Assistant Chemical
Resume:
MICHAEL R. TOPKA
Schenectady, NY 12308
********@*****.***
CAREER OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position as an R&D Scientist to utilize my research abilities, chemical techniques, and communication skills to advance products in a collaborative team setting.
EDUCATION
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY Aug 2009 - Dec 2014 Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry and Chemical Biology Union College, Schenectady, NY Aug 2005 - Jun 2009 Department of Chemistry; Department of Mathematics B.S., Chemistry (Honors, ACS Certified) & Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude (3.66/4.00 GPA) PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Troy, NY Visiting Scholar Jan 2015 - Jun 2015
Advisor: Dr. Peter H. Dinolfo
Continued work in photovoltaic research focusing on using CuAAC for new perylene diimide derivatives. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Troy, NY Graduate Research Assistant Aug 2009 - Dec 2014
Advisor: Dr. Peter H. Dinolfo
Proposed Thesis Title: “Synthesis & Characterization of Panchromatic Assemblies Using CuAAC: Light Harvesting Systems Towards Photovoltaic Applications”
Union College, Department of Chemistry, Schenectady, NY Research Assistant Jun 2006 - Aug 2009
Advisor: Michael E. Hagerman
Thesis Title: “Nanomorphology of Poly(3,4-Ethylene-Dioxythiophene) in Organic-Inorganic Photovoltaic Devices” Sophomore Project: “Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Studies of Laponite/Aniline interactions” EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Tanner Contractors, Saratoga, NY
Associate Jan 2016 - Present
General contracting work; remodels, repairs, and construction. Also involved in energy audits and heat loss analysis. Manages budget, timelines, and other associates for contracted jobs. Involved in trouble shooting problems when they occur.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Troy, NY Teaching Assistant Sept 2010 - May 2013
Experimental Chemistry I Lab: Analytical Techniques
Organic Chemistry II Lab
General Chemistry II Lab
General Chemistry I with Advanced Lab
INSTRUMENTATION, TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS
Inorganic and organic synthesis, wet bench techniques
Schlenk & glove box techniques for air free and moisture sensitive reactions
1H, 13C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy solution state (Varian Unity Instruments)
UV-Vis spectroscopy (Perkin Elmer)
Fluorescence spectroscopy, modulated fluorescence lifetime (Fluorolog)
FT-infrared grazing angle attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (Bio-Rad (Varian) Excalibur)
X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectometry (Bruker D8-Discover)
Cyclic voltammetry (Chi instrument)
Atomic force microscopy, conductive-AFM (Veeco Dimension V)
Scanning electron microscopy (Zeiss EVO50XVP)
General clean room training
Topka, Page 2 of 2
HONORS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Walter H. Bauer Doctoral Prize in Chemistry June 2015
American Chemical Society Nov 2006 - Present
Wiseman Family Fellowship in Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute August 2009
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society May 2009
Frederick B. Hawley, Jr., Memorial Prize May 2009
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society May 2008
Raymond R. Horstman '23 Scholarship August 2006 - June 2009
Union College Dean’s List November 2005 - June 2009
Union Scholar August 2005 - June 2009
Presidential Scholarship Award, Union College June 2005 - June 2009 PUBLICATIONS
Dash, Jatis K.; Chen, Liang; Topka, Michael R.; Dinolfo, Peter H.; Zhang, Lihua H.; Kisslinger, Kim; Lu, Toh- Ming; Wang, Gwo-Ching. “A Simple Growth Method for Nb2O5 Films and Their Optical Properties,” RCS Advances, 2015, 5, 361**-*****.
Topka, Michael R.; Dinolfo, Peter H. “Synthesis, Characterization, and Fluorescence Properties of Mixed Molecular Multilayer Films of BODIPY and Zn(II) Tetraphenylporphyrins,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015, 7(15), 8053-8060.
Topka, Michael R.; Dinolfo, Peter H.; Lewis, Kim M.; McGown, Linda B.; Ryu, Chang Y.; “Synthesis & Characterization of Panchromatic Assemblies Using CuAAC: Developing Light Harvesting Systems Towards Photovoltaic Applications," Chemistry & Chemical Biology Department, PhD Dissertation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Folsom Library, Troy, NY, 2014.
Beauvilliers, Evan E.; Topka, Michael R.; Dinolfo, Peter H. “Synthesis and Characterization of Perylene Diimide Based Molecular Multilayers Using CuAAC: Towards Panchromatic Assemblies,” RCS Advances, 2014, 4, 32866– 32875.
Leonardi, Matthew J.; Topka, Michael R.; Dinolfo, Peter H. “Efficient Förster Resonance Energy Transfer in 1,2,3- Triazole Linked BODIPY-Zn(II) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin Donor-Acceptor Arrays,” Inorganic Chemistry, 2012, 51(24), 131**-*****.
Peace, Bernadette; Topka, Michael; Skorenko, Kenneth; Kowalski, Adam; Williams, Ursula; Hagerman, Michael; Cortez, Rebecca. “Morphosynthesis and morphology characterization of aniline and aniline/Laponite films,” Materials Letters, 2011, 65(21), 3208-3211.
Peace, Bernadette; Topka, Michael; Skorenko, Kenneth; Kowalski, Adam; Hagerman, Michael E.; Cortez, Rebecca. “Atomic Force Microscopy Examination of Polymeric Nanocomposite Layers,” Proceedings of Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, November 2010, Boston, MA.
Topka, Michael; Hagerman, Michael E. “Nanomorphology Studies of Poly(3,4-Ethylene-Dioxythiophene) in Organic-Inorganic Photovoltaic Devices,” Chemistry Department, Baccalaureate Thesis, Union College, Library of Chemistry, Schenectady, NY, 2008. Print.
Topka, Michael; Niefield, Susan. “Batting Averages: An Application of Continued Fractions,” Mathematics Department, Baccalaureate Thesis, Union College, Library of Mathematics, Schenectady, NY, 2009. Print.
Kehlbeck, Joanne D.; Hagerman, Michael E.; Cohen, Brian D.; Eliseo, Jennifer; Fox, Melissa, Hoek, William; Karlin, David; Leibner, Evan; Nagle, Emily; Nolan, Michael, Schaefer, Ian; Toney, Alexandra; Topka, Michael; Uluski, Richard; Wood, Charles; “Directed Self-Assembly in Laponite/CdSe/Polyaniline Nanocomposites,” Langmuir, 2008, 24 (17), 9727-9738.
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