Jasper Aquino

Associate Scientist at Ascendia Pharmaceutical Solutions

Plainsboro, New Jersey, United States

About

Over 2 years as a result-oriented and hard-working environmental chemist, backed up by a good educational background and extensive working knowledge of wet chemistry, GC-FID, GC-NDP, GC-ECD, GC-MS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and Cold Vapor AAS.

Experience

  • Associate Scientist at Ascendia Pharmaceutical Solutions
    Nov 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

    • Designed, executed and reported analytical experiments conducted under Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs). ◦ Development of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. ◦ Validation of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. ◦ Transfer and optimization of external High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. ◦ Development of Gas Chromatography (GC) methods. ◦ Validation of Gas Chromatography (GC) methods. ◦ pH determination using pH meter in accordance with USP. ◦ Water content determination using Karl Fischer coulometer in accordance with USP. ◦ Osmolarity and Osmolality determination using Osmometer for freezing point depression measurement in accordance with USP. ◦ Mean droplet size (MDS) determination using dynamic light scattering (DLS) in accordance with USP. ◦ Zeta potential determination in using electrophoretic light scattering in accordance with USP. ◦ Particle size determination using laser diffraction in accordance with USP. ◦ Particulate matter determination using light obscuration particle counter in accordance with USP. ◦ Determination of percentage of fat globules larger than 5 micrometers (PFAT5) using light obscuration particle counter in accordance with USP. ◦ Verification of compendial methods in accordance with USP. ◦ Development and validation of non-compendial methods. • Cleaning verification by Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis. • Cleaning verification by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). • Identification of raw materials by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

  • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana (6 yrs)
    • Graduate Student/Graduate Research Assistant
      Jul 2017 - Jun 2023 · 6 yrs

      • Functionalized Scaffold as a Tool for Systematic Investigation of β-Glucan Binding and Dectin-1 Activation ◦ Established the design and synthesis of a differentially protected scaffold which will be an invaluable tool for the investigation of β-glucan binding and Dectin-1 activation. ◦ Designed a scaffold that displays three β-glucan/reducing sugar molecules that mimics the particulate, multivalent and triple helical β-glucans. ◦ Synthesized a model trivalent sugar via a convergent synthetic approach based on the above design. ◦ Designed a common scaffold that allows the modular synthesis of multivalent sugars - a more practical and efficient synthetic strategy than the convergent synthesis. ◦ Synthesized the common scaffold starting from a commercially available dendrimer. ◦ Glycosylated the common scaffold with three reducing sugars. ◦ Monitored reaction progress using TLC. ◦ Purified and isolated intermediates and products using flash chromatography and GPC. ◦ Analyzed intermediates and products using LC-MS (QTOF) and NMR. • Trained new graduate students on techniques needed in their research projects.

    • Graduate Student/Graduate Teaching Assistant
      Jul 2017 - May 2023 · 5 yrs 11 mos

      • Instructed laboratory courses in General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. ◦ Facilitated regular and extended discussions on covered lessons . ◦ Guided students through the laboratory. ◦ Maintained the laboratory environment as a safe and productive workplace. ◦ Demonstrated laboratory techniques. ◦ Proctored examinations. ◦ Graded quizzes, laboratory reports and long examinations. ◦ Provided students with feedback regarding scientific writing. • Conducted lectures when the professor is not available. • Initiated and facilitated discussions outside the lecture and laboratory hours.

  • Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines - Los Baños (Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines)
    • Instructor
      Feb 2016 - Jul 2017 · 1 yr 6 mos

      • Instructed laboratory courses in Fundamentals of Chemistry, General Chemistry, Quantitative Inorganic Analysis, and Basic Organic Chemistry. • Facilitated regular and extended discussions on lessons covered. • Prepared quizzes. • Guided students through the laboratory. • Maintained the laboratory environment as a safe and productive workplace. • Demonstrated laboratory techniques. • Graded quizzes and laboratory reports. • Provided students with feedback regarding scientific writing.

    • Lecture Assistant
      Feb 2016 - Dec 2016 · 11 mos

      • Facilitated the set-up of record sheets of students. • Monitored student attendance. • Proctored examinations. • Helped grade quizzes and long examinations. • Conducted lectures when the professor is not available. • Recorded quizzes and long examinations separately for comparison with the professor. • Initiated and facilitated discussions outside lecture hours.

  • Chemist at CRL Environmental Corporation
    Dec 2012 - Dec 2015 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    • Classical Quantitative Chemical Analyses (Wet Chemistry) • Instrumental Qualitative/Quantitative Chemical Analyses o Extraction /Digestion of Environmental Samples o Cleanup of Extract o Determination of Metals and Trace Elements by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) o Determination of Metals and Trace Elements by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry using Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) o Determination of Mercury using Cold-Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer o Determination of Nonhalogenated Organic Compounds using Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) o Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphneyls – Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) o Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides using Gas Chromatography – Nitrogen Phosphorus Detector (GC-NPD) o Determination of Semivolatile Organic Compounds using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) • Reporting of results in Environmental Laboratory Information Management System