Michael Klapper Email & Phone Number

United States

I provide process engineering services, typically through small contract projects for prior employers or other existing clients.

Greater Seattle Area

• Contributes to an Agile workflow through daily standups, weekly retros, refinements, and peer reviews• Adds to production code written in C# using MVC design, running unit tests, and reacting accordingly to results• Configures virtual SQL servers for testing with realistic (anonymized) data using SQL Server Management Studio• Adds indexes as needed to SQL tables to improve query execution time• Collaborates with other teams to clarify objectives and produce deliverables for cross-team projects• Utilizes GitHub for version control and as part of the code review process, handling merge conflicts as needed • Analyzed project requirements and requested changes to achieve more realistic user values by reducing maximum text input size from 2GB to 4000 characters• Developed changes to internal Kanban board using JavaScript

Bellingham, Washington Area

I joined DariTech in a new position as the sole employee dedicated 100% to R&D endeavors. This role offered the unique challenge and opportunity to grow the scientific and engineering design capabilities of the company including improving documentation, research techniques, expansion of lab equipment inventory, establishment of standardized research methods, and the design of experiments from desktop scale to 1/10th scale industrial pilot units.Process design work included technology selection, supporting lab work, design of de-risking experiments, system design, automation specification (equipment selection and automation pseudo-code), component selection and acquisition, construction and assembly oversight, pilot testing, and documentation. 'Soft skills' were also critical to role and included cultivating customer relationships to ensure their needs were being understood and met, managing vendor relationships, and presenting proposals to potential partners.Technologies worked with included rotary drum solid-liquid separators, centrifugal decanters, gas stripping towers, composting drums, digesters for production of renewable energy, and mechanical vapor recompression evaporation systems. These technologies were used in a variety of combinations to meet each customer's unique needs and 2 patents were received for specific systems of these combined technologies.

Cambria, Wi

I contributed to my team by overseeing and directing major projects within the ethanol plant. I have taken multiple projects from a concept to a pilot study. I start at the conceptual stage by designing and performing experiments at a lab scale. After producing solid evidence of project feasibility I plan and oversee the installation of the equipment for a pilot study. This involves determining the optimal way to tie into our process and then working with the construction and maintenance teams to successfully implement the plan. While most of my work revolved around proprietary R&D projects and pilot studies, I also had the opportunity to perform typical process improvements. Examples include selecting the proper equipment for an application, sizing pumps, estimating project capital costs, calculating ROIs, and performing Root Cause Analyses to determine causes of pump failures.My work utilizes many additional technical skills such as process design, project management, and the ability to adapt to any unexpected challenges while meeting deadlines for multiple active projects. Some soft skills include precise communication, working with multiple consultants and vendors to accomplish project goals, safeguarding proprietary information while working with external resources, mentoring up to 4 interns simultaneously, and maintaining a professional demeanor at all times.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

I had the unique opportunity to conduct research at Virent as a chemical engineer co-op student. I worked most closely with the biomass group, focusing on the breakdown of raw cellulosic feedstock for the use in downstream conversions. I investigated both catalytic methods and solvolysis of the raw feedstock. My studies involved catalyst comparisons (reaction rate, poisoning susceptibility), solvent comparisons (solvent effectiveness, thermal stability), process flow distribution across a packed bed, and the de-risking of a future pilot plant. I worked on multiple projects simultaneously while reporting to multiple project leaders. I commissioned two lab-scale pilot plants, with an emphasis on safe operation and correct implementation of engineering controls. I also demonstrated an ability to on-board rapidly while maintaining a positive demeanor under the non-ideal conditions of a round of layoffs.

Cambria, Wisconsin

In this role I was able to serve the R&D department in a variety of ways. In a typical week I would continue ongoing fermentation experiments while furthering targeted research projects. I provided value in the weekly R&D meetings by reporting results, proposing additional research, and providing expertise on industrial process equipment and separation technologies. Some of my major projects included:-Performed a mass balance of system to track components and hypothesize methods of recapturing co-products from exit streams-Created a method on the Gas Chromatograph (GC) to test for fusel oils in process streams, requiring calibration of the GC for each chemical tested-Investigated new test methods and drafted SOPs for the detection of iron and Vitamin A in process-Analyzed process condensate (PC) and hypothesized effects of contaminants on the process-Maintained a bioreactor at desired experimental conditions-Worked on product development

Cambria, Wisconsin

In this role I was exposed to the ethanol production process and had an opportunity to obtain an in-depth understanding of a fermentation process and downstream processing methods including distillation, centrifugal separations, and industrial drying with a ring dryer. My primary project was research into chemical additives to maximize co-product production. This involved researching surfactant chemistry, selecting chemicals for testing, experimental design, carrying out the experiments, and presenting the findings in a final report.

Greater Milwaukee Area

As an intern in the HPPG (Home Power Products Group), I worked closely with the lab technicians to test and troubleshoot prototype units. The primary products I worked with were pressure washers and home power generators. In a typical week I would maintain units undergoing an endurance trial, look for anomalies in LabView data, disassemble problematic units and work to identify an issue and perform a RCA (root cause analysis) if necessary.

Bachelor'S Degree, Computer Science

Activities and Societies: Cybersecurity Club

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Engineers Without Borders, Choi Tae Kwon Do, AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), Hoofer's Sailing.