Research on the preparation of nanocrystalline materials for photovoltaics and luminescent materials for tagging and security applications

- Preparation, characterization, particle size reduction and analysis of novel near-IR emitting materials for covert and overt security applications; preparation and stress testing of materials as taggants in ink formulation
- Polymer and silane coating of luminescent particles for stabilization and dispersion in ink formulations
- Screening and preparation of novel materials as luminescent small particles
- Anaerobic high temperature preparation and characterization of Group IV quantum dots for solar cell applications, preparation of nanomaterial composites and thin films, preparation of mesoporous template materials through sol-gel methods, surface modification of quantum dots, platinum catalyzed surface termination reactions
- Characterization by FTIR, XRD, photoluminescence, TEM and SEM
- Preparation of transition metal and lanthanide ion-doped luminescent materials for tagging and security applications
- Presentation of weekly reports
- Supervise Chemistry staff and direct research

Research on the production and characterization of polymeric foams and films as target materials for Inertial Confinement Fusion and target fabrication

- Preparation of low and ultra-low density foams, flat and patterned foams and polymer films for ICF target assembly and fabrication, preparation of doped polymer films; foam-film sandwiches, doped and undoped film combinations; design of molds; casting and characterization of foams and films
- Preparation of reports and white paper, presentations of posters for DPP meetings
- Interaction with customers and technical supervision

Research on the synthesis of agents for in-vivo imaging in the evaluation of drug candidates

- Synthesis of paramagnetic MRI probes containing functionalyzed macrocyclic gadolinium complexes for imaging gene expression.
- Design and synthesis of metal chelates for binding to single-chain antibodies for reporter assays and angiogenesis marker peptides.
- Solid phase organic synthesis for the preparation of PET-ready combinatorial libraries for the identification of early leads in drug discovery.
- Synthesis of sumatriptan and benzodiazepine analogs

Research on the synthesis of drug candidates for metabolism studies and process development

- Synthesis aromatic and heterocyclic compounds for evaluation as new drug candidates in the areas of neurobiology and inflammatory diseases and their development for biological studies such as receptor binding and animal testing/metabolism.
- Design and synthesis of 13C and deuterium-labeled drug candidates for mass spectral bio-analysis.
- Optimization of reaction conditions for process development in the scale up plant.
- Preparation of monthly and quarterly research reports and development summary.

Research and development of metal-chelate based in vivo diagnostic imaging agents
- Project Leader for discovery of novel tissue-specific MRI and research on X-ray contrast agents.
- Preparation of macromolecular metal chelates and their protein conjugates.
- Design, synthesis and purification of selectively functionalyzed polyazamacrocyclic ligands and metal complexes.
- Synthesis of new chemical entities and formulation for toxicological and biodistribution studies.
- Supervision and research planning for four research scientists.
- Preparation of bi-weekly and monthly group research reports for company-wide distribution.
- Member of project planning team; project planning and coordination of inter-departmental activities.
- NMR and relaxometer training and trouble shooting.
- Member of radiation safety committee.
- Patent activity and technology assessment;
- Presentation at scientific meetings.

Research on diagnostics and Boron-10 neutron capture therapy for cancer

- Organic synthesis involving carborane derivatives.
- Synthesis of fluorescent-labeled amino acids, peptides and their carborane derivatives.
- Conjugation of labeled carboranes organic compounds, sandwich precursors and chelates and oligomers with antitumor antibodies, proteins and bioactive peptides.
- Protein purification and assay using affinity column chromatography.
- Recording and interpretation of 11B, 13C and 1H NMR spectra.
- Project planning; research grant proposals and progress reports for grants.
- Coordination of cross-functional research activities with external collaborators.
- Preparation of manuscripts for publication and presentation at scientific meetings.
- Scientific and technical guidance to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Research on the substituent effects in the di-π-methane rearrangements

- Synthesis and photochemistry of novel bridgehead-substituted benzonorbornadienes; analysis of product distribution.
- Guidance to research group.

Graduate student and teaching assistant
Research in carbocation chemistry

- Organic synthesis involving carbocyclic ring systems
- Homoaromaticity; interaction of Bronsted and Lewis acids with ketones; isotopic labeling; heats of protonation and rearrangements by solution calorimetry; kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanisms of reaction processes.
- Isolation of stable and metastable carbocations in the solid state and structural characterization by CP/MAS NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction.
- Photochemistry; synthesis and studies of carbocations in the light of energy storage properties.
- Preparation, characterization, protonation and rearrangements of metal carbonyl complexes.
- Guidance to graduate and undergraduate students.
- Instructing undergraduate laboratories.