Auburn, Alabama, United States
Creative and dynamic product development specialist Specialties: Expertise in all aspects of novel material creation and examination; from synthesis, to purification, to processing, and polymer physical properties. Extensive background in physical chemistry, material science, and thermal-mechanical characterization.
Lead Material Science and Engineering Group that includes the Innovation team, the Regulatory Affairs team, and 6 labs located in Auburn.
Leading a dynamic team in the development of new technologies in reactive packaging
R&D Senior Scientist
Lead the material science team into exploration into the synergy of molecular biology and biofuel chemistry with the overall target of generating petroleum from sunlight. Multiple projects through feasibility and excellent collaborations with the University of Minnesota and the Arpa program. Key focus was on how to sequester living organisms in a polymer matrix, introduce stasis, and then bring back to living/functional organisms to conduct biocatalytic reactions.
Instrumental in development of new catalyst systems that reduced process conditions while reducing color and viscosity in the final product Plan and execute synthesis methods that yield novel materials based on renewable feedstock. Develop analysis methods based upon DOE, ASTM, and industry research to efficiently move products from the lab bench into customer evaluation. File and reduce to practice multiple intellectual property projects.
Founding member of the specialty chemicals team which successfully moved multiple novel materials from initial idea to customer evaluation in less than 16 months. Establish thermal-mechanical processing and testing facility at Segetis. Responsibilities included acquisition, set-up, method development, and training of lab personnel in lab scale polymer processing and validation of material properties through multiple analysis methods. Extensive purification process development by DOE utilizing multiple methods including common lab scale apparatus, falling film evaporators, and wiped film evaporators. Develop analysis methods based upon DOE, ASTM, and industry research to efficiently move products from the lab bench into customer evaluation in multiple market segments. Conduct extensive literature search, report drafting, documenting procedures, routine meetings, generate progress reports, project management, and thirteen internal research publications. Expanded IP portfolio through nine internal invention disclosures and seven patent applications with multiple US and International patents filed Liaison for external thermal-mechanical processing and testing
Established thermal-mechanical processing and testing facility at NRG. Responsibilities included set-up, repair, method development, and training of lab personnel in lab scale polymer processing and validation of material properties through multiple analysis methods. Developed and synthesized multiple novel dendritic barrier packaging films based upon both polyester and polyurethane chemistry. Thorough characterization of both thermal-mechanical and diffusion properties in thin films to understand how varying sub-structure components alter macro-structure properties Invention/construction of novel material processing equipment in order to examine the effects of hydrogen-bonding and humidity on the structure-relationships in barrier films Multiple peer- reviewed publications and presentations on the subject of biodegradable dendritic barrier films