Rahway, New Jersey, United States
Chemical engineer with expertise in reaction engineering of pharmaceutical and fine chemical syntheses, optimization and scale up, and continuous flow reactions. Specialties: Lean lab development through statistical analysis, design of experiment, automation, time cycle analysis, and process modeling to drive research. Process development and scale up of multi-phase reactions, difficult separations, and crystallizations. Leading and collaborating with cross-functional development teams.
Developed a palladium catalyzed coupling reaction that is involved in synthesis of late-stage API to support pilot plant campaign. Established reaction sensitivity through kinetic modeling and identified metrics to evaluate scale up performance. Designed a continuous flow reaction process for a highly temperature-sensitive Lithiation/Elimination reaction to support pilot plant campaign aimed at producing Formal Stability Study API batches. Performed risk assessment and identified optimal process for long-term manufacturing needs. Served as technical mentor to new engineer and trained employee in best experimental practices and development planning.
Designed and developed Merck’s first transamination process involving immobilized enzymes to lower manufacturing cost of goods while satisfying process time cycle constraints. Led four engineers in the execution of kilo-scale experiments to support Drug Substance Formal Stability Studies, a critical milestone in the project timeline. Developed a catalytic, asymmetric hydrogenation by establishing appropriate mass transfer conditions to minimize impurities, and successfully demonstrated the improved process at pilot plant scale to produce ~100 kg of API intermediate. Developed catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation by establishing appropriate mass transfer conditions to minimize impurities, identifying alternative reagents to avoid genotoxic impurities, designing an isolation process to achieve necessary product purity. Scaled up process in a pilot plant to produce ~100 kg of API intermediate. Coordinated batch processing activities across pilot plants and multiple drug substance partner groups as Operations Engineer to produce ~85 kg of API under cGMP conditions to support ongoing clinical trials. Assigned to CPDC Chemical Engineering Technology Lab (April 2014 to present). Serve as technical consultant to rapidly develop highly complex reactions and crystallizations across CPDC and Process Chemistry Departments. Assigned as Leader of Flow Reaction and Kinetic Modeling Technology Working Group (April 2014 to present). Identify, develop, and champion continuous processing technologies and modeling capabilities that add value to API development. Supervised summer interns and rotational engineers on research projects that focused on continuous flow reactor technology. Assigned as Team Captain to Merck Recruiting at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (June 2014 to present). Led recruiting efforts for summer internship and full time employment.
Designed and developed automated, microfluidic platform for online optimization of a chemical reaction using black-box and model-based optimization algorithms. Automated multi-dimensional reaction screening using a microfluidic platform in collaboration with CMLD at Boston University. Fabricated silicon micoreactors and micropumps using photolithography, dry/wet etching techniques, anodic bonding, and fluidic packaging. Installed automated platform technology with proprietary software and trained users at Novartis Pharma, AG (Basel, Switzerland) and in Stephen L. Buchwald’s Lab (MIT Chemistry). Supervised and managed two undergraduate research projects, and two visiting graduate students research projects. Mentored multiple graduate students in Prof. Klavs Jensen's research group. Co-refereed articles submitted to Chemistry and Chemical Engineering journals. Instructed review sessions, prepared and graded exam solutions for 35 undergraduate students in Separation Methods.
Investigated and modeled shear-induced coagulation of latex rubber and presented recommendations and results to senior management.