- Thesis Title: Engineering Stimuli-Responsive Optical Elements: Synthesis, Processing, and Optical Characterization- Research focused on designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments to create reconfigurable, dynamic optical materials (cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers). Work included extensive development, characterization, and processing of electro-optic liquid crystalline polymeric devices - improving speed and power draw of optical tunability.- Characterization Utilized:… Show more - Thesis Title: Engineering Stimuli-Responsive Optical Elements: Synthesis, Processing, and Optical Characterization- Research focused on designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments to create reconfigurable, dynamic optical materials (cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers). Work included extensive development, characterization, and processing of electro-optic liquid crystalline polymeric devices - improving speed and power draw of optical tunability.- Characterization Utilized: X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and dielectric impedance spectroscopy. - Contributed to 5 first-author academic publications (published or recently submitted)- Presented 5 oral talks on this research at international conferences (SPIE, MRS, ACS, etc.), showcasing my ability to effectively communicate research to scientists and engineers with a wide variety of technical backgrounds. - Mentored an undergraduate chemical engineering student for 2 years in the lab, highlighting interpersonal, leadership, organizational, and communication skills. Show less

- Designed and delivered lectures to undergraduate chemical engineering students (~70 students) resulting in successful communication of technical concepts- Mentored students, indicating leadership and interpersonal skills- Developed course materials which demonstrates organizational skills

- Developed presentations and taught recitations on general chemistry topics to ~50 students weekly.- Graded and organized homework, projects, and exams.

- Explored photophysical properties of organic and organometallic materials for DoD sensing applications. - Led research collaborations with national and international researchers, resulting in 7 peer-reviewed publications.

- Taught and instructed General Chemistry Laboratory to undergraduate students at Wright State University.

- Instructed Organic Chemistry Lab for nursing students at Wright State University.