EDUCATION
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, August 2013
Dissertation: Surface and Interfacial Study of Chemical Degradation in Polymer Composites and Coatings
Research supported by ONR/DOD, and SERDP/DOD
Awards:
New York Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Graduate Student Award in Applied Spectroscopy, 2011
GAANN Fellowship, 2011-2012 (full support)
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, May 2005
B.S., Biological Physics with departmental high honors, Chemistry, Biochemistry (Triple Major)
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Surface and interface analysis of polymers, composites, ceramics, and viruses
Chemical and environmental degradation of polymers and composites
Laser ablation of polymers, composites, and dielectrics
Laser fluorescence of polymers and composites
LABORATORY SKILLSET
Raman spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy, Ultrafast laser ablation, XPS (ESCA), Synchrotron XPS/NEXAFS, Optical/confocal microscopy, Laser surface profilometry, Laboratory chemistry, SEM
Software: Microsoft Office, Windows; OriginLab Origin; Nicolet Omnic; WiTec Project; VG VGX; Casa CasaXPS; Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat, InDesign; Thompson-Reuters EndNote; Internet research
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Stony Brook University Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering Stony Brook, NY
Research Project Assistant, Clayton Group - Surface Chemistry 08/2006 - Present
• Exploring the chemical composition of carbon fiber sizing and its relationship to the durability of the sizing-matrix interphase, in the context of photochemical degradation.
• Investigating new means of destructive and non-destructive testing for evaluating photochemical and thermal degradation of polymer composites.
• Determining the mechanism of action of paint stripper solvent components on polyurethane and epoxy military coating systems in order to facilitate the development of an environmentally-friendly substitute.
• Responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the laboratory and for analyzing samples for outside collaborators.
Brookhaven national Laboratory
Upton, NY
Visiting User
05/2009 - Present
• Utilizing synchrotron radiation for XPS and NEXAFS analysis of military coating systems exposed to paint stripper solvent components.
• Employing confocal Raman microspectroscopy to perform depth profiling of military coating systems and carbon fiber composites.
Brandeis University Dept. of Physics
Waltham, MA
Research Assistant, Fraden Group - Complex Fluids
05/2003 – 05/2005
• Optimized and executed protocol to grow and isolate mutant-strain viruses.
• Devised chemical processes to attach viruses to polymer microspheres and gold nanoparticles using heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents to create model colloids, culminating in a senior honors thesis.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Stony Brook University Center for Inclusive Education Stony Brook, NY
SRI/REU Instructor
06/2011 – 08/2011, 06/2012 - 08/2012
• Taught research methods to Summer Research Institute and Research Experienc...
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