As the Director of Reseach and Development at Best ABT, INC. (a proud member of Team Best), I am part of a dynamic and dedicated team working to deliver solutions for “On Demand” biomarker generation. In this small company environment, my roll changes frequently to meet the demands of our customers. Our self-shielded micro-cyclotron produces the positron emitting isotope F-18 and an automated microchemistry system handles the labeling of specific molecules. Current projects focus on improving the chemistry cart and quality control systems to optimize end user experience, providing clinical dose qualification, and reducing system turn-around time. Long-term projects include the development of automated chemistry processes and quality control methods to produce additional PET biomarkers while bringing more compendial QC methods onboard a certified Clinical Good Manufacturing Practice system. New materials qualification, management of chemistry component obsolescence, and continued monitoring of our materials and processes as they relate to the chemistry system fall under my prevue. I am the Radiation Safety Office.

As the lead chemist I am part of a dynamic and dedicated team working to deliver solutions for “On Demand” PET Radiotracers. In this small company environment my roll changes frequently to meet the demands of our customers. Our self-shielded micro-cyclotron produces the positron emitting isotope F-18 and an automated microchemistry system handles the labeling of specific molecules. My current projects focus on improving the chemistry cart and quality control systems to optimize end user experience, providing clinical dose qualification, and reducing system turn-around time. Long-term projects include the development of automated chemistry processes and quality control methods for the production of additional PET biomarkers while bringing more compendial QC methods onboard a certified Clinical Good Manufacturing Practice system. New materials qualification, management of chemistry component obsolescence, continued monitoring of our materials as they relate to the chemistry system, and developing SOPs under ISO 9001 fall under my prevue.

My work focused on complex metal hydrides for hydrogen storage. The scope of the project included synthesis, characterization and analysis of aluminumborohydride and its ammonium adducts. I developed and adapted techniques and equipment suitable for handling of pyrophoric materials in a safe and convenient manner. These air-sensitive handling techniques are being adapted to the synthesis of heavy ion beam precursors for heavy element synthesis applications. Recently I have been consulting with a multidisciplinary group focused on developing and optimizing the deployment of super-hydrophobic coatings for the Department of Defense.

I developed polyoxometalates to stabilize low-valent platinum and palladium oxo units. As part of a multidisciplinary team I explored the oxidation chemistry of all-inorganic catalysts for water splitting. I lead a team of researchers focused on identifying novel inorganic photosensitizer compounds.

My thesis research focused on the use of inorganic and inorganic-organic hybrid materials in detection of toxic chemicals and the catalytic decontamination of said compounds. I developed a detailed understanding of synthesis of polyoxometalates (POMs) and POM containing materials along with an intimate familiarity with analysis techniques such as IR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltametry, and particularly gas chromatography to analyze reaction kinetics and products.

I was charged with the synthesis, identification and purification of novel target compounds for drug discovery. The research centered on the adaptation of standard techniques to solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS) to facilitated the production of compound libraries. Analysis techniques included 1H and 13C NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Another group at GSK chose one of the isolated compounds for Phase II development.

I was charged with the synthesis, identification and purification of novel target compounds for drug discovery. Along with an array of standard organic synthesis techniques I employed a group of coupling reactions to isolate and crystalize an array of target molecules from a common precursor. Analysis techniques included 1H and 13C NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The work was published J. Tet. Lett. 2003, 44, 4077-4080.

As a summer intern with the novel compound testing department, I was tasked with the tracking of degradation products in soil of a radio-labeled compound. A rigorous experimental procedure, in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards, was followed at all times while collecting the data. Collection was performed by homogenizing frozen samples, oxidizing the 14C labeled pesticide under high temperature, collecting the 14CO2, and determining the concentration in solution by scintillation counter.