Chemical Engineer

Keaton D. Byars

*** ******** **. ******** *******, CO 80911 719-***-**** ******.*****@********.***

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, CO

August 2010 – May 2014 Current GPA 3.4

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

VBA – Programmed a solver utility to optimize sizing parameters for reactor vessels given various inputs such as heating

duty, pressure, and flow rates

MATLAB – Designed a program to model a Fischer-Tropsch reactor and optimize its configuration

SELECTED COURSEWORK: Polymer Chemistry, Biomaterials, Biochemical Separations, and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

TEAMS Volunteer

Boulder, CO University of Colorado at Boulder February 2012-April 2012

Tutored Elementary school children and constructed interactive projects utilizing basic Engineering topics such as

anemometers and balloon powered rockets

Created project plans and presentations, presented weekly and supervised work groups

Teaching Assistant Dr. Janet DeGrazia

January 2013 – May 2013

Boulder, CO University of Colorado at Boulder

Held weekly one hour recitation for CHEN 1000: Creative Technology which explored contemporary engineering topics

such as biotechnology, oil and gas processing including fracturing, and modern energy alternatives

Created lesson plans and graded assignments every week for 30 students

OXE Member

Boulder, CO University of Colorado at Boulder August 2013-May 2014

Chemical Engineering Honors Society member

Volunteered at various engineering events such as Engineering Days, which exposes the public to engineering topics, and

questionnaire panels to help undecided freshma n as to the best major for them

ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

Senior Design Project Dr. Alan Weimer

Boulder, CO University of Colorado Boulder January 2014-May 2014

Designed, simulated, and sized appropriate distillation, compression, and associated equipment in the gas processing section

to maximize unit profitability of the Fluid Catalyst Cracker in Apentech software

Constructed a detailed flowsheet and performed estimates for capital and operat ional economics

Used Statistical Software, such as Minitab and JMP Pro to optimize our design and increase profits by 78%

Developed a strong grasp of fundamental chemical engineering principles including heat and mass transfer, reaction

kinetics, and process simulation, among others, and creative problem solving skills

Safety Management & Lab Coordinator Intern Dr. Wendy Young

Boulder, CO University of Colorado Boulder October 2013-Present

Assist Safety Manager with safety inspections, updating safety we bsite, and give safety lectures

Held lab responsibilities including instruction of students, maintenance of experiments and ordering supplies

Assisted in design and construction of lab scale Reverse Osmosis process and Distillation Column

Developed skills cohesive to the implementation of a system in a facility including economics and occupational safety and

health

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Dr. Chris Bowman

Boulder, CO University of Colorado Boulder June 2013-May 2014

Applied photo-polymerization techniques to create self-actuating and self-healing polymer systems for coatings

Developed polymer processing procedures for creating optical wave guides, lithographic features, and material testing

utilizing various instruments such as Nano -imprinters and Mask Aligners

Analyzed systems using various tools and methods including AFM, SEM, DMA, Confocal, UV-Vis and FTIR spectrometry

Developed critical thinking and creative problem solving skills as well as interacting with a team of experts and utilizing

resources

Research Experience for Undergraduates Dr. William Gibbons

May 2012 – July 2012

Brookings, SD South Dakota State University

Used Aureobasidium pullulans to improve the protein content of oilseed meals to be fed to fish in hatcheries

Operated lab instruments such as HPLC and Biofermenters to analyze protein content

Used aseptic techniques to maintain sterilized environment including autoclave operation and pipetting

Learned to manage a project independently and collect comprehensive data sets for analysis

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