Fernando Merida Email & Phone Number

Gainesville, Fl, Us

Gainesville, Fl

Courses taught: Unit Operations I Laboratory and Undergraduate Research in Unit Operations.* Course instruction on experiments such as Thin Film Evaporation, Fluid Flow in pipes, Batch and Continuous Filtration, Heat Exchanger, and Fluidized Bed.* Evaluation of student performance, supervision of peer-tutors, evaluation and grading of preliminary and final reports, assessment of pre- and post-lab homework and other special assignments.* Contribution to Management of Unit Operations involving those of Fluid and Energy Transfer, and Mass Transfer and Separations.* Supervision of undergraduate students in research projects for Engineering Education, including topics such as Unit Operations, Chemical Reaction Engineering, and Bioprocess Engineering.* Member of the Unit Operations Committee.

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Supervised by Dr. Madeline Torres-Lugo* Mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students for the design, synthesis and characterization of polymer-based matrices as cellular supports for ovarian cancer cells, mesenchymal stem cells, cardiomyocytes, and CAR-T cells.* Training of undergraduate and graduate students on cell culture techniques, mainly with with human cancer cell lines.* In vitro testing of polymeric matrices for the growth of various cell lines.* Optimization of methodologies to create 3D cell cultures using the synthesized polymeric matrices, and evaluation of cell responses.* Investigation of nanoparticle transport and uptake ovarian cancer spheroids co-cultured with macrophages, for magnetic hyperthermia applications.* Awards: NSF-Engineering Research Centers for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (ERC-CMaT Research Assistanship 2018)

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Member of the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine (CBEN), under the supervision of Dr. Madeline Torres-Lugo. * Optimization of synthesis and peptization of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and surface modification with oleic acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG).* Evaluation of cytotoxic profiles of PEG-coated nanoparticles and ultrasound contrast agents in ovarian cancer cell lines.* Optimization of low-intensity ultrasound conditions to induce cell sonoporation in ovarian cancer cell lines.* Assessment of nanoparticle internalization into ovarian cancer cells via UV/Vis spectroscopic quantification and confocal microscopy.* Evaluation of Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia (MFH) as individual and combined therapy along with ultrasound and chemotherapeutic drugs.* Investigation of long-term toxicity of magnetic nanoparticles injected intravenously in laboratory mice, including histological analysis of body organs.* Awards: NSF-CREST Research Assistanship 2013-2014, NSF-EPSCoR IFN Academic Fellowship 2014-2016, PRSTRT, AAAS and Ciencia PR Post-Hurriane María Thesis Grant 2018

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Teaching assistant of core and elective courses of the undergraduate Chemical Engineering program, including Chemical Engineering Kinetics, Unit Operations Laboratory and Biochemical Engineering.* Preparation and grading of exams, assignments, and special projects.* Assistance during the execution of laboratory experiments.* Evaluation of pre-lab presentations.

Gainesville, Florida Area

Worked at Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Departments, under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Rinaldi.* Synthesis and characterization of PEG-Silane and carboxylic mannan (CMn) as coatings for magnetic nanoparticles.* Characterization of nanoparticles: Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Dynamic Magnetic Susceptibility (DMS), Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQuID) magnetometry, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Phase Analysis Light Scattering (PALS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscophy (FTIR), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, and others.* Investigation of colloidal stability of PEG-, CMDx- and CMn-coated nanoparticles in biological media and mouse blood.* Evaluation of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of magnetic nanoparticles in tumor-baering mice using intraperitoneal and intravenous nanoparticle administration* Ex-vivo quantification of iron uptake by mouse peritoneal macrophages using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

San German, Puerto Rico

Supervisor: Sr. Julio Gonzalez.* Marketing of scientific equipment for Biotechnology, Bioprocess and Molecular Biology applications in research laboratories, pharmaceutical industry and food processing plants.* Trained customers on the use of scientific equipment such as qPCR systems, cell/tissue homogenizers, enzymatic bioprocess analyzers, nano-volume spectrophotometers, ultra-low temperature freezers, incubators, and others.* Offered lectures and wet labs in research laboratories on the use of scientific equipment within the Molecular Biology chain.* Collaborations with researchers for the optimization of experimental protocols for DNA extraction/purification from spiders, copepods and mouse tails.* Trained customers from the food inddustry on the use of rapid microbiology kits for detetction of foodborne pathogens, allergens, mycotoxins, and others.for the food industry.* Demonstrated the use of scientific equipment in expos, sales meetings and scientific fairs.

Guatemala City

Supervisor: Eng. Carlos Rafael Anzueto.* Assistance in the development and marketing of food quality and safety programs for the food industry.* Assisted in the preparation of quality documentation in the food industry (GMP, HACCP and pre-requirement programs, ISO 9001)* Assisted in the execution of quality auditing of food processing plants.* Collaborated in revisions of SOPs in compliance with HACCP (cleaning and sanitization of processing plants, product traceability, personnel training, water control, cross-contamination control, pest control, and others)* Served as the point person for Registrar Corp. for exportation of food products to USA in agreement with US FDA regulations.* Author of six technical/scientific review articles for "Industria y Alimentos" magazine, including topics like nanotechnology, mathematical modeling, use of viruses and immobilized catalysts, for food safety purposes.* Worked as staff member in techno-scientific talks during food expos.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Supervisor: Eng. Erwin Ortiz* Supervision of undergraduate students during the execution of experiments in the areas of General, Analytic and Organic Chemistry. * Preparation of exams, proctoring and grading.* Grading of weekly laboratory reports.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Supervisor: Eng. Edwin Morales* Assistant in the Quality Control Laboratory of bottled water for human consumption.* Evaluated documents of quality control for chemical, physical and microbiological analyses.* Supervised the execution of quality tests on high-capacity water containers.* Collaborated with technical personnel during physicochemical analysis of bottled water and alcoholic beverages.

Phd, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering

Activities and Societies: AIChE, SHPE, BMES PhD Chemical Engineering with active research work in the fields of Biomedical Engineering.

Master Of Science - Ms, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: AIChE, NEA Science Day, Interphex MS Chemical Engineering with research work in the area of Bioprocess.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: ESIQ Guatemala Special courses on Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, and Geology