Process Engineering

Thomas M. Czechowski

Columbus, Ohio 614-***-**** **********.*@***.***

Holds degree in Chemical Engineering (BS) from The Ohio State University, with work experience in

three different manufacturing companies utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles. Areas of proficiency

include process development, process design, unit operations, and process dynamics and control, with

an emphasis on process safety, sustainable engineering, and air pollution. Also skilled in the

application of thermodynamics, heat transfer properties, and engineering process calculations.

Computer proficient in typical software applications, including Microsoft Office, MathCAD, MATLAB

7.0.1, ChemCAD, and AutoCAD Inventor. Exhibits strong team orientation, demonstrated leadership

skills, and utilizes efficient presentation and report writing skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CABOT SUPERIOR MICROPOWDERS, Albuquerque, NM May 2011-October 2012

Research and Process Development Chemical Technician, Energy Materials Group (Solar

and Printed Electronics)

Formulated silver inks and pastes utilized in conductive applications through contact

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and non-contact printing

Developed novel, non-contact silver inks to be applied to solar wafers as top-grid electrodes

through inkjet printing

Enhanced the formulation of silver seed-layer pastes that were screen-printed onto solar

wafers, achieving line width improvements of 20% (reduced wafer shadowing and improved

efficiency) while maintaining line uniformity

Formulated a high-solids conductive ink that was developed as a circuit board

interconnection for cellular phones

Responsible for the characterization of silver nano-particles and finished silver inks and

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pastes

Attained the composition and particle size distribution for powders made by in-house Flame

Spray Pyrolysis unit

Ensured that formulated inks meet characterization specifications, including rheology,

density, and resistivity

Operated screen-printer to quantitatively evaluate solar pastes, optimizing parameters to

achieve max. efficiency

Optimized and employed scaled-up filtration processes to remove undesired large

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particles from finished solar inks

Improved product yield by 25% while concurrently reducing the process run time and

filtration equipment costs

Performed in-house analysis of commercial printer systems to determine and recommend a

threshold for process idle times to eliminate system failure caused by particle

sedimentation and agglomeration

Teamed with fellow engineers/chemists to develop new procedures for measuring the

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concentration of various process streams

Utilized UV-Vis Spectroscopy to analyze the concentration (with respect to time) of a

permeate stream exiting a newly constructed ultrafiltration/diafiltration unit used to remove

undesired byproducts from silver nano-particles

Employed a surface tension measurement procedure to determine the concentration of a

commercial solar wafer pretreatment bath and made recommendations to customers as

how to maintain a desired concentration

Developed a superior procedure for making in-house dispersions of silver particles on

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shear mixing equipment that ensures the breakdown of large agglomerated particles

Controlled shear mixing behavior by optimizing product solids loadings, process run times,

process temperatures and impeller rotational velocity

Standardized new characterization methods for measuring large and agglomerated

particles in dispersions

Conducted sintering experimentation on dispersions containing unique silver particle

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morphologies to determine the effect that curing time and temperature have on particle

conductivity

Effectively conveyed procedures and results of experimentation through scientific

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reports and presentations

Awarded as runner-up for best poster presentation in the 2011 annual Cabot Technology

Day in Albuquerque

Regularly wrote and updated equipment and process SOP’s and Risk Assessment Tools

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to proficiently communicate the most up to date safety protocols

Attained 5S ownership of Solar Formulation Lab, ensuring that the lab was adequately

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stocked, organized and cleaned for maximum efficiency

Conducted market analysis research to determine the economical advantages of

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introducing Cabot carbon additives into lead-acid batteries for motive and telecommunication

applications

Thomas M. Czechowski Page Two

LUXOTTICA OPTICAL MANUFACTURING, Lockbourne, OH December 2009-June 2010

Coatings Quality Analyst, Anti-Reflective Coatings Department

Worked closely within the research and development team to complete qualification for

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innovative anti-reflective coating recipes which were employed for marketable application

Improved light transmittance properties of eyeglass lenses to approximately 99% while

maintaining durability

Teamed with engineering department to eliminate production problems causing low

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yield and poor quality, ultimately leading to a more lean manufacturing process

Employed process-line improvements that ensured desired optical/adhesive properties of

coatings applied to a newly implemented Ray-Ban line

Participated in Kaizen event to increase productivity on the production floor for lens

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manufacturing

Executed a series of destructive testing on eyeglass lenses to ensure quality of anti-

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reflective coatings

AKZO NOBEL COATINGS, Columbus, OH June 2008-May 2009

Product Formulation Laboratory Technician (Commercial Products Development Group)

Partnered with team members to improve the current materials and processes used in

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the production of various paints and coatings

Ensured that products met customer/company specifications for color, robustness, and

environmental resistance

Improved the durability of cured products through the addition of various solvents,

dispersants, and additives to coating formulas

Interpreted feedback from quality control to ensure products were within customer

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specifications, making adjustments to coating formulas as needed

EDUCATION

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, August

2009

Engineering Projects

Calcium Looping Process Research, Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009

Studied how the implementation of a newly developed calcium looping process could be

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utilized to effectively sequester carbon dioxide produced when creating hydrogen from coal or

natural gas

Optimized fluidized-bed parameters in order to attain maximum particle surface area for

carbon dioxide capture

Acquired calcination conditions that allowed for maximum raw material recycle while

reducing energy costs

Determined that the Calcium Looping Process is efficient in sequestering carbon dioxide

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from the desired hydrogen and that the process is economically feasible

Ethanol Production Analysis, Winter 2009

Researched the feasibility of using Hawaiian sugarcane to produce enough ethanol to

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completely power the islands

Optimized the ethanol production processes through the utilization of ChemCAD

simulations, allowing for the determination of heat efficiencies involved

Determined that using available land on the 4 major Hawaiian Islands for sugarcane

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production yields adequate amounts of ethanol required to meet all electricity needs

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