I am responsible for maintaining proper chemical parameters for a dip tank pretreatment line in a manufacturing facility (involves titration, colorimetry, pH meter operation, chemical inventory management), electrochemical testing of shot blast material, and certifying paint thickness as needed. I am also involved with weekly eyewash testing, updating and maintaining SDS for the facility, assisting with hazardous waste identification and disposal, and assisting with chemical safety information training.

I evaluate wound-healing characteristics of potato tubers, using chlorogenic acid content and mass of the suberized layer (where the potato tuber heals itself.) The main project I work on involves screening crosses of two potato plants (Lamoka and Manistee) commonly grown in Michigan. Other smaller projects related to this objective explore the effects of tuber age, light exposure, and treatment with glyphosate as a biochemical inhibitor. I work on other projects as well, including computer quantification techniques of chlorogenic acid and related compounds using thin layer chromatography, spectrophotometric techniques such as Arnow’s reagent method, Folin-Ciocalteu, and alkaline hydrolysis. My other duties include coordinating educational outreach by designing projects for high school agriculture classrooms to grow potato plants, maintaining inventory, preparing media, and performing general lab maintenance duties.

This had many of the same duties as my current Research Assistant I position, albeit with less responsibility.

I was a part-time teacher substitute for various grade levels (typically grades 5-12) in several Lansing-area school districts. Prior to July 2015, the substitute teacher service provider I worked for was Professional Educational Services Group; Lansing area school districts switched to EduStaff for the 2015-16 school year.

I assisted in parking and traffic operations during special events including sporting events and concerts. I also worked on set-up crew during football games in Fall 2014 to provide support for other special event traffic workers, security workers, and police officers. I started with Greencoat security in April 2015, assisting in tasks such as monitoring incoming items at large events. Sadly, it became too complicated with my schedule to maintain this position, but maybe someday I will be back.

I was a lead teacher for one course (Chemistry, Conceptual Chemistry) and an assistant teacher for other courses in Chemistry, Conceptual Chemistry, and Algebra 2.

I assisted teachers for summer school programs in Detroit Public Schools (Cody Leadership Academy, Western International High School) and participated in community service opportunities.

I tutored and developed instructional activities for 3-5 hours per week for high school students in Lansing Public Schools.

I assisted lead paint engineer, provided general chemical assistance, wrote work instructions and bill of materials, and organized and performed corrosion testing for production operation using salt spray equipment.

I investigated open-ended research questions in multiscale modeling and optimization through computational means with applications to microelectronics fabrication processing.Listed below are my publications:Behrens, C.M. and Armaou, A. Optimal design and operation of a spatially distributed multiscale process with regard to layered heterostructure growth. Industrial & Engineering Chemical Research, 2010, 49(17), p. 7891-7900.Behrens, C.M. and Armaou, A. Optimal Design and Operation of a Multiscale GaAs/AlAs Deposition Process. In Proceedings of the 2009 American Control Conference, St. Louis.

I led individual and small-group tutoring and class review sessions, assisted in grading, and guest lectured two to three times per semester in heat transfer and mathematical methods for chemical engineering.

I scored open-ended questions for standardized school examinations from various states at the K-12 level, working on six 3-5 week projects intermittently during this time frame.

Position involved developing a heat transfer model for adhesives used in gluing metal seat pans and vinyl seat cushions that correlated timer settings with correct metal pan and adhesive temperatures at this industrial facility. Skills in industrial measurement were further developed. Worked on-site at Michigan Seat Company in Jackson, MI.

I tutored student-athletes in various coursework (generally math and science courses), usually with homework help or exam preparation for approximately 6-8 hours per week.

I assisted and collaborated with graduate research assistants with carrying out recombinant DNA techniques and assisted general plant harvesting operations and growth media preparation.