Process or Chemical or Materials Engineer/Scientist

Wenbo Zhou

Gaithersburg MD 301-***-****

***********@*****.***

https//www.linkedin.com/in/wenbo-zhou-aa897641/

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Detailed skills in electronic microscopy, AFM, optical spectroscopy, chromatography (e.g. HPLC), mass spectrometry, aerosol techniques, etc.

Manufacturing experience in failure risk assessment and chemical process validation during the design, development and maintenance of chemical products, processes and equipment.

Profound knowledge of development of polymeric and inorganic biomaterials, their molecular structure - material property correlation, and applications in disinfection, cancer diagnosis & therapy, drug delivery, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

Extensive experience in molecular design and modification of material surfaces (either nanoparticles or implantable devices) using small molecule ligands, proteins/peptides, antibodies, etc., as well as material surface coating techniques (vapor deposition, chemical anodization, electrospray, electro-deposition, 3D printing, arc spray, surface initiated polymerization/ligandation, etc.) both in liquid and gas phases.

In-depth knowledge of particles/biomacromolecules filtration/separation, transport, aggregation and interfacial interaction with cells/bacteria.

Experience in bacteria/cell culture and characterization.

Established scientific/engineering background with >20 publications which have over 300 citations, as well as >100 paper review records.

WORK EXPERIENCE

10/2015 – present, Process Engineer, Applied Materials, Inc.

Zero Defect Center of Excellence

Assuring quality and trouble-shooting defects within chemical products, processes and equipment/devices:

Finding the nano/micro-defect sources from the process kits and thin film process unit operations in both the R&D and pilot labs with GMPs. Understanding the defect generation/transfer routes (diffusion, adsorption, re-suspension, distribution, filtration, etc.) and the factors impacting the transfer (defect size/composition, temperatures, pressure, interfacial interaction, flow geometry, etc.) and aggregation/fragmentation (concentration, stress (thermal and mechanical), etc.). Analyzing the defects by a variety of advanced techniques/assays (optical, electronic microscopy, mass spectrometry, etc.). Hands-on working on mechanical section during the performance maintenance (PM), such as the disassembly and assembly of tools or equipment,

Checking the process capability and assessing the risk, failure mode and mechanism (FMMEA) existed in chemical process unit operations and conditions, by statistical process control methodologies exploring the impact of critical process parameters from the partitioning and simulation DOEs, and using the analytical tools (JMP, etc.), statistical process control (SPC), Six Sigma principals, practical process improvement (PPI) and other methodologies (fishbone, pareto, fault tree, full factorial DOEs, etc.). Following the hazardous materials identification/treatment guidance.

In collaboration with colleagues from different functional teams (hardware, cleaning, materials, etc.), promptly designing DOE to validate the failure mechanism and proposing the deliverable, reliable and scalable solution paths (optimized recipes, changes in hardware/materials/operations, etc.). Implementing the CIP protocols to address the HVPs of millions of business. Working with internal teams and CMO, and verifying the solutions (both corrective actions and preventive actions) at customer sites.

Surveying a vast range of process kits materials, isolating the impact of each manufacturing steps (machining, polishing, cleaning (acid washing and drying), coating, etc.) to the material surface texturization and defectivity, and investigating their correlation with the integrity and robustness of deposited thin films.

Proactively documenting the lessons learned to BKM/CIP SOPs, and sharing across BUs. Leveraging the knowledge in form of global training courses and databases to the customer engineers, internal manufacturing facilities and CMO vendors.

08/2010 – 10/2015, Research Assistant, University of Maryland

Center for NanoEnergetics Research, Center for Nano Manufacturing and Metrology, in collaboration with NIST (National Institute of Standard Technology) and DOD DTRA (Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency)

Discovered novel energetic polymeric composites for defense (anti-infectious) and propellant applications: 1) Pioneered multiple energetic formulations, utilizing particle granulation (ball milling, ultrasonication, etc.), aerosol (spray pyrolysis, electrospray, etc.), 3D printing and electrophoretic deposition techniques; 2) Evaluated the physical properties of nano-additives (density, size, charging, aggregation) towards to performance of composites, using aerosol instrumentals (DMA), electronic microscopy, etc.; 3) Evaluated the test vehicle of spraying/spinning settings such as distance, voltage, flow rate, viscosity of flows, etc.; 4) Investigated the impact of particle/polymer matrix structure (laminated or homogeneous) and interfacial property towards to reactivity and mechanical strength; 5) Discovered energetic formulations with much improved energy density and reactivity improvement; 6) Investigated the reaction properties of different energetic formulations using a variety of techniques (ultrafast camera, TOF-MS, electronic microscopy, etc.), and unveiled the universal ultrafast reaction mechanisms which was used to optimize and better control the performance in propellants, welding, bio-defense, etc.

Investigated the electrostatic-directed motion of bacterial spores under finely designed electric fields, to successfully model the control of the deposition rate, uniformity and removal efficacy of spores from the metal surface. Used the both eletrophoretic and centrifugation methods to control the separation of spores.

Investigated the ultrafast heating approach (105 K/s) towards the bacteria sterilization: 1) Demonstrated the spore killing kinetics of ultrafast heating approach compared with the traditional autoclave approach (low temp, slow heating), and employed to the scale-up biodefense application by DOD, and potentially pharmaceutical industries; 2) Investigated the killing mechanisms (protein reaction and spore infrastructural change) and identified the characteristic neutralization biomarkers by biochemical analysis.

Keenly worked with NIST to demonstrated electrospray-differenal mobility analyzer (ES-DMA) as a versatile tool to characterize the aggregation size/kinetics, concentration, shape of several bio-agents such as IgG, BSA, etc. ES-DMA was also successfully utilized to characterize the aggregation/degradation of proteins, as well as the adsorption and desorption of proteins on surfaces (e.g. glass capillary).

09/2005 – 03/2010, Research Assistant, Zhejiang University, China

Biomedical Macromolecules Research Institute and Polymer Science Research Institute

Projects on the polymeric nanocomposite formulations for regeneration medicine, in collaboration with Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou: 1) Purified a variety of inorganic and polymeric formulations using different approaches such as freeze-drying, centrifugation, dislysis/filtration, chromatography, etc.); 2) Developed novel approaches to controlling the colloid stability, compatibility and immune response through surface molecular engineering of biomimic ligands and macromolecules, by tests of optical spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, ICP-AES/ICP-MS etc.; 4) Investigated the interaction of nanoparticles with different cells (lymphocytes, endothelial, cancerous and other normal cells), and the impact of selective surface ligands to the targeted cancer cell internalization; 5) Discovered a robust choline-based ligand for maintaining stability and biocompatibility of modified nanomaterials, as well as metabolism-based universal cancel cell selective uptake; 6) Pioneered in evaluating nanoparticle-based photothermal cancer therapy; 7) Developed novel biocompatible and bio-functional (drug delivery, endothelial growth, anti-hyperplasia) implants/stents for resolving the issue of blood vessel blockage; 8) Implemented the surface-initiated polymerization in the functional nanoparticle-liquid interface for the drug delivery application.

Projects on advanced polymerization techniques and materials, in collaboration with Kingboard Chemical, HK: 1) Developed new polycarbonate materials using gaseous CO2 via liquid-liquid interfacial polymerization, and characterized/separated using GPC and UV-Vis/FT-IR; 2) Investigated the impact of catalysts on precisely controlling the polymer cross-linking degrees, inner architectures, and swelling dimension during the coordination polymerization.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge/experience of industrial processing operation, quality assurance, risk assessment and failure analysis methods for product defectivity, reliability and throughput.

GLP/GMP experience in solid/wet material/interface analysis/characterization by thermal techniques (TG-DSC), mass spectrometry (T-jump/TOF, quadruple and ICP), electron microscopic techniques (TEM, SEM, EDX), optical spectroscopic techniques (light reflection, FT-IR, UV-Vis, Fluorometry, Flow cytometry), AFM, chromatography (GPC, gel electrophoresis, HPLC), lyophilization, aerosol techniques (DMA), and other bio-analytic assays (ELISA, etc.).

Polymerization techniques in liquid phase and liquid-liquid interface.

Synthesis techniques of a variety of polymeric/organic (liposome, vessel, gel, micelle) and inorganic (metal and ceramic) nanoparticles.

Control methods of airborne/liquid-phase particle removal, transport, filtration, and distribution.

Surface/interfacial modification techniques for nanomaterials and thin films.

Familiar with cell culture and compendial biochemical test protocols, as well as generic cell biology fundamentals.

Skills and hands-on experience in data analysis and statistical tools (JMP, Origin, Matlab, C, etc.) and methodologies.

Generic material science and chemical engineering principles and fundamentals.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Membership of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AlChE) and American Society of Microbiology (ASM).

Reviewer panel for the journal of RSC Advances.

Green card status in extraordinary ability category.

Patents: 1) “Electrodeposition of a Monolayer of Spores onto Metal Surfaces” (LS-2012-085) (2012); 2) “Synthesis of a Complex Composed of Zwitterionic Molecules and Gold Nanorods for Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells” (China Patent# 201010039699.4) (2010).

Dean’s Fellowship, 2010 – 2011, University of Maryland, College Park.

EDUCATION

Ph. D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 10/2015

Research: Novel metastable intermolecular composites: composition, characterization and application for propellants and biodefense materials.

M.S., Polymer Materials and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China 03/2010

Research: Selective cell uptake of phosphorylcholine conjugated gold nanorods for near-infrared photothermal cancer therapy.

B.S., Polymer Materials and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China 06/2007

GPA: 3.76 (3.98 in last 2 years)

SELECTIVE PUBLICATIONS

Ultra-fast, High-temperature, In situ Self-assembly of Nanoparticles in Reduced Graphene Oxide Films. Nature Commun., 2016, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12332.

Direct Deposit of Highly Reactive Bi(IO3)3- Polyvinylidene Fluoride Biocidal Energetic Composite and its Reactive Properties. Adv. Eng. Mater., 2016, DOI: 10.1002/adem.201500532.

Synergistic Effects of Ultrafast Heating and Chlorine Gas on the Inactivation of Bacterial Spores. Chem. Eng. Sci., 2016, 144, 39-47.

Persulfate Salt as an Oxidizer for Biocidal Energetic Nano-thermites. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 11838–11846.

Small and Stable Phosphorylcholine Zwitterionic Quantum Dots for Weak Nonspecific Phagocytosis and Effective Tat Peptide Functionalization. Adv. Healthcare Mater., 2013, 2, 352–360.

Quantitative Attachment and Detachment of Bacterial Spores from Fine Wires through Continuous and Pulsed DC Electrophoretic Deposition. J. Phys. Chem. B, 2013, 117, 1738-1745.

Zwitterionic Phosphorylcholine as a Better Ligand for Gold Nanorods Cell Uptake and Selective Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells. Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 1479-1481.

Thermosensitive Nanocables Prepared by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. Nanoscale Res. Lett., 2009, 4, 89-94.

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