Fine Chemicals Manufacturing

• Synthetic route scouting• Familiarization with transferred processes and adaptation to AFC equipment• Coverage of plant processes, managing batch records• Developed improvements to existing processes or those transferred to AFC• Experienced with processing potent API's, energetic intermediates, high pressure hydrogenation on scale, metal catalyzed reactions on scale, challenging free-base precipitations from water

As part of the NIH - Collaborative Opportunities for Research Educators (CORE), I taught organic chemistry laboratory and study sections. I mentored undergraduate researchers who studied titanium and gold catalysis. As part of NIH-CORE during summer 2015 at UT Austin, I took on an undergraduate researcher from Southwestern University who contributed original research to our communication and earned an acknowledgement.

My research at UT Austin focuses on the application of metal catalyzed hydrogen mediated carbon-carbon couplings and their application to the total synthesis of natural products such as terpenes, and type I and II polyketides.Using the iridium catalyzed bis-allylation method pioneered by the Krische group, we were able to synthesize the natural product Cryptocaryol A in less then half the steps of any previous synthesis.I researched ruthenium(0) catalyzed couplings and their applications to the synthesis of terpenes and type II polyketides.

My research focused on extending the scope of the Diels-Alder reaction and its application to the total synthesis of morphine.I found that ortho-benzoquinones were highly reactive dienophiles, participating in the Diels-Alder reaction with very hindered dienes. I also found ortho-benzoquinones could be used to synthesize benzofurans by a Mukaiyama-Michael type mechanism.I explored the ability of phenylseleno acrylate to act as an ethylene equivalent in the Diels-Alder reaction. During this research, I found that the cleavage of seleno esters often produced rearranged products in bicyclic systems.

During my summer internship at Amgen I researched the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of halogenated aminopyridines. We developed a sequential double amination strategy that allowed triaminopyridines to be prepared more efficiently.

During my time at Fresno State I researched the synthesis of ligands with planar chirality for ruthenium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation. I was a student assistant who graded quizzes and exams for organic chemistry, and also led discussion groups in chemistry and math tutoring.

As an intern in Pfizer's process area, I studied the purification of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) Axitinib using soluble palladium scavengers. I earned an acknowledgement in the published work.