Engineer Process

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

W ork email: ****@****.***

Rosharon, TX 77583

Personal email: *********.****@*****.***

Phone: 713-***-****

Juan Velazquez

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, 2008-Present GPA: 3.25/4.00 Rice University, Houston, TX

BS in Chemical Engineering, 2008 GPA: 3.35/4.00 University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, P.R.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Graduate Research Assistant, Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory, Water Remediation

Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX

Developed highly active Palladium-Gold bimetallic catalysts for the remediation of halogenated

groundwater contaminants.

Worked with the synthesis, characterization and implementation of nano sized catalyst for

hydrodehalogenation reactions.

Designed and constructed several aqueous-phase batch and fixed bed flow reactors.

Expertise in gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, ion selective electrodes, chemical and

physical adsorption measurements, mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy

WORK EXPERIENCE

2007 - Eli Lilly and Co., Carolina, P.R., Co-op Student, Process Engineer, Process Optimization and

Troubleshooting.

Developed a detailed procedure on how to maintain the process and product quality during an upgrade

to the control system (DeltaV).

Responsible for the installation of check valves to the steam system on the fermentation department.

Responsible for the installation and validation of an analytical weighing scale.

2005 - Shell Chemical Co., Yabucoa, P.R., Summer Intern, Process Engineer, Process Maintenance and

Optimization.

Responsible for the recovering of a hot condensate discharge. Problem was solved without any capital

investment and improved operators work conditions.

Responsible for the installation of a draining system on a high-pressure separation tank. A drainage line

was designed and installed, and a standard operating procedure was developed as part of the change.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Fall 2008 - Present

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston TX

High School Student Mentor, Catalysis and Nanomaterials Group, Laboratory Research

Developed the student's project, work schedule, and performance evaluation guidelines. Trained

and supervised the student in safe laboratory protocols. Established a weekly meeting with the

student to provide feedback and guidance. The student successfully completed the summer

program and was has been accepted to Rice University’s School of Engineering.

Thought Junior and Senior Level Courses as a Teaching Assistant

Senior level core course – Product and Process Design

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Juan Velazquez

Junior level core course – Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design

Junior level core course – Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Junior level core course – Thermodynamics II

AWARDS

2012 Robert A. Welch Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

2010 Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship

2009 Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Fellowship

PATENTS

1. Wong M.S., Reinhard M., Velazquez J., Hopkins G., Leekumjorn S., “Catalytic Water Treatment System.”

(WO 2012/058283 A1)

PUBLICATIONS

1. J. Velazquez, A. Barron, Connexions., “Catalyst Characterization Using Thermal Conductivity Detector.”

Web site. http://cnx.org/content/m43579/latest/, May 31, 2012.

2. J. Velazquez, S. Leekumjorn, Q. Nguyen, Y. Fang, G. Hopkins, M. Reinhard, M.S. Wong, “Chloroform

Hydrodechlorination Behavior of Alumina-supported Pd and PdAu Catalysts” (in preparation)

3. H. Qian, L. Pretzer, J. Velazquez, Z. Zhao, M.S. Wong, “Gold nanoparticles for cleaning contaminated water” (J.

Chem. Tech. Biotech. (online). DOI: 10.1002/jctb.4030

4. L. Pretzer, J. Velazquez, M.S. Wong, "Nanocatalysts for Groundwater Remediation" (in preparation)

5. J. Velazquez, L. Pretzer, M.S. Wong, "Aqueos-phase hydrodechlorination over Alumina-supported Gold

Catalysts” (in preparation)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

1. Velazquez J., Fang Y., Leekumjorn S., Wong M.S. “Catalytic hydrodechlorination of chloroform in water”.

Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis, 2010: New London, NH

2. Velazquez J., Wong M.S. “Aqueous-phase Chloroform Hydrodechlorination over Pd/Au/Al2O3. Southwest

Catalysis Society (SWCS) Symposium, 2011: Houston, TX

3. Velazquez J., Pretzer L., Wong M.S. “Aqueous-phase hydrodechlorination over Au/Al2O3”.. Leland Lecture

Symposium, 2013: Houston, TX

4. Velazquez J., Pretzer L., Wong M.S. “Aqueous-phase hydrodechlorination over Au/Al2O3”. Southwest Catalysis

Society (SWCS) Symposium, 2013: Houston, TX

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATES

2010 – 2013 Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory Safety Officer

2009 – 2011 OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certified

LANGUAGES

Spanish: Native language

English: Excellent

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