Chemical Engineering Project

*

Shadid Askar

**** ***** ***. ***. ****, Evanston, IL 60201 512-***-**** ***********@*****.*** EDUCATION

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) Expected Grad: Jan. 2017 PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering, 3M Graduate Research Fellow GPA: 3.86/4.00 Thesis Advisor: Prof. John M. Torkelson

Tentative Thesis Title: Effects of Confinement and Interfaces on Stress Relaxation and Stiffness in Polymer Films and Nanocomposites Characterized by Novel Fluorescence Techniques Relevant Courses: Polymers, Polymerization Reaction Engineering, Reaction Kinetics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Viscoelasticity and Flow in Polymer Systems University of Texas (Austin, TX), Chemical Engineering Dec. 2011 B.S. Chemical Engineering GPA: 3.69/4.00

RESEARCH

Graduate Research

(Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern U.) Jan. 2013-present Understanding stiffness and stress in nano-confined polymers using a novel fluorescence method.

• Developed novel fluorescence technique to monitor residual stress relaxation in polymers.

• Characterized stiffness gradients in thin polymer films in relation to substrate and free surface interfaces for the first time with a non-contact experimental technique.

• Investigated the impact of interfacial interactions on stiffness-confinement effects.

• Synthesized polymer-brush modified inorganic nanoparticles and characterized thermal properties.

• Demonstrated sensitivity to stiffness in model nanocomposite films and compared with nanomechanical measurements in collaboration with Brinson lab at Northwestern University. On-going and future thesis research involves using fluorescence techniques to probe a range of polymer systems and properties.

• Interpreting the effects of plasticizers or nanoparticles on stiffness in confined polymers.

• Investigation of stiffness measurements as a function of distance from nanoparticle interfaces.

• Studying the impact of intrinsic size effects on Tg-confinement effects in polymer nanorods.

• Demonstrating the sensitivity of fluorescent vibronic coupling dyes to molecular caging. Undergraduate Research (Dept. Cell and Molecular Biology, U.T. Austin) Jan. 2009-Dec. 2011 The DARPA-funded project involved growth optimization and harvesting algae as a source of biofuel.

• Designed and constructed prototypes to de-water and lyse algae.

• Demonstrated three-fold increase in biomass recovery after implementing harvesting methods. PUBLICATIONS/PATENTS

S. Askar and J.M. Torkelson, “Stiffness of Thin Supported Polystyrene Films: Free-Surface, Substrate, and Confinement Effects Characterized via Self-Referencing Fluorescence”, Polymer, 99, 416-426

(2016)

S. Askar, C.M. Evans, and J.M. Torkelson, “Residual Stress Relaxation in Spin-Coated Polymer Films: Characterization by Ellipsometry and Fluorescence”, Polymer, 76, 113-122 (2015) S. Askar, L. Li, and J.M. Torkelson, “Polystyrene-Grafted Silica Nanoparticles: Investigating the Molecular Weight Dependence of Glass Transition and Fragility Behavior”, manuscript draft provided to Prof. Torkelson, to be submitted Sept. 2016 2

M. Zhang,* S. Askar,* J.M. Torkelson, and L.C. Brinson, “Characterizing Stiffness-Confinement Effects in Polymeric Model Nanocomposites using Atomic Force Microscopy and Fluorescence Techniques”, manuscript draft provided to Profs. Torkelson Brinson, to be submitted for publication in Sept. 2016

*co-first author

S. Askar,* M. Zhang,*, L.C. Brinson and J.M. Torkelson, “Influence of Substrate Surface Modifications on Stiffness Gradients in Polymer Model Nanocomposites Characterized by Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy”, in preparation.

*co-first author

M. Trollsas, J. Stankus, J. Su, S. Hossainy, J. T. Smith, S. Askar, “Delivery of Biologic Therapeutics”, U.S. patent application filed Fall 2013, Application number: WO2014106116 A2. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

S. Askar, M. Zhang, L.C. Brinson, J.M. Torkelson, “Effects of Interfaces and Interactions on Stiffness- Confinement Behavior in Polymer Films: Characterization via Fluorescence and Nanoindentation,” National American Physical Society Meeting (Mar. 2016) S. Askar, M. Zhang, L.C. Brinson, J.M. Torkelson, “Stiffness Gradients in Polymer Films and Model Nanocomposites: Characterization by Fluorescence and Nanoindentation,” National AIChE Annual Meeting (Nov. 2015)

S. Askar, T. Lan, S. Seo, J.M. Torkelson, “Polymer Brush-Modified Silica Nanoparticles: Characterization of the Glass Transition Temperature, Fragility, and Physical Aging,” National AIChE Annual Meeting, Poster Session (Nov. 2015)

S. Askar, J.M. Torkelson, “Residual Stress Relaxation and Stiffness-Confinement Effects in Polymer Films: Characterization by Non-Contact Ellipsometry and Fluorescence Techniques,” National American Physical Society Meeting (Mar. 2015)

EMPLOYMENT

R&D PhD Intern at Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN) June – Aug. 2016 Project: Formulations of Water Dispersible Granules

• Led, designed, and executed experiments to improve agrochemical formulations.

• Identified root-cause issues regarding physical and chemical properties of dispersible granules.

• Drafted internal report for pre-patent review.

R&D Intern at Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) May – Aug. 2011 Project: Protein Formulated In-Situ Forming Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery

• Characterized hydrogels based on physical and chemical testing in areas that involve drug delivery rate, gelation kinetics, rheometric analysis, and bioactivity of drug.

• Demonstrated the ability to tune physical properties of hydrogels during formulation and engineered hydrogels to be injectable.

• Project results led to patent (pending) filed in Dec. 2013. R&D Intern at Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) June – Aug. 2010 Project: Characterization of Biodegradable Polymers to Manufacture Stents

• Developed biodegradable polymers based on mechanical properties involving tensile testing using Instron, radial strength/stiffness using MSI, and axial fatigue testing. 3

• Designed experiments to identify chemical properties of biodegradable polymers using: differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS

3M Graduate Research Fellowship (Northwestern University) Sept. 2014-Aug. 2016 Undergraduate Research Fellowship (U.T. Austin) Jan. 2011 SKILLS/TEACHING EXPERIENCE/VOLUNTEER WORK

Research Skills: Gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, ellipsometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy, polymerization, rheometry. Laboratory Skills: I have been responsible for a couple pieces of equipment in my research laboratory including a spin-coater and a fluorimeter. I have gained a deep understanding of how the instruments work and how to fix them when needed.

Other skills: technical writing, public speaking, mentored undergraduate and MS students, lab safety officer for 3 years, responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting fluorimeter equipment. Teaching Assistant at Northwestern University:

• Kinetics and Reactor Engineering (ChBE 307) Mar. 2016-June 2016

• Polymerization Reaction Engineering (ChBE 463) Apr. 2015-June 2015

• Intro. to Polymers (ChBE 361) Sept. 2013-Dec. 2013

• Bioprocess Engineering Lab (MBIOTECH 402) Apr. 2013-June 2013 Volunteer Work:

• Founded Maijhati High School Tutoring Project in my ancestral village in Bangladesh. (current)

• Various community service events in Bangladesh including establishment of a computer lab in my ancestral village and sponsoring a child at an orphanage. (2011-2014)

• Habitat for Humanity and Central Texas Food Bank (Austin, TX)

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