Kiara Taylor-Edinbyrd
Baton Rouge, LA ***** 918-***-**** *****.********@****.***
HIGHLIGHTS
Committed to creating the chemistry of tomorrow through team-oriented innovation.
A high-energy researcher with extensive experience in materials science.
Experience with project development, implementation and budget maintenance.
EDUCATION
Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry 2012-2016
Relevant coursework: Organometallics, statistical mechanics, analytical separations and analytical spectroscopy.
National Science Foundation-Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow
Louisiana Alliance for Simulation-Guided Materials Applications Fellow
Texas Southern University Houston, TX
Magna Cum Laude, Chemistry 2008-2011
National Science Foundation-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Scholar
Texas Space Grant Consortium Scholar
EXPERIENCE
BASF Geismar, LA
Process Chemist 10/2017-Current
PhD Leadership Development Program
Rotation #2-Geismar, LA (NCG): Implementation of on-line NIR at the Geismar, LA Surfactants Unit to reduce cycle time and product sampling for water content analysis and hydroxyl values.
Identified in process optimization opportunity through on-line NIR worth approximately $1,080,000 USD in additional contribution.
Developed reliable NIR models for the identification and quantification of various Surfactants produced.
Led a diverse team of scientists, technicians and engineers for the implementation of on-line NIR by collaboration across analytical services laboratory personnel and quality group, along with operations.
Composed and executed method validation protocols and standard technical instructions in a cGMP environment to ensure compliance across several regulatory commissions in the U.S. (USP), Europe (EP) and Japan (JPE).
Validation of cGMP protocols for PEGs allows an additional 5M € of market share to be gained in European market.
Coaching of approximately ten Surfactants laboratory technicians during special projects planning, execution and debriefing.
Participated in employee resource groups including Parents@BASF, African American Employee Group, Asian Business Community.
BASF Iselin, NJ
R&D Scientist 03/2017-11/2017
PhD Leadership Development Program
Rotation #1-Iselin, NJ (GCC/CR): Understand and establish relevant correlations between FCC catalyst properties and performance to support the next generation of FCC catalyst.
Performed catalyst preparation and workup of final catalysts capable of reducing coke deposits by 10% and increasing gasoline yields by 1.3%.
Led fundamental investigation of alumina and clay based catalysts to determine key differences responsible for zeolite growth rate, stability and performance.
Assisted in the development of high zeolite (60% ZSM-5) content additive used to generate higher yields of propylene and butylene.
Participated in employee resource groups including Women in Business, Parents@BASF, African American Employee Group.
Lead and participated in the planning of the 2017 PhD LDP Innovation Event in Tarrytown, NY.
Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA
Ph.D. Candidate 2012-2016
Project #1: Computational and experimental investigation of metal organic frameworks ability to chemically store, convert and release nitric oxide from s-nitrosothiols.
Project #2: Elucidation of reaction mechanisms for the SN1 reactions of natural products.
Led expansion of MOF database within the group to incorporate and facilitate the use of various s-nitrosothiol donors.
Developed and initiated plans for the experimental confirmation of nitric oxide release to aid in further validation of computational results.
Presented relevant research at various regional and national conferences.
Texas Southern University Houston, TX
Undergraduate Researcher-Dept. of Pharmacology 05/2010-8/2010
Determined the involvement of enzymes in the relaxation effect of H2S on the bovine ciliary artery.
University of Houston Houston, TX
Undergraduate Researcher 05/2009-8/2009
Dept. of Biochemistry, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Investigated the inhibition mechanisms on the LFA-1 I-domain by LFA-1 specific monoclonal antibody 2E8.
SKILLS
C++, chemiluminescence, cGMP, column chromatography, EndNote, Fortran, FTIR, Gaussian09, GCMS, Headspace-GC, kinematic viscosity, LIMS/PIMS, Molecular Dynamics, NIR, SAP, SEM-EDS, SDS-PAGE, solvothermal synthesis, SPR, TOC, XRD
PUBLICATIONS
Li, Tanping, Taylor-Edinbyrd, Kiara and Kumar, Revati. "A Computational Study of the Effect of the Metal Organic Framework Environment on the Release of Chemically Stored Nitric Oxide." Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2015): 23403-3412
Taylor-Edinbyrd, Kiara, Li, Tanping and Kumar, Revati. (in press) "Effect of Chemical Structure of S-Nitrosothiols on Nitric Oxide Release Mediated by the Copper Sites of a Metal Organic Framework Based Environment." Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2017): 119**-*****
Taylor-Edinbyrd, Kiara, Cleveland, Alex, Malone, Joshua, Dange, Nitin, Milet, Anne, Kumar, Revati and Kartika, Rendy. "Mechanistic Perspective in the Regioselective Indole Addition to Unsymmetrical Silyloxyallyl Cations." (In submission)