My research as a graduate student and as a post-doctorate researcher has focused on modifying the surface of titanium to increase the ability to bond a bioactive coating.  During my graduate career, two novel reaction schemes were designed which greatly improved the bond between chitosan and commercially pure titanium, grade 4.  These two schemes involved the use of two silane molecules in a toluene solvent and two metal treatments.  We employed a commonly used silane molecule, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and a novel silane molecule, triethoxsilylbutyraldehyde, as the linker molecules between the titanium surface and chitosan.  We also examined the effects of passivated titanium as compared to piranha treated titanium.  X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to examine the surface of the titanium following each individual reaction step and to ensure that the chitosan film was unchanged by the four treatment combinations.  To further ensure that the mechanical properties of the chitosan film were unchanged, nano-indentation was employed, which demonstrated that the hardness and elastic modulus values were statistically similar to published research.  Tensile testing confirmed that the chitosan films were bound to the titanium surface much more strongly than previously published research.  I have extended my research as a post-doctorate researcher to include wastewater treatment with a novel chemical, peracetic acid.  The hope of this research is to be able to treat wastewater without having to store the dangerous chemicals associated with chlorination and also to reduce or eliminate the production of disinfection by-products which can harm the environment.

            As a graduate student and as a post-doctorate researcher, I have had the opportunity to work with many different professors, departments, schools, and companies.  I have had the opportunity to work with Plant and Soil Sciences, the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.  As the primary operator of the XPS machine for most of my graduate career, and now as a post-doctorate researcher, I have been responsible for operating and maintaining the machine, along with teaching others to properly run and analyze their samples.  Since the XPS machine is equipped with both a reaction chamber and ion sputtering gun, I have also been responsible for maintaining and operating these two additions to the machine.  As part of the maintenance of the machine, I have performed bake-outs, replaced filaments, and performed troubleshooting of the equipment with technicians via phone conversations. 

            I have also had the opportunity to both create and teach classes at Mississippi State University.  As a graduate student, I was in charge of creating and teaching a simulation laboratory to accompany the Process Design class (ChE 4134), a senior level design class.  I received teaching evaluations, with an average of 4.7/5.0 for both the Fall and Spring semesters.  I was also solely responsible for Unit Operations I and II (ChE 3222 and 3232), two junior level laboratory classes, which included assigning laboratory projects, grading laboratory reports and reporting final grades at the end of the semester.  I again received teaching evaluations, with an average of 4.5/5.0 for both classes during the Spring semester. 

            As an assistant professor, I plan to continue to perform research in biomedical implants.  I also would like to continue working with other departments and other professors, as I have had the ability to do at Mississippi State University.  I truly enjoy teaching and would like the opportunity to create a class that extends on the introductory materials class to cover implant issues, problems, and possible solutions.  I also would like to teach both undergraduate and graduate level classes.