles from a polydispersed system.
- Research involved the synthesis and characterization of a Fe-SiO nanocomposite prepared using the SMAD technique. The resulting core-shell like nanoparticles with a metallic core were protected from oxidation by a SiOx shell, and displayed a Saturation Magnetization close to bulk iron.