Sara Heedy Email & Phone Number

• Laboratory assistant for SEM, AFM, Materials Prep, TEMPR Supporting Staff, and Mechanical Measurement Specialist• Trained users to efficiently use a range of analytical instruments through one-on-one training sessions, technical support, and optimization of characterization parameters• Provide technical expertise and trouble-shooting assistance of analytical equipment to users by phone, text, email, and in person• Ran and maintain a wide variety of analytical instrumentation• SEM and AFM operation, consultation and training on a wide variety of materials(polymeric materials, nanoparticles, surface agents, metals, ceramics)• Consultation work with internal and external customers in reverse engineering of medical device using SEM and EDS, coating aggregation analysis using AFM, SEM and rheology, compositional analysis of inorganic/organic nanoparticles using EDS

• Thesis: "Mechanical performance, stability, and antimicrobial efficacy of a polymer surface with biomimetic nanopillars", PhD advisor: Albert F. Yee• Co-wrote a $2.5 million grant proposal awarded by the Department of Defense (DoD) for development of novel bandage contact lens with ocular drug delivery• Evaluated the role of nanoscale surface structure arrays on the biodegradability, stiffness, flexibility, water content, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity on 8 different polymer systems (biopolymers and thermoplastics)• Explored the physico-chemical characteristics of surface modified polymers after crosslinking with chemical and ionic crosslinkers, discovering that sub-micron surface structures influence the bulk properties• Established standard test methods and tooling fixtures to test and validate thermal and mechanical properties of polymer matrices, which were implemented across the group and are still used today• Investigated the safety of modified hydrogels using MTT colorimetric assay, discovering that epithelial cell viability is not influenced after 24 hours• Optimized the antimicrobial efficacy of biopolymer hydrogels by independently tuning the crosslinker ratio and surface roughness, resulting in successfully inhibiting ~99% of fungal and ~52% of bacterial growth using in vitro assays• Organized, scheduled, and prepared succinct technical progress reports to document research, results and conclusions for the DoD• Negotiated purchase of laboratory equipment, resulting in savings of $20,000

Collaboration with the Nanofabrication facility and UC Irvine Yee lab.• Designed, developed, and fabricated arrays features with heights ranging from 10 nm – 1 µm using XENOS patterning with FIB for use as imprinting templates

• Overhauled technical engineering work orders for composite fabrication, resulting in a decrease in fabrication time and incorrect systems• Assessed material process integration to determine standards in compliance, corrective actions, and improvements for developmental programs, successfully identifying 4 hang up spots

Greater San Diego Area

• Compiled and organized material design parameters by raw material and manufacturing process into a database, which decreased the time the design group spent searching for parameters from days to 15 minutes

Santa Barbara, California Area

• Support pre-sale activities through development of marketing communication material including design of instrumentation fliers, brochures, journal articles and conference displays• Communicated with internal and external customers across multiple sites and time zones• Disseminated technical information on AFM to audiences of engineers and managers, while tailoring the technical message for each stakeholders’ interests• Implemented external customer sample database in VBA to monitor, analyzed and reported the day-to-day status of sample analysis

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Chemical Engineering

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Chemical Engineering

Associate Of Arts - Aa, Marketing