Ronald Whiddon Email and Phone Number

Ronald Whiddon: rjwhiddon@yahoo.comI am driven by my curiosity to understand complex systems of interaction and methods of simplifying data extraction.Key Strengths:1. Diversity of Knowledge: I have received education in disparate fields of science. This has been invaluable in my current field, power engineering, which includes mechanical systems design, bio-renewable energy production, pollutant analysis, chemical dynamics and computer modeling. 2. Transnational Experience: Living, working and seeking education in America, Europe and Asia has been an excellent way to observe different approaches to problem solving as well as learning to overcome barriers to communication. I am confident of my ability to adapt and contribute in any location. Additionally, I have no fear of public speaking. 3. Practical Understanding: Much of my experience has been hands-on: training in machining, working in an industrial ethanol refinery and government laboratory or my experimental focus during masters and PhD education, I am closely involved with the development and practical duties involved in research. I have found this to be especially helpful when teaching at the University and during the experimental planning stage in my research.Improvement opportunities:1. Challenge oriented: The thrill of trying to overcome a problem motivates me to work very hard when a project gets hung up or an experiment is complex. On balance, it is less immediately rewarding to place as much attention on data collection and processing. 2. Transfixed: I can be too target oriented when problem solving and lose sight of the project as a whole. A coworker once asked, "Why do you work so hard for perfect when you have good?" I will need to learn better how to identify a probable dead end earlier in the work cycle.