Engineering Assistant

JOSCELIN DIAZ, Ph. D.

****-* ***** ***** **, Raleigh, NC 27606

919-***-**** ******@****.***

SUMMARY

. A highly self-motivated and dedicated process development scientist

with strong expertise in Upstream Bioprocess Development and hands-on

working experience in process design and optimization, analytical

testing, and statistical analysis.

. Ph.D. in Bioprocessing with research experience in production of value-

added products from renewable biomass.

. Proven teamwork and organizational skills in a dynamic cross-

functional environment.

EDUCATION

North Carolina State University

Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

August 2013

Dissertation: Bioprocessing of Industrial Sweetpotatoes for Bio-based

Products. GPA: 3.6

Minor: Interdisciplinary (Biomanufacturing, Biotechnology, and Agro-

Engineering).

North Carolina State University

Master of Science in Wood and Paper Science.

December 2009

Thesis: Green liquor pretreatment for hardwood chips to ethanol

conversion strategies. GPA: 3.8

University of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

December 2006

Industrial Thesis: Evaluation and redesign of separation vessels in the

fluid catalytic cracking unit.

Minor: Food Science.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

. Laboratory:

PCR Filtration

pH

ELISA Centrifugation

HPLC

SDS-PAGE Homogenization

UV/Vis

Western blot Chromatography ToF-

SIMS

Enzyme activity Enzyme Hydrolysis

Soxhlet extraction

Microbial Fermentation Bioreactor operation

Ion Exchange Chromatography

Cell growth and counting Recovery and

purification Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

Inoculum and media preparation

Near Infrared Spectrometry (NIRS)

Microbial growth

Product expression

Joscelin Diaz, Ph.D.

. Software:

Excel MS Word Outlook PowerPoint Windows and

Mac OS

SAS PRO II ArcGIS MATHLAB ASPEN

PLUS

. Language:

English (fluent) Spanish

(native) Portuguese (medium)

. Relevant Coursework:

Core Technologies AFM Analysis

Metabolic Regulation Engineering Unit

Operations

Fermentation Microbiology Downstream Process

Development

Biomaterials Characterization Wet End Colloid

Characterization

Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms Industrial

Microbiology and Bioprocessing

PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

North Carolina State University

Research Associate, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Oct. 2013 - Mar. 2014

. Responsible for the execution of research and developmental work for

projects in the area of biomass conversion through the use of enzymes

and microbial catalysts.

. Responsible for development and optimization of calibration models

for prediction of chemical composition of raw and processed

sweetpotato feedstocks using NIRS technique to be used in wide

variety of materials.

. Planning, conducting, evaluating, and interpreting routine and non-

routine experiments.

. Assisting 2 researchers to enhance conversion of biomass into value-

added products for the Fermentation of Sweet Sorghum Juice for

Ethanol Production and Biomass Gasification projects.

North Carolina State University

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biological and Agricultural

Engineering Jan. 2010 - Aug. 2013

. Established enzymatic hydrolysis conditions needed to optimize

glucose production rates (using thermophilic alpha-amylases and

glucoamylases) to provide an efficient and cost effective way for

processing of renewable resources into biologically-based products.

. Designed and examined experimental conditions required to enhance

fermentation efficiency from extracted sugars (using the yeasts

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus).

. Developed novel conditions to enhance simultaneous extraction of

anthocyanins and ethanol production yield from purple-fleshed

sweetpotatoes used in a wide variety of industrial applications.

. Developed calibration models to predict composition analysis of

processed biomass using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) in a rapid

and inexpensive way required for large-scale testing.

. Optimized analytical starch assay to support development of chemical

composition methods.

. Exercised independent judgment in establishing methods for obtaining

results and interpreting data.

Joscelin Diaz, Ph.D.

North Carolina State University

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Wood and Paper Science

Jan. 2008 - Dec. 2009

. Proposed and implemented high sulfide pretreatment methods to

preserve carbohydrates on hardwood

biomass (up to 76% carbohydrate yield).

. Developed conditions for conversion of cellulose into fermentable

sugars using commercial enzymes

(Cellulase, Xylanase, and ?-glucosidase) and analyzed by Ion

Exchange Chromatography technique.

. Provided insights of the effect of sulfidity on delignification of

hardwood using ToF-SIMS and Gel Permeation Chromatography techniques.

. Mentored an international student during the China-US Summer Exchange

Program at NCSU.

PDVSA (Petr leos de Venezuela S.A.)

Intern, Puerto La Cruz Refinery, Venezuela

July 2006 - Dec. 2006

. Evaluated productivity and performance of vessels in the fluid

cracker unit.

. Redesigned two vessels to improve their water/oil separation

performance. Designs were implemented in 2009.

PUBLICATIONS

. Diaz, J. 2013. Bioprocessing of Industrial Sweetpotatoes for Bio-

based Products. Dissertation. North Carolina State University,

Raleigh NC, USA.

. Diaz, J., Bittencourt, E., and Lucia, L. 2010. Modified green liquor

(MGL) for bioenergy. O papel. Vol. 71, num. 11, pp. 35-43.

. Diaz, J. 2009. Green Liquor Pretreatment for Hardwood chips to

Ethanol conversion strategies. Thesis. North Carolina State

University, Raleigh NC, USA.

. Diaz, J. 2006. Evaluaci n y mejoras de los tambores separadores F-4 y

F-27 de la unidad de craqueo catal tico fluidizado de la Refiner a

Puerto La Cruz. PDVSA, Puerto La Cruz, Barcelona. Tesis Industrial.

Universidad de Los Andes, M rida, Venezuela.

PRESENTATIONS

. J.T. Diaz and M.S. Chinn. 2011. Bioprocessing of Industrial

Sweetpotatoes for Bio-based products. ASABE Annual International

Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky, August 7-11, 2011.

. J.T Diaz and L.A. Lucia. 2009. Efecto del Pretratamiento Modificado

con Lej as Verdes en la Hidr lisis de Celulosa con Virutas de Madera

Dura. 1 Congresso Brasileiro Sobre Forestas Energ ticas, Expominas,

Bello Horizonte, MG, Brasil, June 2-5, 2009.

. J.T Diaz and L.A. Lucia. 2009. Modified Green Liquor Pretreatment in

Hardwood Chips to Enhance Saccharification. Gilbert Award Symposium.

University Faculty Club (Raleigh, NC State University), April 9,

2009.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

. Attended Fourth Annual Single-Use Bioprocess Technologies Symposium.

North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina. February 18,

2014.

. Attended SAS programming classes (16 classes: Programming 1 and 2)

at NCSU, Raleigh, North Carolina. September 17 to November 21, 2013.

. Attended ASABE Annual International Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky.

August 7-11, 2011.

. Attended the 1 Congresso Brasileiro Sobre Forestas Energ ticas,

Expominas, Bello Horizonte,

Minas Gerais, Brasil. June 2-5, 2009.

. Attended Biomass South 2008 Conference, Raleigh, North Carolina.

September 21-23, 2008.

. Attended Bioenergy Southeast Conference 2008, Tifton, Georgia.

August 12-14, 2008.

Contact this candidate