Working on the development of a regional pH imaging technique using Hyperpolarized [13C]bicarbonate. Improved on the method of producing hyperpolarized [13C]bicarbonate through the decarboxylation of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate by removing all toxic chemical species such as cesium and calcium used in other methods so that the hyperpolarized product can be used in vivo.Obtained first ever non-invasive regional pH map of the lungs of an animal.Publications:• Drachman, N., Kadlecek, S.J., Duncan, I., Rizi, R.R. (2017) Quantifying reaction kinetics of the non-enzymatic decarboxylation of pyruvate and production of peroxymonocarbonate with hyperpolarized 13C-NMR. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. doi:10.1039/C7CP02041D• Drachman, N., Kadlecek, S.J., Pourfathi, M., Xin, Y., Profka, H. and Rizi, R.R. (2016), In vivo pH mapping of injured lungs using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate. Magn. Reson. Med. doi:10.1002/mrm.26473• Siddiqui, S., Kadlecek, S.J., Pourfathi, M., Xin, Y., Mannhertz, W., Hamedani, H., Drachman, N., Ruppert, K., Clapp, J., Rizi, R.R. (2016), The use of hyperpolarized carbon-13 magnetic resonance for molecular imaging, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. doi:10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.011Presentations:• Drachman, N., In Vivo pH and Metabolite MR Imaging Using Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate. Oral Presentation. ISMRM 2016, Singapore.• Drachman, N., pH Dependent Kinetics of the Decarboxylation of Pyruvate for pH Mapping Experiments. Poster Presentation. ISMRM 2016, Singapore. • Drachman, N., In Vivo pH and Metabolite MR Imaging Using Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate. Oral Presentation. The Fourth International Workshop on Hyperpolarized Carbon-13 and Its Applications in Metabolic Imaging, 2016, Philadelphia. • Drachman, N., Simultaneous Measurement of pH and Metabolism in Injured Rat Lungs Using Hyperpolarized 13Carbon MRI. Poster. ATS 2016, San Francisco.

Designed and carried out experiments to determine the plasmonic and optical characteristics of silver nanowires to determine their effectiveness in various photonics applications. Wrote an honors thesis summarizing my research and presented findings at a regional conference.

I was responsible for directing, filming, and editing videos whose purpose was to advertise campus events, or bring together the student body. Generated over 750,000 youtube views across several projects.

Worked directly with a post doctoral researcher on the development and fabrication of novel high efficiency thermoelectric materials. Responsible for the fabrication, characterization, and testing of various novel materials.