PhD Research Polymer Engineer

Objective:

To obtain a research/development position investigating the properties and applications of polymeric materials

Education:

Ph.D.: Chemical Engineering 2007

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Dissertation: “Brownian Motion in Polymer and Surfactant Solutions”

M.S. (non-thesis): Chemical Engineering 2002

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

B.S.: Chemical Engineering, Honors Program 2000

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Research Experience:

Postdoctoral Research Associate 2008-2009

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

•Formulated injectable polyurethane-based biomaterials for the treatment of bone fractures and defects

•Tuned the mechanical properties of allograft bone-polyurethane composite biomaterials by controlling scaffold porosity

•Investigated the controlled release of polymeric microsphere-encapsulated proteins from bone-polyurethane composite scaffolds

Graduate Research Assistant 2000-2007

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

•Investigated the rheological properties and dynamics of polymer solutions and Pluronic™ surfactant solutions at elevated temperatures and pressures using diffusing wave spectroscopy

•Functionalized the surface of colloidal silica nanoparticles with silane coupling agents and polymers (ATRP polymer synthesis) in order to sterically stabilize the particles in various liquids and polymer solutions

•Used several light scattering techniques, and designed systems suitable for high-pressure experiments

Summer Intern Summer 2006

Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, Newport, RI

•Investigated novel polymeric and copper-based materials for anti-fouling coating applications

•Evaluated the efficacy of double-strand conductive polymer coatings at preventing the adhesion and growth of ULVA algae on polyurethane substrates

Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2000

NSF Green Processing Summer REU, Raleigh, NC

•Investigated concentration fluctuations in semi-dilute poly(dimethyl siloxane)-supercritical carbon dioxide solutions

•Worked closely with a graduate student mentor to design and implement a research plan

Publications:

•Tanner SA, Guelcher SA. “Injectable Allograft Bone-Polyurethane Composite Scaffolds for the Treatment of Bone Defects: Tuning the Mechanical Properties by Controlling Scaffold Porosity” in prep

•Tanner SA, Amin S, Kloxin CJ, van Zanten JH. “Microviscoelasticity of Soft Repulsive Colloidal Dispersions: Colloidal Sphere Thermal Motion in Triblock Copolymer Micellar Liquids and Soft Crystals”, J Chem Phys, submitted for publication

•Whittier, R.E., Tanner S.A., Xu D., van Zanten J.H., Roberts G.W., Kiserow D.J. “Transport Properties of Polystyrene Solutions Swollen with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide”, Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 227, U418-U418 362-POLY Part 2 (2004)

Presentations:

•Shaun A. Tanner, Katarzyna J. Zienkiewicz, Scott A. Guelcher “An Injectable Bone/Polymer Composite Void Filler for Healing of Craniofacial Bone Defects” poster presentation at the Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, April 2009

•SA Tanner, J Kim, B Li, A Karunanidhi, L Schutte, S McBride, MT Jacobs, S Bhattacharyya, JO Hollinger, SA Guelcher “Development of Injectable Allograft Bone/Polymer Composites to Treat Craniofacial Bone Defects” oral and poster presentation at the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) Conference, Saint Petersburg, FL, January 2009.

•Shaun Tanner, John van Zanten, “Tracer Microrheology of Polymer Solutions at Elevated Temperature and Pressure” poster presentation at the 3rd International Symposium on Macro- and Supramolecular Architectures and Materials: Practical Nano-Chemistry and Novel Approaches, Tokyo, Japan, June 2006.

•S.A. Tanner, J.H. van Zanten, “Tracer Microrheology of Polymer Solutions at Elevated Temperature and Pressure” oral presentation at the ONR-HBEC Future Faculty Fellowship Symposium, Greensboro, NC, January 2006.

•S.A. Tanner, J.H. van Zanten, “Tracer Microrheology of Polymer Solutions at Elevated Temperature and Pressure” oral presentation at the AIChE Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, November 2005.

•S.A. Tanner, C.J Kloxin, J.H. van Zanten, “Tracer Microrheology of Polymer-Supercritical Fluid Solutions” oral presentation at the AIChE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 2003.

•Semi-annual poster presentations at National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes (NSFSTC CERSP) Review Meetings, Chapel Hill, NC 2002-2005

Awards and Honors:

•Office of Naval Research/Historically Black Engineering Colleges Future Faculty Fellowship, 2005-2006

•General Electric Fund Fellowship, 2000-2001

•Dean’s Fellowship, 2000-2001

•National Achievement Scholar, 1996

Professional Memberships:

•National Society of Black Engineers

•Society for Biomaterials

Language Skill:

Working knowledge of Japanese

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