I'm a recent graduate from the Biomedical Engineering department at the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in Biology. I'm very interested in prosthesis with 2 years of research experience. I've been trained in the use of several laboratory instruments including an optical goniometer and optical microscopes. In particular, I have been trained in the repair and maintenance in the Zeta 20 optical profiler. I found research to be very interesting as I've always enjoyed finding interesting solutions to problems. When not working on classes or research, I find time to work on my computer, make models, and even catch up on reading if I'm lucky.
Broadway Pharmacy
Assisted in several aspects of pharmacy work, including taking and making calls for deliveries and updates, filling prescriptions to specifications, and maintaining the look of customer-facing side of the pharmacy.
University of Delaware, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Interned at the University of Delaware researching and experimenting on polymer electrodes for implanted prostheses
University of Akron, Department of Polymer Engineering
Through the McNair SRI program, designed and conducted a research project in polymer wrinkling.
Certified Pharmacy Technician
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MS in Engineering (Biomedical)
University of Akron
Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
I have been involved in research into the morphology of polymer thin films formed using photo-initiated polymerization and development of electrodes using PEDOT suspended in a gel for use in implanted prosthetics . In the future I would like to continue research into prosthetic limbs to better understand the limitations as well as improve the functionality of current-day prosthesis.
I am currently undertaking research into gel electrodes for cochlear ear implants for my graduate thesis. This research is expected to complete Fall 2014.
While studying the formation of PEDOT in agarose gel for the use of implanted electrodes, the formation of small crystals were found when gold was used as the working and counter-electrode for the PEDOT Deposition. The crystals were shown to have an alignment in the latitudinal direction and refraction under TEM. Further study and publication to follow at a later date.
Polymer thin films were made using furfuryl alcohol and a Photo Acid Generator, using surface dynamics to cause the internal stresses that form a repeating wrinkle patters. By adjusting environmental conditions, the wavelength of pattern can be changed without affecting the amplitude. The changes in the volume of solution changes the amplitude without affecting the wavelength.
Addition of a small fraction of hydrophobic photoacid generator (PAG) to furfuryl alcohol provides a facile route to generate wrinkle topology by acid-catalyzed polymerization that is induced by ultraviolet (UV) light. Here, we describe how the primary characteristic parameters, wavelength and amplitude, of these periodic wrinkles can be tuned through control of the thickness of this furfuryl alcohol–PAG solution prior to UV exposure and the environmental humidity. As the initial coating thickness is increased, the wavelength remains unchanged at fixed temperature and PAG concentration, but the amplitude of the wrinkles increases exponentially with increased coating thickness. A wrinkle to crease transition is observed in some cases as the thickness of the solution coating is increased; this behavior is dependent on the PAG selection. Conversely, variation in relative humidity does not significantly impact the amplitude of the wrinkles, but there is a step change in the wavelength of the wrinkles near approximately 45% relative humidity with a factor of 3 decrease in the wavelength at high humidity. Through this knowledge, we have been able to fabrication wrinkles with an aspect ratio greater than 0.7 in a single step by UV exposure. These simple processing parameters to independently control wavelength and amplitude provide a facile route to systematically examine the role of aspect ratio of wrinkles on physical properties.
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