Nicholas Traugutt Email & Phone Number

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

• Directly supervised and mentored research technicians on polymer synthesis, materials science, and material characterization techniques, as well as designing presentations regarding the data analysis, project status, and other relevant information, and communicating it to coworkers, vendors, and collaborators • Led the development of mechanical bench tests for a Class II medical device, including designing test protocols and custom test fixtures based on user needs determined through risk analysis• Characterized a novel biodegradable polyurethane using DSC (TA DSC 25), DMA (TA DMA 850), FTIR-ATR (Bruker Alpha II), and rheology (TA DHR-20) • Led the design and development of internal document templates for an eQMS system such as SOPs, batch records, and certificate of analyses• Identified the user needs and material specifications for the development of a Class II medical device, and identified methods to validate them• Mentored coworkers on design optimization for better results from 3D printing• Used FTIR to monitor a 2-step polyurethane reaction to identify ways to improve the protocol and controls and then implementing them• Optimized the synthesis protocol for a novel biodegradable polyurethane so chemical composition and reaction conditions are easy to adjust• Established QC protocols and test SOPs for incoming material from a toll manufacturer, as well as part of QC for incoming chemicals used for in-house synthesis and manufacturing• Worked with partners to use NMR and GPC to develop novel methods for determining material composition• Trained coworkers on the calibration, maintenance, and use of two different commercial DLP 3D printers• Engaged with consultants, manufacturers, and vendors to receive support for project-specific goals and needs

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

• Worked on the design of two custom 3D bioprinters to produce tympanic membrane grafts with fine and consistent tolerance requirements• Maintained a strong base knowledge of relevant technology in the industry to consistently find ideal solutions for the maintenance, repair, and need for manufacturer involvement of all utilized 3D printing and materials characterization equipment• Engaged with manufacturers and vendors to receive support to optimize commercial 3D bioprinters for project-specific goals and needs• Utilized strong interpersonal skills to negotiate a 44% discount on a new differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)• Utilized strong interpersonal skills to engage with a diverse network of staff, peers, and vendors to assess the knowledge base to ensure goals are met through individual expertise

Denver, Co

• Developed an economy 3D printer (<$5,000) capable of printing engineering plastics such as PEEK, PEKK, PEI, and PPSU for manufacturing of research and medical devices• Developed printing profiles with custom settings to improve resolution of details and mechanical properties of materials• Printed test samples and complex structures to compare mechanical properties against those produced on commercial 3D printers, with PEKK proving to have superior manufacturability and properties on the economy printer

Denver, Colorado, United States

• Set up, managed, and maintained a new additive manufacturing space that supports multiple departments, classes, and projects with different types of 3D printing technologies (e.g. DLP, FDM, polyjet)• Trained three junior lab members on assembly, maintenance, and repair of 3D printers so they could manage the lab in my absence • Trained three junior lab members on methods for improving the quality of 3D printed parts

Denver, Co

• Integrated 3D printing into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) course• Co-designed an additive manufacturing course, including instructing students on how to use and maintenance different 3D printing technologies • Designed and presented lectures to demonstrate the interplay between CAD design and 3D printed components

Denver, Co

• Developed novel methods for synthesizing liquid crystal oligomers for use in digital light processing (DLP) and direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing technologies to manufacture LCEs• Analyzed mechanical properties of DLP and DIW 3D printed LCE structures using thermomechanical analysis (TA Q800 DMA & Q2000 DSC) and electromechanical (TA ElectroForce 3200) testing systems to compare energy dissipation of LCEs to traditional isotropic elastomers• Analyzed strain energy densities of LCE and traditional isotropic elastomer structures using quasistatic and impact loadings• Synthesized bespoke dithiol monomer from base chemical components to manufacture LCEs with a covalent adaptable network (CAN) to evaluate the contribution of mesogens to mechanical properties of elastomers• Used FTIR, TGA, and rheology to characterize properties of LCEs and liquid crystal oligomers• Developed a new chemistry that enables transesterification in LCEs• Designed experiments to characterize the properties of materials such as LCEs, PLA, ABS, PEEK, PEI, and composite polymers• Developed novel methods of synthesizing LCEs in bulk, e.g. molding techniques and a widely used method for manufacturing liquid crystal oligomers and elastomers without the use of solvent

Denver, Colorado, United States

• Developed framework for constitutive model of low-strain mechanical behaviors of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) using MATLAB and Abaqus• Manufactured bulk LCE structures using 3D printing and molding techniques for multi-axial vibration testing and analysis

Singapore

• Developed a novel photocured resin that is tailorable and scalable for 3D printing LCEs with DLP technologies• Designed a study to demonstrate the rate-dependence and mechanical dissipation properties of LCEs compared to other elastomers• Highlighted control across three different length scales (meso, micro, & macro) that is achievable with the LCE resin and DLP printing by printing complex and highly detailed structures such as lattices and a lotus flower using different chemistries and 3D printers

Denver, Co

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Mechanical Engineering

Master Of Engineering - Meng, Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’S Degree, Mechanical Engineering