Nishad Dhopatkar

***, **** ******, *** ** ● Akron, OH 44313 ● acub2k@r.postjobfree.com ● 330-***-****

Career Objective

To engage in the research and development of technology platforms, products, and applications by building a deep scientific understanding for problem solving with a strong technical background in soft matter, colloids and interface science, and physical chemistry.

Expertise

Surfactants and Colloids Polymer physics Surface phenomena Spectroscopy Tribology Coatings

Educational Profile

The University of Akron, Department of Polymer Science Akron, OH Ph.D. Candidate, Cumulative GPA: 3.73 August 2011 – May 2016 (expected) Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai, India

B. Tech., Polymer and Surface Coating Technology, May 2011 Research Experience

The University of Akron Akron, OH

Ph.D. Candidate, Adviser: Prof. Ali Dhinojwala August 2011- Present

Quantified the adsorption and viscoelastic properties of polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex on solid surfaces, using QCM-D, which directly impacts surface topography, adhesion, friction, and lubrication at solid-water interface.

Evaluated the effect of acid-base interactions on the adsorption and conformation of PMMA on solid surfaces using interface-sensitive sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR; crucial for colloidal stabilization, chromatography, pharmaceuticals, biophysics, and nanocomposites.

Identified the structure of surfactants adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces under water, and by combination of SFG and contact mechanics, elucidated the effect of surfactant arrangement on wetting, adhesion, and sliding friction.

Demonstrated the underwater surface restructuring for an amphiphilic, glassy polymer by SFG and studied the competitive thermodynamics versus kinetics, which have implications towards colloidal stability, drug delivery, and biomedical implants.

Lubrizol Advanced Materials Brecksville, OH

Graduate Research Assistant, Mentor: Dr. Krishnan Chari September 2012- Present

Correlated the interfacial adsorption with bulk phase transitions for polyelectrolyte-surfactant solutions, providing guidelines to formulation scientist for achieving controlled adsorption.

Demonstrated that dry lubrication can be improved by 50% without compromising the wet lubrication by reducing the polymer and silicones dosage in a model personal care formulation. Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai, India

Undergraduate Senior Researcher, Advisor: Dr. Anagha Sabnis December 2010- April 2011

Designed and completed a project on glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and synthesized a polyester resin and polyurethane coatings for cans, pipes, and protective applications. AkzoNobel Coatings India Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore, India Undergraduate summer Intern, Mentor: Dr. T. Kanakraju June 2010- July 2010

Executed a systematic formulations study for cost engineering of surface-tolerant epoxy paint for offshore structures with a focus on making a low VOC, high solid content, and enduring protective coatings. Skills and Techniques

Projects planning, design of experiments, data analysis, and interpretation of results

Linear and non-linear vibrational spectroscopy techniques namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and Sum frequency generation spectroscopy

Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), Surface tensiometer, Zeta-potential measurements, Turbidimeter, Contact angle measurements, Visible light scattering, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Ellipsometry, UV-vis spectrophotometer, Optical microscopy

Atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (Proficient) Publications

Dhopatkar, N.; Defante, A.; Dhinojwala, A.; Ice-like water eases sliding friction. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., under review.

Dhopatkar, N; Anim-Danso, E.; Peng, C.; Joy, A.; Dhinojwala, A. Reorientation of polymer chains next to water probed by IR-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy. Manuscript in preparation.

Zhu, H.; Dhopatkar, N.; Dhinojwala, A.; The effect of acid-base interactions on conformation of adsorbed polymer chains. ACS Macro Letters 2016, 5, 45-49.

Dhopatkar, N.; Park, J. H.; Chari, K.; Dhinojwala, A. Adsorption and viscoelastic analysis of polyelectrolyte- surfactant complexes on charged hydrophilic surfaces. Langmuir 2015, 31, 1026-1027.

Kathalewar, M.; Dhopatkar, N.; Pacharane, B.; Sabnis, A.; Raut, P.; Bhave, V. Chemical Recycling of PET using neopentyl glycol: Reaction Kinetics and preparation of polyurethane coatings. Progress in Organic Coatings 2013, 76 (1), 147-156.

Conference Presentations

Dhopatkar, N.; Defante, A.; Dhinojwala, A.; Underwater sliding friction of two hydrophobic surfaces in presence of surfactant. 89th ACS Colloid and Surface Science Symposium, Pittsburgh, June 2015.

Dhopatkar, N; Dhinojwala, A. Adsorption of Polyelectrolyte-Surfactant Complex at an Aqueous-Solid Interface. 248th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, San Francisco, August 2014. Scholarships and Awards

Department of Polymer Science Travel Award, 248th ACS national Meeting, August 2014.

Excellence Award for outstanding undergraduate academic performance sponsored by AkzoNobel Coatings India Pvt. Ltd., March 2010.

Sir Ratan Tata Scholarship for academic excellence, September 2008. Professional references

1) Prof. Ali Dhinojwala

Maurice Morton Professor

Department of Polymer Science

The University of Akron

Akron, OH 44315, USA

Phone : +1-330-***-****

Email : acub2k@r.postjobfree.com

2) Dr. Krishnan Chari

Senior Manager of Research

Division of Polymer Physics,

Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc.

9911 Brecksville Road

Cleveland, OH 44141, USA

Phone : +1-216-***-****

Email : acub2k@r.postjobfree.com

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