Quality Assurance Control

Chengeto Gwengo

**** ******** ****• Orangeburg• SC• 29118• ******@*****.***• 803-***-**** (c)

EDUCATION

Ph. D., Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 08/2004 – 05/2009

B. S. Honors in Chemistry., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, 02/1997 – 08/2000

SKILLS

Research

Specialist in rational design of ligand scaffolds, understanding of coordination chemistry and

exploitation of structure-property relationships to develop new materials and technologies

Subject matter expert in thermochromic coordination polymers, fabrication of polymer-

dispersed electrochromic devices, self-assembly of nanomaterials, catalysis, molecular recognition

of guests by porous organometallic supramolecular hosts, study of polymorphic behavior of

materials, and salt-driven conversion agricultural processing biowastes into value added chemical

products

Experienced mentor for laboratory researchers in industrial and academic research settings

Well accomplished in ‘tailored’ functional materials design, synthesis, characterization and

application

Expert in ISO 9001 Quality Control and Assurance and thermoplastic formulation development

Service

Peer-review of journal articles for Journal of Synthesis and Reactivity of Inorganic, Metal-

Organic and Nano-metal Chemistry, Journal of American Oil Chemistry Society, and the 3rd

International Conference of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Maintenance of the JEOL 300 MHz NMR spectrometer, Agilent GC-MS, GAMRY Potentiometer,

Shimadzu UV-Vis spectrophotometer, XRF spectrometer, Glovebox, Vacuum lines and training of

undergraduate users

Technical

Expertise in the operation and maintenance of several techniques including, multinuclear NMR,

HPLC, GC-MS, IR, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis, solution and solid state magnetic

measurements

Adept in manipulation of pyrophoric, air- and moisture sensitive materials using the glove box

and Schlenk/vacuum line techniques

Expertise in several structure-visualization software such as Diamond, Mercury, Olex2,

ChemDraw, etc.

Instruction

Taught undergraduates in general chemistry, and inorganic chemistry courses

Mentored undergraduate and graduate students to be independent and competent in strict

adherence to safety rules, design of experiments based on previous outcomes, logical analyses

and presentation of experimental results

Served in the four-member Forensic Chemistry Committee tasked with the development of

Forensic Chemistry track for Chemistry and non-Chemistry majors at introductory level

Led the Organic Chemistry Study Guide Committee on writing a comprehensive review of

General Chemistry topics pertinent in the Organic Chemistry course (Pass rate increased two-fold

after the first semester)

Incorporated hands-on learning and training on sophisticated analytical characterization

instruments in lecture classes

Collaboration and Communication

Collaborated with local and international academic peers on grant proposals and solving

research challenges resulting in multiple publications (10 publications in peer-reviewed journals)

Worked with institutional academic units (Enrollment Office, Sponsored Programs Office, Office

of Student Affairs etc.) to maintain a well-oiled and smooth-functioning teaching and research

environment

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

First Year Panther Step Instructor of the Year, 2013 and 2014

Chimusoro Prize, 2000

Recognizing best student in experimental work

EXPERIENCE

Visiting Assistant professor of Inorganic Chemistry (2013-present) & Teaching

Postdoctoral Fellow (2011-2013), Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

Established a productive research activity in the Department of Chemistry and cultivated a

culture of communicating results in peer–reviewed journals from a small liberal college (2 ACS

publications during my three-year tenure)

Supervised research technicians and undergraduates on design, synthesis, characterization of

ferrocenes-functionalized keto-enols and building of molecular and supramolecular frameworks

Developed a simple catalytic protocol for the systematic conversion of carbohydrates in a

biowastes to two value-added platform chemicals

Instructing courses and laboratories (including grading, dealing with student affairs, academic

advising and recommending students) in General and Inorganic Chemistry

Serving on several department committees

Postdoctoral Fellow, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 2010-2011

Formulated an accelerated protocol for synthesis and purificat ion of hydrogen bonding receptor-

functionalized photovoltaic donor molecules

Examined the impact of multi-point hydrogen bonding interactions on improving the nano-

morphology and electron transfer efficiency in photovoltaic donor-acceptor systems

Postdoctoral Researcher, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2009-2010

Trained incoming undergraduate and graduate students on surface modification of arene-based

semiconductors

Designed a home-made crystal growth apparatus for growing large organic semiconductor

crystals required for “surface modification” experiments

Graduate Research Assistant, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI (2004 – 2009)

Investigated preferential coordination of double-faced scorpionates via self-assembly of

scorpionates with alkali metals, thallium, silver, and iron, according the Pearson’s Hard and Soft

Acids and Bases (HSAB) theory

Investigated the electronic response of iron (II) scorpionate complexes to external stimuli such

as heat, light and electrical energy

Examined the role of steric modulation of scorpionate ligands on the coordination chemistry and

electronic properties of their coordination complexes

Studied the impact of supramolecular interactions on the solid state properties of complexes by

single crystal X-ray diffraction

Laminated polymer-dispersed iron (III) tris(pyrazolyl)borate films between Indium Tin Oxide

(ITO) glass slides and demonstrated electrochromic response of thin film devices to electrical

pulses.

Quality Assurance Chemist, Proplastics, Harare, Zimbabwe (2002 – 2004)

Oversaw formulation testing scale-up of processes from laboratory to pilot plants to full

production

Provided guidance to Quality Control team on choice of analytical equipment, design and

smooth execution of experiments, analysis and interpretation of results, and troubleshooting

Ensured the reliability of the company’s measuring equipment by implementing and overseeing

the quarterly (internal), biannual, and annual (external) calibration.

Provided technical support to Production, Purchasing, Sales and Marketing

Coordinated in-production, final product and field testing

Generated weekly Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts to continuously monitor the

production process.

Tracked and documented product non-conformances and customer complaints, managed non-

conformances by initiating investigative follow-up and corrective and preventative actions plans.

Overall product quality and customer satisfaction were improved leading to ISO 9001

certification in June 2002.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Muthukrishna Raja, Chengeto Gwengo, Ratnasabapathy G. Iyer, Daniel L. Reger, Perry J. Pellechia, Mark

D. Smith, Andrea E. Pascui “Design, Synthesis and Characterization of a New Class of Ferrocene Containing

Heterobimetallic Triple-Stranded Helicates” Organometallics, 2013, 32, 95-103.

2. Chengeto Gwengo, Ratnasabapathy Iyer, Muthukrishna Raja “Rational Design and Synthesis of a New

Organometallic Ligand, 1-Ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)-prop-3-enol-1-one and Its Heteronuclear

Coordination Polymer, {Cu[1-ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)prop-1,3-dionate]2}n” Crys. Growth Des. 2012,

12, 49-53.

3. Tyler J. Morin, Sarath Winniarachchi, Chengeto Gwengo, Vitales Makura, Heidi M. Tatlock, Sergey V.

Lindeman, Brian, B. Bennett, Gary J. Long, Fernande Grandjean, James R. Gardinier “Pyrazolyl Methyls

Prescribe the Electronic Properties of Iron (II) Tetra(pyrazolyl)lutidine Chloride Complexes” Dalton Trans.,

2011, 40-31-802*-****.

4. Matthew A. Bartucci, Patrycja M. Wierzbicki, Chengeto Gwengo, Sunny Shajan, Syed H. Hussain, Jacob W.

Ciszek “Synthesis of Dihydroindolizines for Potential Photoinduced Work function Alteration” Tetrahedron

Lett., 2010, 51-52-683*-****.

5. Chengeto Gwengo, Rosalice M. Silva, Mark D. Smith, Sergey V. Lindeman, James R. Gardinier “Toward

Charge – Neutral ‘Soft Scorpionates’: Coordination Chemistry and Lewis Acid Promoted Isomerizations of

Tris(1-Organo-imidazolyl-2-thio)methanes” Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2009, 362(11) 4127-4136.

6. Rosalice M. Silva, Chengeto Gwengo, Sergey V. Lindeman, Mark, D. Smith, Gary J. Long, Fernande

Grandjean, James R. Gardinier “A Second-generation Janus Scorpionate Ligand: Controlling Coordination

Modes in Iron (II) Complexes by Steric Modulation” Inorg. Chem., 2008, 47(16), 7233-7242.

7. Vincent J. Chebny, Chengeto Gwengo, James R. Gardinier, Rajendra Rathore “Synthesis and Electronic

Properties of Iso-alkyl substituted Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBC’s) from a Versatile New HBC

Synthon, Hexakis(4-acetyllphenyl)benzene” Tetrahedron Lett., 2008, 49, 4869-4872.

8. Felipe P. Macedo, Chengeto Gwengo, Sergey V. Lindeman, Mark, D. Smith, James R. Gardinier “β-

Diketonate, β-Ketoiminate, and β-Diiminate Complexes of Difluoroboron” Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2008, 230-

243.

9. James R. Gardinier, Rosalice M. Silva, Chengeto Gwengo, Sergey V. Lindeman “A Metallic Tape’ Stabilized

by Unprecedented (μ5-κ2,κ2,κ2,κ1,κ1-) Scorpionate Binding Mode” Chem. Comm., 2007, 1524-1526.

10. Rosalice M. Silva, Chengeto Gwengo, Sergey V. Lindeman, Mark, D. Smith, James R. Gardinier “Janus

Scorpionates: Supramolecular Tectons for Directed Assembly of Hard-Soft Alkali Metallopolymer Chains”

Inorg. Chem., 2006, 45(26), 10998 – 11007.

PRESENTATIONS

1. Myrtle Bryant, Bianca Bryant, Muthukrishna Raja, Chengeto Gwengo, Kendra Barnes, Mark D. Smith,

Yu-Sheng Chen “Triple-stranded Helicates as Organometallic Matrices for Substituted Aromatic

Molecules” October 2014, 66th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society,

Nashville, TN

2. Kendra Barnes, Azima Kalsum, Muthukrishna Raja, Chengeto Gwengo, Angela Peters “Synthesis of

Organometallic-based Biologically Active Compounds: In vitro Antibacterial and Spectroscopic Studies

of Ferrocene-derived Penicillin Chelates” November 2013, 65th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the

American Chemical Society, Loews Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA

3. Chengeto Gwengo, Muthukrishna Raja, Jessica Cole, Ratnasabapathy Iyer, Daniel L. Reger, Mark D.

Smith, Uruthira Kalapathy “Fascinating Topologies of Metallacycles Derived from the 2,6-

Bis(Ferrocenylketoenolyl)-pyridine (H2L2,6) Ligand” November 2013, 65th Southeastern Regional

Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Loews Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA.

4. Muthukrishna Raja, Jessica Cole, Valoria Ritter, Chengeto Gwengo, Uruthira Kalapathy “Synthesis,

Structure and Redox Properties of Halogeno-substituted Ferrocene-based Ligands” November 2012,

64th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Raleigh Convention Center,

Raleigh, NC.

5. Chengeto Gwengo, Ratnasabapathy Iyer, Muthukrishna Raja “Ferrocene-functionalized

Metallocrowns” August 2012, 244th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Pennsylvania

Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA.

6. Chengeto Gwengo, Nisha Verma, Laura D. Shirtcliff “Modular Approach to Self-Assembly of Pi-

conjugated Organic Photovoltaic Molecules” October 2010, 45th Midwest Regional Meeting of the

American Chemical Society, Marriott, Wichita, KS.

7. Chengeto Gwengo, Nisha Verma, Laura D. Shirtcliff “Modular Approach to Self-Assembly of Pi-

conjugated Organic Photovoltaic Molecules” September 2010, Research and Technical Careers in

Industry (RTCI-2010), Cincinnati, OH.

8. Chengeto Gwengo, James R. Gardinier “Charge-Transfer Complexes of Monosubstituted Hexa-peri-

hexabenzocorones” June 2006, 37th Great Lakes Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society,

Midwest Center, Milwaukee, WI.

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