Senior Scientist

Mitra Yoonessi

**** ********* **. ****, ** *****

Cell: 937-***-****; Email: *****.********@*****.***

Education

Jan. 2001 – Aug. 2004 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

Mississippi State University

1993- 1995 M.S.: Polymer Engineering,

Tehran University

1985-1990 B.S.: Chemical Engineering (Polymer Industries)

Tehran Polytechnic University

OVERVIEW

• 11+ years of research experience related to polymers and materials, synthesis and characterizations /analysis both

experimental and theoretical focusing on the micro/nano-scale structure-property relationships in both organic and

inorganic systems via utilizing a variety of experimental techniques.

• 11+ years of hands-on experience with a variety of lab instruments, equipment and accessories.

• 7+ years of experience with authoring technical papers, reports, and program plans for technical and non-technical

audiences.

• 6+ years of experience with writing proposals for funding and instrument time and as well as

reviewing journal articles, organizing symposiums, technical reports, and program/project plans/proposals.

• 5+ years of experience with laboratory and program/project management.

• 10+ years experience in nanoparticles, nanostructured materials, structure properties correlations, rubber and

elastomers, polymer synthesis, modeling, and polymer nanocomposites for high performance materials.

• 4+ years in synthesis, characterization and processing of high temperature polymers, PEEK, polyimide,

bismaleimide, and thermosets; epoxy, phenolics, and cyanate esters

• 4+ years of experience with fundamental studies of high performance fuel cells membrane, membrane electrode

assembly, electrochemical measurements, and nanomaterials for fuel cells/energy.

• 2+ years of experience with magnetic nanoparticles synthesis, characterization, controlled structure, and inductive

heating of the nanoparticles.

• Training courses in fundamental of aeronautics and fundamental of aircraft engine.

• 6+ years of experience with the standard test methods for plastics, composites, and rubbers such as ASTM, ISO,

DIN/EN in Michelin Research Corp., AFRL, and NASA.

PERSONAL

• Possession strong problem solving/troubleshooting skills, identifying novel and significant research topics,

developing strategies for projects resources

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work both independently and in a teamwork environment.

• Fluency in English and Persian.

• US Citizen.

Instrumentation Skills

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High resolution electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), small angle scattering (x-ray scattering and neutron scattering),

wide angle x-ray scattering, DMA, DSC, TGA, rheometer, electrospinning, electrical and thermal measurements, XRD,

XPS, AFM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, spectrophotometers

Experience

Ohio Aerospace Institute - NASA Glenn Research Center Senior Scientist 02/2009- 02/2012

Summer Faculty 05/2008-09/2008

Leading Projects in the area of nanostructured materials, nanoparticles, and polymer nanocomposites:

Initiating projects and team building

Identifying resources, design of experiments, developing on-line data streaming

Setting up and calibrating instruments

Data acquisition, data analysis, and reporting to management

Mentoring summer faculty, graduate and undergraduate students

Nanotechnology research based on NASA Nanotechnology Roadmap, TA 10

Leading research and team building in the area of:

- Conductive polymers and polymer nanocomposite using

- High modulus high temperature active polymers and polymer nanocomposites

- NASA Center Innovation Fund (CIF) project: Self healing polystyrene core shell magnetic nanoparticle

nanocomposites,

- Multifunctional polymer nanocomposite

University of New Hampshire: Guest Professor 08/ 2007-

05/2008

o Teaching Graduate Heat Transfer (transient conduction, convection, radiation, multi-

mechanisms), Polymer Engineering and Laboratory, and Introduction to Chemical Engineering

o Contributed to the PhD qualifying exam

Michelin Research Corporation: Research Engineer 08/2006-08/2007

Projects:

- Improving impermeability of tire inner liner

o Incorporation of nanoparticles on the barrier properties of the butyl rubber inner liner

o Collaborative project with University of South Carolina, co-supervising PhD student

- Improving tread wear

o Kinetics of silica silane reaction an its effect on the wear resistance of tire

- Multifunctional effects of nanoparticles on rubber compounds

o Effect of clay on the reinforcement rubber formulations

Wright Patterson Air Force Research Laboratory: Visiting Scientist, 09/2004-07/2006

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- Hydrogen fuel cells,

o Fuel cells test bed setup, full membrane characterization and performance evaluation

o Membrane electrode assembly, preparation ofcatalyst, ink, gas diffusion layer

- Gold nanoparticles as high temperature fluids with heat transfer capability

Great Chemical Company: Consulting Engineer/ Manager,

1991-2000

o Managing rubber and plastics projects and technical support for:

- Fluorinated polymers, polyurethanes, adhesive, engineering plastics, fiber glass and polyester

resin

- Complete PVC tubing production line

- Full production line projects: Reinforced rubber tube, rubber mixing; kneaders and calender

Honors/Awards

1. Recognitions for contribution to NASA innovation, NASA GRC, Aug. 2012

2. Nominated for the best paper award (WYE), Polymer Branch/Structure and Materials Div., July 2011.

3. Summer Faculty Award, NASA Glenn Research, summer 2009

4. Named member of the “Cleary award” recipient team (P.I. R.A. Vaia. A. Veovodin, 2008)

5. Named member of the “AFOSR Star Team” (PI R. A. Vaia), 2004/2005

6. National Research Council Award, 2004

7. Scientific Research Society Sigma Xi, 2003

8. NIST Neutron Scattering Training and Travel award, 2002,2003

9. Honda/Barrier fellowship, Mississippi State University, 2001-2004

10. Outstanding Woman Graduate of the Year, Mississippi State University, 2003

Publications

Patents

- Patent filed: Large Strain Transparent Magneto-active Polymer Nanocomposites, Oct. 2012

Inventors: Yoonessi, M., Meador, M.A. Applicant: NASA GRC

- Patent filed: High Temperature Shape Memory Polymer

Inventors: Weiss, R. A. Shi Y., Yoonessi, M., Applicant: University of Akron, Nov. 2012

Peer Reviewed Publications and Book Chapters:

1. Yoonessi, M., Gaier, J.R., Meador, M.A. Transport Properties of Polyimide Nanocomposites, to be submitted shortly.

2. Yoonessi, M., Dittler, M., Peck, J., Gaier, J., A. Controlled Orientation of Graphene in Polyimide Nanocomposite,

submitted Dec.. 2012.

3. Yoonessi, M., Scheiman, D., Lebron-Colon, M., Meador, M., Carbon Nanotube Epoxy Nanocomposites; the Effects

of Interfacial Modifications on the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the Nanocomposites, to be submitted shortly.

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4. Yoonessi, M., Bai, Z., Wheeler, R., Dang, T., Heinz, H. In-situ vapor small angle neutron scattering and transmission

electron tomography of sulfonated polyarylenethioethersulfone random copolymer (SPTES 70) fuel cells

Membrane, submitted, Dec.. 2012

5. Yoonessi, M., Scheiman, D.A., Dittler, M., Gaier, J.R., Ilavsky J., Meador, M.A. High Temperature Multifunctional

Magnetoactive Graphene Polyimide Nanocomposites, Polymer, accepted, Dec. 2012.

6. Yoonessi, M., Lerch, B. A., Meador, M. A. Magnetic Polymer Nanocomposites, NASA Tech Brief Magazine,

approved Jan. 2012

7. Yoonessi, M., Meador, M. Large Strain Transparent Magneto-active Polymer Nanocomposites, NASA Tech Brief

Magazine, May 2012, P. 67

8. Yoonessi, M., Weiss, R. A. High Temperature Shape Memory Polymers, NASA Tech Brief, April 2012, P.45

9. Yoonessi, M., Shi, Y., Scheiman, D., Lebron-Colon, M., Gaier, J. A., Meador, M., A accepted, Graphene Polyimide

Nanocomposites; Thermal, Mechanical and High Temperature Shape Memory Effects, ACS Nano, 2012, 6, 9, 7644-

7655.

10. Shi, Y., Yoonessi, M., Weiss, R. High Temperature Shape Memory Polymers, to be submitted shortly.

11. Hatipoglu G., Liu Y., Yoonessi M., Tigelaar D. M., Tadigadapa S., Zhang Q. M. The electromechanical behavior of a

high-modulus electroactive polymer acting as a robust ionomer for micro-ionic actuators, Smart Mater. Struct. 2012,

21, 055015.

12. Yoonessi, M., Heinz, H., Dang, T., Bai, Z., Nanostructure and Properties of Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone

Copolymer by Small Angle Neutron Scattering, Polymer, 2011, 5615-5621.

13. Fu, Y.-T., Zartman, G. D., Yoonessi, M., Drummy, L.F., Heinz H. Bending of Layered Silicates on the Nanometer

Scale: Mechanism, Stored Energy, and Curvature Limits, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2011, 115 (45), 22292–22300.

14. Yoonessi, M.; Peck, J. A.; Bail, J. L.; Rogers, R. B.; Lerch, B. A.; Meador, M. A. “Transparent Large-Strain

Thermoplastic Polyurethane Magnetoactive Nanocomposites” ACS Applied Mat. and Interfaces, 2011, 3(7):2686-

2693.

15. Tigelaar D. M., Palker A.E., He R., Scheiman D. A., Petek T. Savinell R., Yoonessi M.,“ Synthesis and Properties of

Poly(arylene ether triazine)s with Diphenylamine Branches“, J. Mem. Sci., 2011, 369, 1, 455-465.

16. Obrzut, J., Pristinski D., Yoonessi, M., ECS Trans. 2010, 28, 99-106.

17. Yoonessi M., Gaier J. R., “Highly Conductive Multifunctional Graphene Polycarbonate Nanocomposites“, ACS

Nano, 2010, 4 (12), 7211–7220.

18. Yoonessi, M., Heinz, H., Wheeler R., Dang T. D., Bai, Z., Investigation of Nanostructures and Properties of

Sulfonated Poly(arylenethioethersulfone) Copolymer as Proton Conducting Materials by Small Angle Neutron

Scattering, Polymer, 2010, 51, 7, 1585-1592.

19. Bai Z., Dang T. D., Yoonessi M. In Polymer Membranes for Fuel Cells, Chapter 6 "Design and Development Highly

Sulfonated Proton Exchange Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cells Applications" Springer, 2009.

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20. Yoonessi, M., Seikel, E., Pender, M., Characterization, and Modeling of Stable Colloids of Organically Surface

Tailored Gold Nanoparticles, Langmuir, 2009, 25, 6, 3369-3373.

21. Bai, Z.; Yoonessi, M.; Juhl, S.; Drummy, L.; Durstock, M.; Dang, T., Synthesis and Characterization of Multiblock

Sulfonated poly(arylenethioethersulfone) Copolymers for Proton Exchange Membranes, Macromolecules, 2008, 41,

23, 9483–9486.

22. Yoonessi, M., Toghiani, H., Wheeler, R., Porcar L., Kline, S., Pittman, C. U.,Carbon Nanofiber Phenolic Resin

Nanocomposites; Preparation, Characterization and Carbon Nanofiber Dispersion by Small Angle Neutron

Scattering, Carbon, 2008, 46, 4, 577-588.

23. Voevodin A. A., Vaia R. A., Patton S. T., Diamanti S., Pender M., Yoonessi M., Brubaker J., Hu J.-J., Sanders J. H.,

Phillips B.S., MacCuspie R. I. Nanoparticle-Wetted Surfaces for Relays and Energy Transmission Contacts, Small,

2007, 3, 11, 1957- 1963.

24. Bai Z., Price G. E., Yoonessi M., Juhl S. B., Durstock M. F.,Dang T. D., Proton Exchange Membranes Based on

Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone and Sulfonated Polybenzimidazole for Fuel Cell Applications, J. Mem. Sci.,

2007, 305, 69–76.

25. Bai, Z., Yoonessi, M., Juhl, Sh., Drummy, L. F., Koerner, H., Durstock, M. F., Dang, Th. D., Synthesis and

Characterization of Segmented multiblock Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone for Proton Exchange Membrane,

Proceeding ACS, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007.

26. Yoonessi,

M., Bai Z., Dang, T. D. Nanostructure and Properties of Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone

Copolymer Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications, J. Polym. Sci.: Part B: Polym. Phy., 2007, 45, 2813–2822.

27. Lee, S. H., Zhang, Y., Yoonessi, M. Toghiani, H., Pittman, Jr. Charles U., Phenolic Resin-

Octa(aminophenyl)T8POSS Hybrid Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Morphology and Mechanical Behavior, J. of

Inorganic and Organometallic Polym. & Mat., 2007, 17(1), 159-171.

28. Zhang, Y., Lee S., Yoonessi M., Liang K., Toghiani H. Pittman, Jr. C. U., Phenolic Resin -Trisilanophenyl Polyhedral

Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Hybrid Nanocomposites: Morphology and Structure, Polymer, 2006, 47(9), 2984-

2996.

29. Yoonessi, M., Toghiani, H., Pittman, C. U. Jr., Orientation of Montmorillonite Clay in Dicyclopentadiene/Organically

Modified Clay Dispersions and Composites, J. Appl. Polym. Sci.,2006, 102, 2743-2751.

30. Yoonessi, M., Bai, Z., Koerner, H., Dang, T., Durstock, M. F., Vaia, R. A, Proton Exchange Membranes of Sulfonated

Polyarylenethioethersulfone Copolymers: Morphology, Ion Clustering and Chain Conformation, Proceeding of the

SAMPE meeting, Long Beach, CA, April, 2006.

31. Bai, Z., Yoonessi, M., Dang, Th., Durstock, M. F., New Generation of Fluorinated Sulfonated

Polyarylenethioethersulfone Copolymers Proton Exchange Membranes, Proceeding of the ACS meeting, PMSE,

Atlanta, GA, 2006.

32. Yoonessi, M., Toghiani, H., Daulton, T. L., Pittman, C.U. Jr., Quantifying Delamination of

Clay/PolyDicyclopentadiene Composites Using Neutron Scattering and High Resolution TEM, Macromolecules,

(Article), 2005; 38(3); 818-831.

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33. Yoonessi, M., Toghiani, H., Kingery, W., L., Pittman, C.U. Jr., Preparation, Characterization and Properties of

Exfoliated/Delaminated Organically Modified Clay/Dicyclopentadiene Resin Nanocomposites, Macromolecules;

(Article); 2004; 37 (7); 2511-2518.

34. Lingaiah S., Shivakumar K. N., Sadler R., Yoonessi M., Pittman Jr.C. U., Kirchoff B. K., A Method of

Visualization of Dispersion of Nanoplatelets in Nanocomposites, Proceeding of the SAMPE meeting, Long Beach,

CA, 2004.

35. Yoonessi,M., Toghiani, H., Pittman, C.U. Jr. Kingery, W.L., Highly Exfoliated Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites,

Proceeding of the Tenth Annual International Conference on Composites/Nano-Engineering (ICCE-10), New Orleans,

LA, July 20-25, 2003.

Invited Talk

Graphene Polymer Nanocomposites for Aerospace Applications, Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Symposium, Society of

Applied Spectroscopy, Oct. 2011, Reno, NV.

Recent Selected Conference Presentations (total more than 40 national presentations):

• Yoonessi M., Dittler M., Shi Y., Scheiman D., Hull D., Lebron-Colon M., Gaier, J. A., Meador M.A. Graphene

Polyimide Nanocomposites, MRS fall meeting, Nov. 2011, Boston, MA.

• Yoonessi, M., Boyd E., Quade, D., Scheiman, D. AIChE annual meeting, Oct. 2011.

• Yoonessi M., Roman Vilkin, James Gaier, “Polymer Nanocomposites; Highly Conductive

Graphene/Polycarbonate Nanocomposites”, AIChE annual meeting, Nov. 2010, Salt Lake city, UT.

• Yoonessi M., Carpen I., Ludwig C., Sola F., Meador M. A., “Polymer Nanocomposites for Magnetic Actuation”,

Materials Research Society, Nov. 2010, Boston, MA.

• Yoonessi, M., Gaier, J. A., “Polymer Nanocomposites”, US Army Research Lab., Dec. 2009, Proving Ground,

MD.

• Yoonessi, M., Lebron-Colon, M., Hull, D., Lukco, D., Scheiman, D., Meador, M. A. Carbon Nanotube Interfacial

Tailoring Effects On the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of Carbon Nanotube Epoxy Nanocomposites,

Proceeding AIChE 2009, Nashville, TN.

• Hampton, E., Yoonessi, M., Dean, D., Koerner, H., Seng-Tan, L., Vaia, R. A. Focused Ion Beam Imaging of

Highly Dispersed Benzocyclobutene-Maleimide/Layered Silicate Thermoset Nanocomposites, Proceeding

AIChE 2009, Nashville, TN.

Advised: 1 summer faculty, 8 undergraduate, Co-advised: Total of 3 PhD students

Beam time proposals: More than 10 approved beam time proposal at synchrotron site (National Institute of Standards

and Technology)

Funding: Three funded projects,

32K Ohio Space Grant Consortium (Co-PI), 33K Ohio Space Grant Consortium (Co-PI), and 58K NASA Center

Innovation Fund (PI. Mike Meador)

Affiliations

- American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE), Society of Rheology (SOR), Materials Research Society

(MRS), Society of Applied Spectroscopy (SAS)

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