Expertise applied to this project: materials synthesis and characterization, silane chemistry, NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, interfacial engineering and molecular simulations.

Expertise applied to this project: applications of supercritical fluid technology, including materials processing, and the phase behavior and self assembly in CO₂ and CO₂-philic systems

Expertise applied to this project: synthesis of fluorinated surfactants and their phase characterization

Provided expertise and graduate training in x-ray diffraction and TEM of ceramic materials.

Synthesis and characterization of a series of nonionic fluorinated surfactants.

Synthesis of series of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactants for synthesis of ordered porous materials.

Synthesis of nonionic surfactants from perfluorinated carboxylic acids and polyclycol ethers.

Synthesis and characterization of a series of fluorinated surfactants and partially fluorinated cationic surfactants.

Fluorescence anisotropy methodology to study phase behavior of fluorinated surfactants.

Studying silane polymerization reactions in situ by NMR and materials synthesis with commercially available fluorinated surfactants.

Studying the predictive synthesis of ordered mesoporous materials using mixed surfactants, and molecular imprinting at the surface of inorganic materials.

Studied molecular imprinting of mesoporous and microporous silica with saccharides and selective adsorption using these materials.

Investigated the phase behavior of fluorinated surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide and the processing of fluorinated surfactant-templated films and powders using high-pressure carbon dioxide. Developed fluorescence probe methods for studying micellar and surfactant behavior in templated films. Currently working at Whirlpool, Inc.

Developed phase equilibrium characterization techniques for fluorinated solvent/CO₂ systems and applied them to the self assembly of fluorinated surfactants in the presence of CO₂. Studied CO₂-activation of self assembly in fluorinated solvents. Deceased.

Developed methodology at the University of Kentucky for the synthesis of surfactant-templated thin films by dip coating. Studied surface modification of substrates as a method to control the orientation of the pores in films with hexagonal close packed mesopores, and the kinetics of curing of the films. Currently working at Pfizer Global R&D.

Developed molecular simulation tools to directly and accurately model self-assembly of fluorinated surfactants. Currently working as a computer programmer in Lexington, KY.

Investigated the synthesis and adsorption characteristics of organic-functionalized mesoporous ceramics prepared using fluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants as the pore templating agents. Functional groups studied include vinyl, hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, and amine groups. Demonstrated use of fluorocarbon-functional materials for fluorous separations, and amine-functional materials for carbon dioxide adsorption. Currently working as an instructor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky Paducah campus.

Studied the synthesis of a large number of porous particles and gels using fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactant templating. Pioneered the use of cationic fluorinated surfactants for ceramic templating. Investigated the kinetics of reaction of a series of organo-alkoxysilanes, and the properties of templated and non-templated materials prepared using those precursors. Currently working as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Ohio State University.

Studied the adsorption of fluorinated surfactants at the ceramic-water interface and self-assembly behavior of fluorinated surfactants by polarization contrast microscopy. NSF REU student 2003.

Studied adsorption of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactants at silica-water interface. Currently an NSF graduate fellow in the University of Minnesota Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program.

Examined the phase equilibria and self-assembly of fluorinated surfactant/water/alcohol/fluorinated solvent systems, formation of fluorinated reverse microemulsions, and nanoparticle synthesis.

As part of the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Math, Science and Technology Center program, performed senior research project on the formation of mesoporous silica and its use for controlled release of dyes.