Ph.D. Fluoropolymers Characterization and Synthesis Consultant

Technical Consultant #2223

Fluoropolymer characterization
Fluoropolymer synthesis
Organofluorine chemistry
Inorganic particle characterization
Tribology
Interpretation of results from: DSC, TGA, IR, NMR, GPC, GC-MS, SEM, TEM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), 3D x-ray microtomography, stylus profilometry.

Expert Witness Experience

Undisclosed University, 2017 - Present

Senior Research Fellow, Material Science and Engineering

Investigate tribological and mechanochemical behavior of fluoropolymer composites.
Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

CJI, LLC, Wilmington, DE, Founder & CEO, 2016 – Present

Scientific consulting, creative problem solving, sample analysis and interpretation of data.
Fully-equipped synthesis and polymerization lab with access to state-of-the-art analytical instruments.
New product development, product improvement, and basic research.
Practice superior listening skills, oral and written communication that are valuable in a lab environment.
Deploy strong management, training, and supervisory skills.

Science, Technology, and Research Institute of Delaware, Wilmington, DE, 2016 - 2021

Founding Member

STRIDE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization specializing in innovation and applied R&D in biology, chemistry, polymers, materials, and related sciences.
Deliver open innovation, R&D, education, and consulting services with extensive industrial experience in chemistry, biology, polymer/material sciences, and related disciplines.

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, Visiting Research Scientist, 2003 - 2016

Research Activities

DuPont Central Research and Development, Wilmington, DE

New products: R & D – Partnered with business units to develop commercially viable new materials.

Synthesis and applications of fluorinated superacids made from commercial fluoromonomers: Led a project from lab scale exploratory reactions to multiple kg scale-up and purification. Identified multiple applications for this new class of compounds including ionic liquids, superacid catalysts, and photoacid generators (PAGs).
1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-N,N-dimethylamine (TFEDMA) – a fluorinating reagent made from tetrafluoroethylene: Led basic research into the mechanism of fluorination of this reagent and evaluated possible commercial applications of its use.
Synthesis and applications of ionic liquids: Created, studied, and patented a variety of ionic liquids for wide ranging applications including CO2 capture, flame-retardant polymer additives and green solvents.
Exploration of the fundamental chemistry of a new refrigerant: HFO-1234yf, CH2=CF(CF3): Studied the reactions of this olefin in a search for useful derivatives.

Existing products: Improvement – Performed basic and applied research to improve existing commercial products.

Aqueous emulsion polymerization of perfluoropolymers (i.e., Teflon®) using a wide variety of fluorinated surfactants.
Developed new crosslinking chemistry for improved perfluoroelastomers (Kalrez®).

Open innovation - Materials tribology: ultralow wear / low friction polymer composites.

Straddled the border between industrial and academic research, as well as the disciplines of chemistry, materials science and mechanical engineering.
Created legal documents needed to foster the open sharing of information, created joint IP, advised legal in negotiating licensing, co-authored multiple high-quality manuscripts correcting over a decade of erroneous interpretation while protecting the intellectual property of a possible future business.

DuPont, Washington Works, Washington, WV, Division Chemist, 2000 - 2003

Designed polymerization recipes for novel fluorinated and perfluorinated polymers.
Provided technical support for production-plant manufacturing of Teflon polymers.
Evaluated polymers for use in new market applications
Initiated and coordinated bimonthly technical seminars to promote information transfer among researchers.
Interpreted and communicated research results to staff and business team members via oral and written reports.

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, Graduate Student, Chemistry Department, 1995 - 2000

Synthesized, characterized, and probed reactivity of novel highly-strained perfluorinated olefin.
Successfully carried out organic and fluoro-organic synthetic transformations.
Overcame difficult synthetic challenges presented by target molecule.
Worked in cooperation with multi-ethnic research group.
Trained 10-12 undergraduate students in basic laboratory research skills and safe laboratory practices.

Credentials

Tools: Chemdraw, Endnote, Mendeley, SciFinder Scholar, and Chemical Information Management System (CIMS) relational database.
Thesis: Synthesis, Reactions, and Characterization, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Fluorine Chemistry Division, American Chemical Society-Chair & Vice Chair

Chair, Fluorine Chemistry Division, American Chemical Society

Enhanced leadership skills including leading without authority
Improved efficiency of Division voting process and record-keeping
Wrote biannual newsletters highlighting Division news and accomplishments
Recipient of a 2015 NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) grant with Lehigh University collaborator
Coached and mentored multiple early-career scientists, engineers, and technicians
Guided intellectual property (IP) strategy

Publications and Patents