I worked with esteemed manufacturing customers to resolve materials and processing problems with polymers and composites. This work involved testing and analysis of polymeric and non-metallic materials and components in an A2LA-accredited laboratory.

In my Formulation Development Chemist role at Fabick, I planned, formulated, mixed, tested, and qualified new 2-component polyurea, polyurethane and hybrid foams and protective coatings for individuals, companies and municipalities. As the sole chemist in this protective coatings business, I handled all aspects of planning and development of new chemistry. Within my first 9 months at Fabick, I have developed, tested and trialed 3 novel foam formulations (2 of them with environmentally "green" certifications), a potable and waste-water pipe coating, an interior fuel tank coating, and a nonstick lawnmower deck coating. Due to sales of new product offerings, revenue is expected to increase significantly during my first year of development.

As Development Chemist IV at PPG, I formulated and reformulated complex coatings for the automotive industry. The most important work involved structure-property relationships of resins, plasticizers, surfactants, and additives.

Malted and tested various strains of Barley on a Pilot Scale. Tested and optimized filtration methods of barley mash for quick and complete processing of barley wort for fermentation.Operated and maintained a Bruker EMX Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (ESR/EPR) to test the freshness of beer samples from brewing facilities around the world.Authored various internal reports documenting all aspects of beer freshness by free radical monitoring with ESR and Barley viability, and the equipment required for this tasks. This was a fun contract position that offered no opportunity for employment or advancement.

Created homogeneous "Green" formulations of complex water-insoluble animal pharmaceuticals to be introduced into water streams. Optimized process parameters for a stable insecticide formulation for an outside client.Created and mixed large (75 gallon) batch formulations of crop treatment products.Set up a complete analytical laboratory in a new facility. This was a contract position. I stayed on for additional contracts, but work ran short for this startup, and empoyees were put on half time.

Planned and executed experiments in a product development environment to optimize performance of a rubber catalyst microreactorWork included handling and reaction of pyrophoric materials, dry box environment work, and extensive electrical controls engineering. Worked with Labview 8.0 with PXI control, lab on a chip, and other microelectronics supplies and materials. This was a very exciting and rewarding temporary project position. All objectives and goals were met ahead of schedule.

Planned and executed experiments in a product development environment to optimize performance of aqueous-developable photoactive polymer formulations for applications in the microelectronics industryFormulation work involves precise mixture of Photo-Acid Generator, Photo-sensitizer, Adhesion and Crosslinking additives in a yellow light Class 1000 clean room environmentFormulations spin-coated onto SiOx wafers and exposed to UV radiation, then developed in aqueous baseMaintained extremely detailed records of all work performed, including monomer synthesis and purification, extensive dry box work, small- and large-scale polymerization, photo-develop mixture formulation, optimization DOEs, and physical integrity tests of polymer films on silicon wafersPresented important conclusions each week in group meetingAll wafer work was performed in a clean room environment. This was an extremely rewarding limited term project position where I learned more than I would have imagined. The project was completed, and a patent was procured for the work.

Explored surface deposition of materials ranging from carbon nanotubes to semiconductor polythiophenes using Chemical Vapor DepositionDesigned and constructed a 13.56 MHz Radio Frequency Electrodeless Pulsed Plasma reactor with 10 liter reaction vessel, 1500 watt L-C Matching network and dual monomer inlet capability under high vacuum for the deposition of a wide variety of polymer films with varying functionality and crosslink densityOptimization experiments were devised and executed to optimize process parameters of the apparatusFocused research on optimized pulsed-plasma deposition of thin reactive Maleic Anhydride filmsFurther characterized surface reactions of anhydride cyclic ester groups by aminolysis/amidization and hydrogenation pathwaysLed undergraduate students to conduct experimentation in senior-level polymer synthesis and characterization laboratory sectionProvided technical background of polymer science and engineering, and evaluated students' performance on experiments and written reports