Quality Assurance Control

RAMASWAMY MANI

**** *** *** *****

Platte City, MO 64079

Phone: 816-***-****

E-mail: **********@*****.***

SUMMARY

Polymer Chemistry professional with a PhD degree and more than 5 years of extensive multi-

disciplinary experience in developing polymer materials involving biodegradable and biopolymers

for consumer products, personal care and polymer industries. Expert in managing cross-functional

teams, developing new products/processes, scale-up and maintaining the business project portfolio.

Skilled at material designing, synthesis, polymer processing technology, polymer

characterization/testing and structure-property relationship. Strengths include strong interpersonal,

leadership and communication skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MGP Ingredients, Inc., Atchison, KS Mar. 2003 – Dec.

2008

Principal Scientist

• Developed new biodegradable and biopolymer materials by reactive extrusion for

products like food contact and consumer product applications such as cutlery, chopsticks, golf

tees, BB’s, packaging, etc.

• Developed requirements for product design, tooling and processing conditions

• Customized the polymer materials to comply with customer specifications and application

requirements and provided processing conditions and solutions to resolve their production issues

• Succeeded in product and process improvement/development that resulted in increased

sales (doubled), productivity (10%) and cost reduction (20%)

• Provided technical expertise and coordinated team projects with Operations,

Manufacturing, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

• Experience in FDA approval process and BEES (Building for Environmental and

Economic Sustainability) analysis for biodegradable and biobased cutlery products

Research Scientist

• Developed hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids with low odor and color with excellent

properties for skin care and hair care products

• Designed and extracted active cosmetic ingredients (phytolipids, ceramides,

phytosterols) from natural sources using supercritical fluid extraction, batch and counter-current

extraction techniques

University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN Mar. 1996 – Mar. 2003

Research Associate

• Developed new functional polyester compatibilizers through by reactive extrusion,

grafting, and bulk/melt/solution polycondensation techniques

• Developed a new biodegradable polymer systems based on natural polymers

(starch/protein) and synthetic polyesters using reactive extrusion process

• Initiated and worked on various industry sponsored projects on developing new

biodegradable polymer blends for consumer products such as smart cards, ski-lift tickets, cutlery,

golf tees, paintballs, pet chew toys, etc. from lab scale development to customer production trials

• Extensive experience in characterization and testing of polymers and blends using

physical, thermal, mechanical, spectroscopy, morphology, rheology and chromatography

techniques

1

National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, India Aug. 1995 – Feb. 1996

Research Associate

• Improved the polymer stability by anhydride surface functionalization and subsequent

reaction with various stabilizers using thermal and photo-grafting techniques

• Established mechanisms of thermal- and photo-oxidative degradation and stabilization of

heterophasic ethylene-propylene copolymers

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Polymer Chemistry, University of Pune, Pune, India, 1995

Graduate Research

Thesis: “A study of thermal- and photo-oxidative degradation and stabilization of polyolefins”

(Work was carried out in NCL, Advisor: Dr. Sivaram)

• Investigated thermal- and photo-oxidative degradation behavior of polymers and its

degradation products formation using various analytical tools

• Designed and synthesized UV stabilizer end functionalized poly (ethylene-alt-

propylene) copolymer by anionic polymerization of isoprene and subsequent hydrogenation

• Synthesized novel polymer-bound light stabilizers by grafting for improved UV

stability of polyolefins

M.S., Polymer Chemistry, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, 1990

Thesis: Synthesis and Characterization of New Polyesters Containing Azomethine Groups in the

Polymer Backbone

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Strong background and experience in polymer synthesis, modification, formulation,

structure-property relationship, degradation and stabilization

• Skilled in various polymer processing techniques - reactive extrusion and compounding

using single, twin-screw extruders and batch mixer, injection and compression molding, cast film

extrusion, sheeting and calendering

• Experience with wide range of polymers, fillers, additives and reinforcing materials – PE,

PP, EVA, PS, SMA, EVAMA, EMA, PCL, PLA, PHBV, aromatic-aliphatic copolyesters,

biodegradable polymers, etc.

• Good understanding and hands-on experience in polymer material characterization/testing

using various analytical methods - Rheology, Physical (DSC, TGA, XRD), Mechanical (Tensile,

Flex, Impact, Flow), Spectroscopy (UV-VIS, FT-IR, NMR), Chromatography (GPC, HPLC), LC-

MS, GC-MS and Microscopy (SEM, TEM, OM)

PATENTS / PUBLICATIONS

Patents 10

Chapter in Book 1

Reviews 2

Refereed Journal 21

Symposia/Conference 5

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

American Chemical Society, Member

Society of Plastic Engineers, Member

2

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