RAJKUMAR MERUGU

Email: aczys5@r.postjobfree.com, Phone number: +1-419-***-****

1.PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Double Master of Science in organic chemistry and photochemistry, Research assistant (2012 – 2016) in the department of chemistry and photochemical sciences, teaching assistant (2012 -2013, 2016) for general and organic chemistry laboratory courses, and 7 years of experience in the academic chemical laboratory research.

2.ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

2016 - Master of Science- Organic Chemistry & Photochemistry

Bowling Green State University, USA; GPA – 3.25

2010 - Master of Science- Chemistry

Pondicherry University, INDIA; GPA – 3.32

2007 - Bachelor of Science- Math, Physics, and Chemistry

Kakathiya University, INDIA; GPA – 3.72

3.PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2012 – 2016: Bowling Green State University, USA

Department of Photochemical Sciences

Research Assistant - Dr. R. Marshall Wilson laboratory

Performed multi-step organic synthesis. Synthesized photo-labelled modified nucleic acid bases and purified them using HPLC, TLC, column chromatographic techniques and analyzed them by NMR, UV-VIS, FT-IR, and Mass spectroscopic analyses.

Studied the chemical and photochemical properties of these bio-organic molecules and proposed the oxidation of the photo-labelled modified nucleic acid bases in DNA and RNA strands.

Performed the synthesis and characterization of organic molecules which required chromatographic and spectroscopic analyzing skills including HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, MALDI, ESI, TLC, IR, UV/VIS, and NMR to interpret the photochemical and biological properties of the molecules.

Demonstrated organizational skills and research skills by maintaining accurate lab records, conducting quality analysis, strengthening the replicability of results by repeated measures, applying strong laboratory techniques for the separation and extraction of compounds by various methods including calibrating instruments, and enhanced my teamwork skills by doing collaborative projects.

2012 – 2013 and 2016: Bowling Green State University, USA

Department of Photochemical Sciences for the course ‘Organic chemistry'

Department of Photochemical Sciences for the course ‘General chemistry'

Teaching Assistant

Read and prepared for each weekly lab experiment. Prepared and give a 10-minute Pre-lab lecture at the beginning of lab.

Demonstrated new lab techniques, equipment and Safety Rules. Monitored and interacted with students during the entire lab session.

Graded Pre-Lab Simulations (PLS) and Lab Reports weekly, returned to students the following week.

Prepared all chemicals and waste containers for each week's experiment.

Placed TA reagent pans and waste containers in the lab rooms at the beginning of each week, they pick up reagent pans and waste containers at the end of the week.

Performed experiments in advance of students to ensure that all experiments work properly.

Conducted maintenance of all general chemistry lab equipment.

Set up lab equipment in the lab rooms when needed, and returned lab equipment to the storage room when it is not in use.

2010 – 2011: Pondicherry University, INDIA

Organometallic and Supramolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry

Intern- Dr. Bala Manimaran

Student principal investigator of a project on ‘Synthesis and characterization of Rhenium and Ruthenium based heterometallic metallocyclophanes'.

Student research assistant on a project ‘Study on 4,6 membered metallocyclophanes of transition metals'.

4.INSTRUMENTATION EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Exceptional knowledge in conducting research and scientific writing.

Knowledge in collaborations and team work.

Skillful in operating and troubleshooting analytical instruments of Agilent, Shimadzu, and Bruker.

Expert in operating NMR spectroscopy (1H NMR, 13C NMR, COSY).

Skillful in recording mass spectroscopy (MALDI, ESI, LC/MS, GC/MS).

Ample experience with chromatography and separation techniques (TLC chromatography, column chromatography, and HPLC).

Hands-on experience with spectroscopy techniques (UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and transient absorbance spectroscopy).

Expert in designing synthetic pathways to molecules with defined physiochemical properties.

Skillful in operating and calibrating basic laboratory instruments including pH meters, glove box, laboratory hoods and titrations.

Sound knowledge on conducting thermodynamic and photochemical reactions in the laboratory.

Maintaining chemical inventory system and other documentation.

Experience in using scifinder, chemdraw, MSDS, and chemical vendor catalogues.

Proficient in using MS office products, ORIGIN, SPARTAN, and COOT.

Proficient in basic statistical methods in MS EXCEL, SPSS, and SAS.

Good oral and written communication, and marketing skills.

5.RESEARCH WORK

Merugu, R. & Wilson, R. M. (2012 – 2016). “Oxidation of Purines: Synthetic efforts to prepare 2-azido-8-oxo-inosine”, Department of Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, USA.

Merugu, R. & Wilson, R. M. (2016) “Synthesis and photochemistry of modified purine nucleic acid bases (2-azido- 2', 3',5'tris (tertiarybutyldimethylsilyl)-8-benzyloxy- inosine)”, Department of Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, USA. Adviser: Professor R. Marshall Wilson

Merugu, R. & Manimaran, B. (2011) “A Study on 4,6 membered metallocyclophanes of transition metals”, Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, INDIA.

Merugu, R. & Manimaran, B. (2010) “Synthesis and characterization of Rhenium and Ruthenium based heterometallic metallocyclophanes”, Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, INDIA.

6.PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS

Merugu, R. & Wilson, R. M. (2015) “Oxidation of Purines: Synthetic efforts to prepare 2-azido-8-oxo-inosine” at the 5th annual Ohio Photochemical Society (OoPS) meeting at Maumee Bay State Park, Maumee, USA.

Merugu, R. Nilov, D. I., Komarov, D. Y., Panov, M. S., Karabaeva, K. E., Mereshchenko, A. S., Tarvosky, A. N. & Wilson, R. M. (2014) “Oxidation of Purines: Chemistry of Purine Quinones and Iminoquinones” in the advisory board meeting, department of photochemical sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, USA.

Merugu, R. Nilov, D. I., Komarov, D. Y., Panov, M. S., Karabaeva, K. E., Mereshchenko, A. S., Tarvosky, A. N. & Wilson, R. M. (2014) “Oxidation of Purines: Chemistry of Purine Quinones and Iminoquinones” at the 4th annual Ohio Photochemical Society (OoPS) meeting at Maumee Bay State Park, Maumee, USA.

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