Chemical Engineering Assistant

UMA MADHURI NORI

Email id: ************@*****.***, Contact: +1-334-***-****

Current address: **** ******** **** *** *, Seattle, WA, 98103 PROFILE: Determined and well-rounded chemical engineer; an avid researcher with 6+ years of working experience in both academia and corporate R & D; Adept at managing concurrent objectives to promote efficiency and influence positive outcomes; Adaptable and driven with strong work ethic and ability to thrive in team-based or individually motivated settings.

EDUCATION

Master of Science (M. S), Chemical Engineering Aug 2017-Dec 2019 Auburn University (AU), Auburn, Alabama, USA GPA: 3.57/4 Research: “Antibody-Immobilized Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC) for the Detection of Cancer Biomarkers” under the guidance of Dr. Virginia Davis, and Dr. Maria Peresin Developed antibody-immobilized cellulose nanocrystals by multi-step reaction schemes for the detection of cancer biomarkers: PSA (prostate), AFP (liver) and CEA (colon). Achieved highest antibody-antigen binding of 6000 ng/m2 for CEA, 286 ng/m2 for AFP, and 312 ng/m2 for PSA adsorption on the antibody-immobilized CNC surfaces. Provided detailed insights into the challenges and advantages of CNC-based biosensors for their potential application in point-of-care diagnostics which laid foundation for future research on developing CNC Cantilever Beam Array MEMS devices for cancer diagnostics. Relevant courses (graduate): Transport Phenomena, Chemical Eng. Thermodynamics, Chemical Reactions Eng., Additive Manufacturing, Macromolecular Science and Eng., Microelectronic Fabrication. Master of Engineering (M. E), Chemical with specialization in Petroleum Eng. Jul 2013-Jul 2015 Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, India GPA: 8.41/10 Research: “Development of Nano-Particles using chemical methods for the recovery of heavy metals from water” under the guidance of Dr. Suresh Gupta

Successfully stabilized and resolved self-aggregation of silver oxide nanoparticles (Ag2O NPs) synthesized by solution combustion synthesis with yttrium (Y-) based supports resulting in an adsorption maximum of 664 mg Cr+6 /g of Y-Ag2O NPs. Relevant courses: Environmental Management Systems, Energy Systems Eng., Polymer Technology, Mathematical methods in Chemical Eng., Petroleum - Refinery, Reservoir, & Downstream Eng. Relevant course projects:

• Theoretical prediction of temperature distribution in a deep water well using Integral factor method on Matlab

• LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of algae bio-diesel

• ASPEN simulation of formaldehyde production by Silver catalyst process from Methanol Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Chemical Engineering Aug 2009-Aug 2013 Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering (SVUCE), Tirupati, India GPA: 7.52/10 B.E Project: “Theoretical design study on Penicillin-G production process” under the guidance of Dr. Akhila Swathantra Relevant courses: Fluid Mechanics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Chemical Eng. Thermodynamics, Process Dynamics & Control, Chemical Reaction Eng., Mechanical Unit Operations, Microelectronic Material Processing. WORK EXPERIENCE

Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant, Auburn University, Auburn, AL Aug 2017-Dec 2019

• Checked assignments, proctored tests, and provided grades according to university standards for undergraduate 'Process Simulation, Synthesis, and Optimization' with 80 students.

• Mentored students through office hours and one-on-one communication.

• Created ~ 30 designs of chemical industry processes using ASPEN PLUS (and HYSYS) for assignments, and final exam. Scientist, Chemicals group Jul 2015-Jul 2017

Aditya Birla Science & Technology Company (ABSTC), Mumbai, India Role: Managed industrial research projects focused on developing testing methodologies, techniques and systems at the corporate R & D lab of the chemical business.

• Lead a team of 5 to develop a proto-type Reduced Graphene Oxide/Photocatalyst/Polymer Membrane to mitigate heavy metals and dyes in Aditya Birla Group's industrial waste streams.

• Developed 8 reproducible variants of Si-N type (Polysilazane) materials for high-end coating applications of which 2 variants manifested commercial grade anti-corrosion, anti-graffiti & high temperature resistance properties.

• Successfully resolved decomposition of Di-calcium Phosphate Dihydrate into its Anhydrate form at Aditya Birla's Karwar plant in Goa by generating ASPEN simulations which increased yield up to 50 %.

• Underwent corporate management workshop training on ‘Team building and leadership skills’ (2016) and extensive training on ‘Six Sigma Techniques’, 2015

• Practiced standard operating procedures (SOP) and conducted HAZOP risk assessment studies in compliance with industrial standards

Teaching • Instructor Assistant of undergraduate at BITS 'Mass Transfer Operations & Mechanical Unit Operations' labs comprising 120 Jan students. 2014-May 2015

• Graded assignments and tests, documented results of 70 students for undergraduate 'Advanced Separation Processes'. TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Software Languages : Microsoft Office, Beginner in C, C++ & Data Structures

• Core Software : ASPEN PLUS, ASPEN HYSYS, Origin, Minitab, Polymath, Basics in Matlab programming Material testing tools: Rheometer, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCMD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Optical and Fluorescence microscopy, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) Microfabrication in clean room, Contact angle Goniometer, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Certifications: Responsible Conduct of Research for Engineers (Stage-1) certified by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Program (Dec 2017)

• Volunteered in the following K-12 outreach activities at AU: Women in Engineering camps (07/16/2019 & 06/26/2018), Grand Engineering showcase event (09/11/2018), and E-day tour (02/22/2019) Role: Enlightened the students on the current scenario of opportunities in chemical engineering and the contribution of nanotechnology in changing the face of the world in terms of everyday applications.

• Participated in TEQIP-II workshop ‘Current Research Methodologies for Water Treatment’ at PSG College of Technology, India (2016)

• Member of the winning team in Ball Badminton in the Annual Intra-Mural games tournament of SVUCE (2012 & 2013)

• Committee member of CHEMOSPHERE, a national level technical symposium at SVUCE (2010)

• Volunteered and raised funds for ITRRODDD, welfare program for blind children (2007) CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

• Nori, U. M. Antibody-Immobilized Cellulose Nanocrystals for the Detection of Cancer Biomarkers. Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10415/7013

• Uma M. Nori, Diego Gomez-Maldonado, Partha Saha, Virginia A. Davis, Maria S. Peresin, “Immobilization of Antibodies on Cellulose Nanocrystals for the Detection of Cancer Biomarkers”, AIChE Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA, (November 11, 2019).

• Uma M. Nori, D. Gomez-Maldonado, P. Saha, W. R. Ashurst, M. S. Peresin, V. A. Davis, “Synthesis of Unique Surface Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals and Their Applications in Cancer Cell Detection,” (Poster) Auburn Student Symposium, Auburn, AL, USA, (April 9, 2019).

• D. Gomez-Maldonado, P. Saha, Uma M. Nori, W. R. Ashurst, M. S. Peresin, and V. A. Davis, “Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystal Sensors for Antibody-Antigen Binding of Model Cancer Biomarkers,” ACS National Meeting & Expo, Orlando, FL, USA, (April 4, 2019). (manuscript under scholar review)

• Uma M. Nori and V. A. Davis, “Modification of Cellulose Nanocrystals with 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane,” (Poster) Auburn University Graduate Engineering Research Showcase, Auburn, AL, USA, (October 24, 2018).

• Sulihat Aloba, Uma M. Nori, C. L. Kitchens, V. A. Davis, and W. R. Ashurst, “Cellulose Nanocrystal based MEMS Sensors for Potential Applications”, (Poster) Auburn University Graduate Engineering Research Showcase, Auburn, AL, USA,

(October 24, 2018).

• Nori Uma Madhuri, Nimisha K.R. and Utkarsh Maheshwari, “Optimization of Formaldehyde Production from Methanol by Utilizing Silver Catalyst Process", Proceedings of 2014 AIChE Annual Meeting, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, November 16-21, 2014, pp. 232.

• Madhuri Nori, Dr. Suresh Gupta and Saee Vyawahare, “Development of Nanoparticles Using Physical/Chemical Methods for the Recovery of Heavy Metals from Industrial Waste Water”, Proceedings of 67th Annual Session of IIChE, International Conference and Indo-Japanese Symposium, Panjab University, Chandigarh, December 27-30, 2014.

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