Research Associate Teaching Assistant

Jagdeep Kaur Virdi

*************@*****.***; 502-***-****

Objective

To leverage my double Master of Science degrees and expertise in chemistry, analytical techniques, and research methodologies in a dynamic research associate position, contributing to innovative scientific discoveries and advancements. Education

Master of Science, Chemistry University of Missouri, USA May 2022 – Dec 2024 (expected)

• Thesis title: “Advancement in green chemistry approaches toward chemical syntheses”

• Advisor – Dr. Sachin Handa

Master of Science, Chemistry Chandigarh University, India August 2017 – May 2019

• Course work-based: Some selected course works include Mathematics, Quantum chemistry, Medicinal chemistry, Computational methods in chemistry, Nano-chemistry, etc.

Bachelor of Science Panjab University, India August 2014 – May 2017

• Major – Zoology and Botany (Genetics)

• Minor – Chemistry

Professional experience

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant University of Missouri, Columbia, USA July 2023 – present Planned and conducted multiple experiments to understand the various cross-coupling reactions and their mechanism. Performed thorough analysis of the reaction mixture/product using analytical techniques. Experienced in synthesizing perylene-based photoactive molecules, chiral separation, designing chiral surfactants for asymmetric catalysis in water, and ligand designing. Project title. Advancing sustainability by introducing a second generation of PS-750-M: A sugar derived biodegradable surfactant compatible for organic reactions in water (manuscript under review by professor).

• Developed bio-degradable N-methyl glucamine-based amphiphile (carbohydrate chemistry).

• Conducted in-depth analysis of surfactant properties like cloud point, stability, and particle size through Dynamic Light Scattering

(DLS).

• Achieved remarkable advancements in sustainable aqueous catalysis with second-generation of PS-750-M (2nd Gen-PS).

• Successfully deployed 2nd Gen-PS as an eco-friendly aqueous reaction medium in various pharmaceutically relevant reactions such as palladium-and copper-catalyzed reductive amination of nitroaromatics for C-N bond construction, palladium-catalyzed alpha- arylation of nitriles, carboxylation of aryl halides via carbanion pathway using palladium catalysis, executed amide bond formation to develop pharmaceutical intermediates, etc.

Project title. Leveraging representation learning for accurate yield prediction in sustainable amide coupling (manuscript under review by professor).

• Responsibilities: Data collection, manuscript writing, design and execution of experiments.

• Explored applications of machine learning and AI models to predict reaction parameters. Graduate Teaching Assistant University of Missouri, Columbia, USA August 2023 – present Mentored undergraduate and graduate students in mastering core concepts, fostering critical analysis, enforcing safety protocols, and refining experimental accuracy, with an emphasis on analytical and organic chemistry principles.

• CHEM 2130 (Organic Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia

• CHEM 1401 (General Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia University Fellow University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA August 2022 – June 2023 Conducted qualitative and quantitative experiments to isolate and synthesize organic compounds. Performed complex organic syntheses and purifications with high yields.

Project title. Understanding the structural changes by an amphiphile: non-pyrophoric Raney nickel compatible for micellar catalysis

(manuscript under review by professor).

• Innovatively modified the surface of pyrophoric Raney nickel using a proline-based surfactant molecule (PS-750-M), boosted its stability and catalytic performance.

• Successfully characterized non-pyrophoric Raney nickel (JV Ra-Ni) using HRTEM, STEM, EDS, and XPS techniques.

• Applied non-pyrophoric version to pharmaceutically relevant organic reactions like, heteroaromatic ring reduction, chalcone reduction, and one-pot reductive aminations for C-N bond construction under mild reaction conditions in water (no high temperature and pressure is required).

Visiting Research Scholar National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, India July 2021– April 2022

• Executed advanced quantum chemical analyses of cyclization reactions leading to the synthesis of benzimidazole, benzoxazole, and benzothiazole.

• Employed cutting-edge density functional theory (DFT) techniques, specifically the B3LYP hybrid functional, utilizing the Gaussian 09 software for precise geometry optimization and energy assessments.

• Determined Gibbs free energy changes across multiple mechanistic pathways to elucidate reaction kinetics.

• Additionally, applied a range of quantum chemical models to metal-ligand complexes, enabling the identification of their stable conformations relative to various metals while critically analyzing the effects on the HOMO-LUMO gap, thereby advancing the understanding of electronic properties in coordination chemistry. Project Associate Chandigarh University, India February 2020 – March 2020

• Acquired practical expertise in organic synthesis and molecular modeling, focusing on analyzing and delineating the synthetic pathways of impurities in drug molecules.

Summer Research Intern Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, India May 2018 – July 2018

• Attained applied expertise with a range of analytical instruments, including FT-IR, UV-Vis, PXRD, and TGA, while focusing on synthesizing organic ligands derived from oxathiazole, thiadiazole, and related structures.

• Engineered inorganic metal complexes, particularly metal-organic frameworks, and utilized these frameworks for metal ion detection via fluorescence spectroscopy.

Skills

Technical Skills: Organic and inorganic synthesis (multistep), Route scouting, Data extraction and analysis, Micellar catalysis, Green chemistry, Surfactant and Ligand designing.

Laboratory Skills: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fluorescence spectroscopy, pH meter, Powder-and Single-crystal X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF), Air-free techniques (Glovebox and Schlenk line), Purification techniques (Column Chromatography and Crystallization), ISO combi-flash, Handling of pyrophoric chemicals, Growing crystals, Parr apparatus.

Software: ChemDraw, MestReNova, Chemsketch, Crystallographic structural database, Origin, Gaussian software, Spartan 20, Mendeley, Sci-finder, Reaxys, Microsoft and google suite. Languages: English (Academic), Punjabi, Hindi (Native). Communication: Scientific writing, Presentations, Teaching. Awards

• University Fellow, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA (August 2022 – June 2023).

• Distinguished Graduate with Gold Medal (M.Sc. Chemistry), 2019. Publications

• Virdi, J.K.; Dusunge, A.; Handa, S. Aqueous micelles as solvent, ligand, and reaction promoter in catalysis. JACS Au, 2024, 4, 301- 317. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.3c00605.

• Chugh, R.; Kaur, J.; Kaur, G. 129Hydnum repandum L. In Book Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of the Himalayas Climate Change, Critically Endangered Species and the Call for Sustainable Development. 1st Edition, Taylor and Francis CRC press, 2023. 129-147. https://doi.org/10.1201/978**********.

• Kaur, J.; Kaur, G. Review on Flexible Metal Organic Frameworks. ChemistrySelect, 2021, 6, 8227-8243. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202101524.

• Kaur, G.; Kaur, J. A review on features, structure and possible treatments of a pandemic 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Der Pharma Chemica, 2021, 13, 22-35.

Poster presentation/Conferences attended

• Presented poster entitled ‘Newer non-pyrophoric version of Raney nickel and its applications’ at 27th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference – 2023, Long Beach, California.

• Presented poster entitled ‘Pyrimidine-based Antibiotic drugs’ at National conference: SUNREAPS (Sustainability of New and Renewable energy-A Present Scenario) on National Science Day at Chandigarh University, India.

• Delivered seminar on ‘Fluorescence Spectroscopy’ as a part of Internship at IISER Mohali.

• Participated in a webinar entitled ‘Supporting chemistry research with Spartan molecular modelling software’ organized by Wavefunction Inc, Irvine, California.

References

• Dr. Sachin Handa – Associate Professor, University of Missouri, MO, USA; Email: ******.*****@********.***

• Dr. Gary Baker – Associate Professor, University of Missouri, MO, USA; Email: ********@********.***

• Dr. Bernadette Broderick – Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, MO, USA; Email: ***********@********.***

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