Ivan P. Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Emeryville, California, Us

Develop implantable hydrogel sensors to monitor changes in blood chemistry in real time:• Direct R&D of fluorescent hydrogel that integrate with human tissue with minimal foreign-body responses (low inflammation and no fibrotic encapsulation). Develop overall research strategy for next-generation sensors based on novel chemoreceptors, enzymes, and fluorescence reporters.• Coordinate transfer of sensor technology from R&D to manufacturing, including the development of documentation and traceability protocols for our QMS (quality management systems).• Develop and expand high-throughput/automation systems (e.g. TECAN plate readers, custom-design flow systems, and associated code) and documentation (SOPs, DVSs, TPs, TRs) to streamline quantitative testing of hydrogel sensor's performance (brightness, sensitivity, response time, etc) at scale.• Manage and supervise daily operations of our chemistry lab and CER (controlled environment room) for the manufacture of implantable hydrogel sensors (Glucose and Oxygen).• Contribute to cross-functional teams of optical engineers and data scientists for experimental analysis and method development regarding prototype optical readers.❂

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Served as entrepreneurial lead for early-stage start-up out of UNC-CH (Team 22, Archerfish) to engage in customer discovery as part of regional NSF I-Corps program (Jan 2022 Cohort). • Carried out secondary market research to identify key opinion leaders in the area of corneal scarring. • Designed and implemented primary market interviews by reaching out to leading ophthalmologists, corneal specialists, patients and other experts to determine current gaps in the treatment of eye injuries.• Using a validated workflow, determined market need for a preventative therapy in patients who have a higher risk to form scars (infection, surgery, etc.), and who otherwise would need a corneal transplant to recover vision.

Realizing rapid (<1 min) trace (<1 µg/cm²) analyte characterization using Raman imaging spectroscopy requires novel optical devices that can selectively filter narrow regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (10-50 cm⁻¹) with very high efficiencies (>99.9%). My research at U. Pittsburgh was focused on developing crystalline colloidal arrays (CCAs) for this purpose.CCAs are ideal wavelength-selection devices for hyperspectral imaging applications, and consist of highly-charged silica nanoparticles which self-assemble into highly crystalline phases in low-ionic strength media. Unlike standard gratings, which disperse all wavelengths of light, CCAs operate analogously to dichroic/dielectric optics. Unlike dielectric optics, CCA's can operate in the deep-UV (<260 nm) and be fabricated to exhibit highly narrow notch bandwidths (<1 nm) with ODs >3, enabling higher optical performance.• I developed synthetic protocols using DoE to generate highly-charged, monodisperse Si nanoparticles (<3% PDI) using sol-gel/silane chemistries.• Designed and performed experiments for nanoparticle characterization using TEM, DLS, and zeta-potential measurements.• Pioneered protocols for inducing and maintaining the crystalline ordering of colloidal dispersions using air-pulse flow control and optical spectroscopies.• Directed efforts towards implementing CCAs into deep-UV hyperspectral imaging spectrometers: - Designed the optical path and programmed physical components (e.g. Zaber stages) to streamline data collection. - Developed protocols to automate data work-up and analysis using Python & Igor Pro.During these activities, I mentored and managed a junior graduate student.❂

I developed stimuli-responsive hydrogels as novel chemical sensors for biomedical applications and molecular diagnostics. To engineer chemical specificity, these hydrogels are formulated using a poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPA) scaffold co-polymerized with additives that can selectively bind to an analyte of interest.Upon association of the analyte to the hydrogel network, changes in gel volume are actuated which can be monitored with high sensitivity via polymerization of these materials around a crystalline colloidal array (CCA). As CCAs diffract specific regions of the electromagnetic spectrum according to Bragg's Law, changes in the gel volume result in a clear colorimetric response.• I developed a design approach for the formulation of hydrogel sensors targeted to aromatic compounds of biological interest, such as neurotransmitters and related psychoactives. • Developed standardized fabrication protocols to generate highly-ordered pNIPA-based CCAs using UV-initiated free-radical polymerization.• Designed and built a custom experimental set-up to collect optical measurements (transmisson, extinction & diffraction) from our samples continuously as a function of temperature (dT <0.5 C)• Developed novel protocols using UV resonance Raman to monitor the real-time binding of analytes to hydrogels and the changes in pNIPA solvation that lead to the observed volumetric response.I mentored and managed a senior graduate student on these efforts.❂

I supported our group's research efforts to develop enzyme biosensors for Xe detection as part of a multi-center DTRA-funded research (in association with FLIR and U. Washington).Xe is considered an ideal anesthetic due to its exceptional chemical stability, minimal pharmacological side effects, and low interactions with other administered drugs. Xe's mechanism of action remains incompletely understood; however, it's thought to involve direct xenon-protein interactions that mediate cellular activity and lead to enzyme inhibition. • I initiated the spectroscopic efforts aimed at characterizing structural perturbations to met-myoglobin (Mb), a model enzyme that binds 4-5 atoms of Xe inside transiently formed protein cavities.• Designed and implemented a vacuum-gas-manifold for Xe delivery at controlled pressures (5-75 psi) and anoxic conditions. • Implemented & interpreted UV resonance Raman (UVRR) to selectively monitor the structure of the MetMB protein backbone (using ~205 nm laser excitation), the solvation-environment/packing-state of aromatic amino acids found near Xe-binding sites (~228 nm excitation), and heme perturbations (~425 nm source) in the presence of Xe.• Developed experimentally validated mathematical models to determine Xe-Mb equilibrium binding constants from Xe-NMR data and ITF/CD/UV-Vis spectroscopies.• Contributed to multicenter discussions regarding the design of novel enzymes using molecular modeling (e.g. POVME and ROSETTA). • Authored 2 white papers based on these findings and served as editor for DTRA Final Report.These efforts involved collaborative research amongst senior and junior scientists across industry (2 research scientists, 1 research associate, 1 postdoc) and mentorship/management of 3 graduate students.❂

I pioneered fabrication methods using colloidal self-assembly to create solid materials with periodic nanostructures. These materials act as photonic crystals which manipulate the propagation of light due to their ability to selectively diffract regions of the electromagnetic spectrum; and have emerging applications in optics, photonics, energy storage, and biosensors. We are developing these materials as part of our efforts in building next-generation hyperspectral UV-Raman imaging spectrometers.• As team lead:- I directed team discussions with PI, postdocs, and graduate students to steer the fabrication of highly ordered, silica inverse opals with <100 nm periodicities. - Carried out literature research and prepared internal white papers to direct the group's efforts.- Designed and performed experiments requiring delicate material fabrication, stringent environmental control (temperature, humidity, airflow), UV-Vis spectroscopy, optical profilometry & microscopy, SEM imaging (with EDS), and UV laser diffraction.- Developed protocols for preparing ultrahydrophobic surfaces (contact angle >150°)- Procured new equipment (~50K) and developed protocols to self-assemble polymer nanoparticles into closed-packed, highly-ordered, three-dimensionally periodic films composites.- Implemented Design of Experiments (DoE) to develop protocols yielding an inverse opal structure with the highest optical properties reported in the deep-UV (>28% narrower spectral bandwidths and 5-fold increased diffraction efficiencies than previous state-of-the-art).- Conceived an experimentally validated mathematical model based on dynamical diffraction theory (DDT) and scalar wave approximation (SWA) to predict the photonic properties of our materials.- authored and reported our fabrication protocol in ACS Appl. Nano Mater.These efforts consisted of collaborative research efforts amongst senior and junior team members (1 postdoc, 2 graduate students).❂

Madison, Wi, Us

I lectured upper-division students in the two physical chemistry laboratory courses at UW-Madison. As capstone laboratory courses, students had the opportunity to devise their own research plan to address the questions posed in each module. I was responsible for providing the scientific background for each topic, assisting students in the planning of their experiments, and troubleshooting their procedure and analysis. Due to the small class size (7-15 students), I had the opportunity to develop mentoring interactions with individual students I provided written feedback to submitted documents and graded individual student efforts in written preparatory work & calculations, finalized reports, and oral examinations. • In the first course:- I trained students in the use of laboratory equipment and protocols to determine enthalpies of solvation, chemical rate laws, and ionic mobilities. - Trained students to evaluate the statistical significance of their results, critically analyze expected and measured variances, and assess how these are affected by experiment design.•In the second course:- I trained and supervised students in the use of spectroscopic equipment to collect the emission spectrum of gaseous plasmas, the microwave spectrum of linear triatomics, and the electron spin resonance spectrum of organic radicals. - Trained students to determine molecular properties of the compounds such as their structure, reactivity, and charge distribution using experimentally validated computational chemistry models.For these efforts, I consistently received student evaluations on the top quintile.

I directed the Brunold laboratory's studies on the enzymatic catalysis of the Coenzyme-B12 inorganic cofactor. The various forms of Coenzyme-B12 catalyze radical-mediated chemical rearrangements, methyl transfers, and reductive dehalogenation of organic compounds. Its transport and bio-activation are involved in bacterial pathogenesis and several human genetic diseases. B12 compounds have also found novel applications for drug delivery (e.g. NO, HO•) and hydrogen evolution. I studied air-sensitive, B12-dependent, redox-enzymes to elucidate their chemical mechanism. These efforts resulted in 4 first-author papers published in leading chemistry journals in collaboration with the Escalante Lab at UW-Madison (and later, UGA). This collaboration involved cutting-edge microbiology and biochemistry techniques combined with advanced spectroscopic and computational characterization of catalytic intermediates.I was involved in the protein expression and purification process and was responsible for carrying out spectroscopic studies and interpreting the results. For these experiments, I developed novel air-free techniques and chemistries to remove oxygen contamination from experiments. I developed and maintained custom-design spectroscopic instrumentation, control-protocols, and data analysis tools for our Coherent Innova HeNe and Ar ion laser/spectrometer system (for resonance Raman), and our Oxford superconducting magnetocryostat / electronic spectroscopy system (for Magnetic Circular Dichroism experiments at cryogenic temperatures). I also served as a resource for the upkeep and user-training of our department's Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) instrument, which I extensively used in my research.I designed computational studies (DFT and QM/MM) to develop experimentally validated quantum chemistry models. These models were used to interpret our results by providing detailed insights into the molecular and energetic pathways involved.

During my graduate studies, I had the opportunity to initiate collaborative research with other laboratories. From my interests in advanced spectroscopies and nanomaterials, a collaboration with the Wright group (@UW-Madison) was started to characterize structural mimics of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). The OEC is a manganese-containing, water-oxidizing enzyme complex involved in the photo-oxidation of water during the light reactions of photosynthesis. This collaboration was continued by subsequent members in developing mixed electronic-vibrational spectroscopic methods to study metalloenzymes. Based on my interests in sustainable chemistry, a collaboration with the Diekert group (@University of Stuttgart) was begun to elucidate the mechanism by which the B12-dependent reductive dehalogenation of organochlorides occurs in bacteria. This reaction is of intense interest for applications in the bioremediation of industrial pollutants.Due to my expertise in the properties of metal macrocycles, I collaborated with the Banerjee group (@UM-Ann Arbor) in studies of human Cysthathione β-synthase and CblC.

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

As part of the undergraduate research program at UNC and under the guidance of graduate researchers and faculty, I investigated the effect of changing side-chain functional groups on the binding of a small peptide to a promiscuous enzyme. This work was carried out in the context of elucidating the molecular interactions underpinning the formation of protein-protein complexes. This project involved synthesis and and characterization of small (~20 amino acids) beta-hairpin peptide models containing phosphorylatable groups, accompanied by functionalization with a 5-Carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) fluorophore. I prepared beta-hairpins with a controlled amino-acid sequence using using solid phase synthesis, and carried out molecular binding measurements between the labeled peptides and a promiscuous protein kinase using fluorescence anisotropy to determine the equilibrium binding constants of the resulting complex.

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

As part of the federal work-study program, I was employed by the Latin American Studies department (now the Institute for the Study of the Americas, isa.unc.edu) as a student librarian. I was responsible for handling requests and mailing out films from the collection maintained by the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.Additionally, I redesigned the film collection's media covers to replace aging designs, assisted in the design and distribution of film guides, and participated in the organization of the Latin American Film Festival. To further support these projects, I also provided English-Spanish translation services as needed. These services ranged from preparation of fliers and films guides, to translation of historical documents for anthropological research.

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

As part of the federal work-study program, I was employed as a lab technician supporting UNC's microbiology lab curriculum. Under the guidance of faculty and graduate student teaching assistants, I prepared and sterilized media and other materials, and prepared large quantities of agar plates to be used in the laboratories. This work involved unsupervised cleaning of laboratory glassware and sterilization using an autoclave, and preparation of large amounts of media (> Liters of Luria–Bertani medium) and related reagents. I was also responsible for preparing and maintaining the technician's laboratory.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

As part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) research experience for undergraduates (REU) program, I was awarded a fellowship based on a competitive nationwide application program that selected about a dozen students to participate in summer research at MIT's Biological Engineering Department. In this research opportunity, I was involved in studies of a targeted drug delivery system being developed in the Hamad-Schifferli group. The project showed selective release of DNA, which had been conjugated onto the surface of gold nano-rods using Au-thiolate chemistry, by using laser irradiation at selected wavelengths. I was responsible for the characterization of the surface plasmon resonances of the nanorods and their morphologies before and after laser irradiation, and assisted with DNA conjugation and nanorod fabrication. This work is published as a highly-cited manuscript in ACS Nano.

Blacksburg, Va, Us

I apprenticed for Dr. Theophanis Theopanos at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. I worked in developing and testing capacitance-based sensors for applications in concrete, the most commonly used structural material for the construction of infrastructure.* Validated protocols to track the status of concrete aging via in-situ monitoring of humidity using capacitance sensors. * Engineered a sample insertion/removal device to load and retrieve samples from a humidity controlled chamber while minimizing the chamber's inner environment.

Ph.D., Physical Chemistry

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Chemistry

High School Diploma