Chemical & Process Engineer – Research Scientist

Dedicated, versatile, and goal-oriented professional, enthusiastic in applying hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge in product and process development, materials science, food/feed engineering, thermal processing, bio fuels, by-product utilization, analytical/engineering chemistry, and methods of bio-process research. Performance- and results-driven, equipped with multitasking capacities within competitive, quality-driven environments. Demonstrate expertise in food/feed process engineering, process engineering feasibility studies (expertise in technical, optimization, and feasibility studies, and troubleshooting to promote better use of energy, products, and processes), fluid mechanics and strength of materials, industrial economics and management, process control, and design of machine elements and thermodynamics. Possess extensive research, technical, and project management experience while maintaining the highest ethical and quality standards and cooperative attitude.

Career-Related Skills

Project and Operations Management

Good Manufacturing Practice

Analyses and Experimentation

Good Laboratory Practice

Quality Assurance and Management

Regulations and Compliance Management

Data Analysis

Communication and Presentation

Knowledge & Technology Transfer/Lean Six Sigma

Time Management and Prioritization

Technical Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Dynamix AX), Engineering Software Experience – AutoCAD, SuperPro Designer, Minitab (statistics), Aquire (Decision Support System Tool)

Relevant Experience

Ridley- Alltech Inc., Ridley Block Operations – RBO Technology Center § Mankato, MN-

Research Consultant 2012-Present

Serve as the technology center research scientist, in charge of providing technical support for the company’s eight manufacturing plants in the USA.

Ensure adherence with Lean Manufacturing and 5S practices.

Closely work with distributed controls systems (DCS) in the manufacturing setting.

Perform quality assurance decision making (QA team), in charge of customer complaint incident analysis, and in-depth study on faulty products and samples of raw materials from manufacturing plants.

Closely follow trends in customer demand and supply of raw materials.

Continuously test alternative cost-effective novel raw materials to replace the existing, costly, and diminishing-supply raw materials used in the manufacturing processes.

Administer the troubleshooting of the technology center pivotal in presenting effective recommendations on raw materials, formulation, and process variables.

Oversee the experiments in laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales.

Render assistance in maximizing the use of acquired technologies, as well as in making the necessary changes to processes and products to meet the customers’ requirements.

Employ expertise in chemistry and materials science to improve physical and chemical properties of the nutrient feed blocks; enhanced hardness, cold flow resistance, and integrity of the composite blocks.

Play an active role for boosting reactor capacity and energy efficiency in the liquid feed making process.

Successfully performed research and development that supported the company in improving product performances that led in reduction of the swelling of feed blocks during hot conditions.

Successfully invented and managed the processing aspect of proprietary WeatherAll® technology to improve outdoor performance of the feed container, the bio-barrel® (from concept through launch).

Performed strategic gathering of data for the company’s several patent applications wherein two are pending and one in progress US Patents P232270.US 01, and P243348.US.01.

Bio-Products Research Laboratory –– North Dakota State University (NDSU) § Fargo, ND

Postdoctoral Fellow 2010-2011

Managed the preparation of bio-based plastics from canola meal protein isolates under different denaturation levels, as well as testing of biodiesel properties from low- and high-saturate canola oils

Handled the research of epoxy resins from canola oil extracted under various conditions and testing the performance

Worked in Cool Clean Technologies Inc. at Eagan, Minnesota in extracting non-denatured canola oil and meal using the patented liquid carbon dioxide extraction process

Utilized materials obtained from the extraction of non-denatured canola oil and meal to produce protein-based plastics, and canola oil-based epoxy resins and biodiesel with improved properties

Prepared and submitted several reports using data gathered from set of experiments

Made major contributions in writing grant proposal awarded to the program through APUC (Agricultural Products Utilization Commission)

Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering –– North Dakota State University § Fargo, ND, USA

Graduate Research Assistant 2006-2010

Obtained in-depth knowledge and expertise of various laboratory and pilot plant techniques, such as oilseed pressing, solvent extraction, milling, spray-drying, spectroscopy and spectrophotometry analyses, plastic extrusion, injection molding, mechanical property testing, morphology analysis, and DMA/DSC analysis

Managed and rendered direct supervision to two research assistants working for the research program

Partnered with supervisor in setting up the laboratory; economized the grant money to ensure that the laboratory was fully equipped

Administered the ordering of all needed equipment for the research program laboratory

Worked closely with polymer science, mechanical engineering, and cereal and food science departments to acquire technical assistance and carry out experiments

Participated in various professional conferences; presented and published numerous conference papers/posters

Received numerous accolades and commendations for rendering exemplary service

Successfully published six peer-reviewed research articles (first author) in highly recognized journals

Chemical & Process Engineering –– University of Moratuwa § Sri Lanka

Graduate Research Assistant 2003-2006

Led the development of an Expert System and Decision Support System for landfill applications

Rendered exemplary service in completing research that led in the successful publication of two conference papers and one book chapter (Springer)

Cisco Speciality Packaging (Pvt) Ltd. § Sri Lanka

Trainee 2002

Successfully completed training that resulted in gaining valuable experience in processes, such as injection molding, blow molding, stretched-blow molding, quality control, and product testing

Honed problem solving skills by recommending a “dissolved air flotation system” to purify an oil contaminated ground water body and successfully conducting a feasibility study

Teaching Experience

Minot State University § Minot, ND (2012)

North Dakota State University § Fargo, ND (2011, and 2014)

Guest Lecturer 2011-2014

Professional Training

Six Sigma Training Program § University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN: 2014

Education

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (PhD): 2010

North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

Frank Bain Graduate Scholarship (2009) § Outstanding Graduate Student

Chemical and Process Engineering (MS): 2007

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship: 2004-2006

Chemical and Process Engineering (BS): 2002

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Professional Affiliations

Member § Since 2008

American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS)

Member § Since 2007

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)

Secretary § 2009-2010 Vice President § 2008-2009 Member § 2007–2010

Alpha Epsilon Honorary Society (Theta Chapter)

Founding Secretary § 2009-2010

North Dakota State University-Student Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (NDSU-SAMPE)

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