Contact:
mrk51@zips.uakron.edu
Hometown:
Zionsville, IN
Education:
2011
B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering International Minor in French
Michigan Technological University
Work Experience:
5/2011-8/2011
Student Intern in Advanced Technologies Amway
● Designed applications of active and passive packaging heating technologies
● Introduced proof of concept models for future products
5/2010-8/2010 Student Intern in R& D Dow AgroSciences ● Created a method for synthesis and characterization of insecticide co-crystals
● Built skills in chemical characterization using HPLC, DSC, and particle size apparatus
1/2009-7/2009 Student Co-op Alcan Packaging ● Member of team inventing and testing new package designs for food products from polymer films and plastics. ● Designed experimental methods to analyze new products, learned how to protect IP, and how to choose the correct material and production method for the application
● Inventor on two patent applications for novel package design and material use
●Worked one-on-one with external clients to design packages to meet changing needs and took prototypes from pilot plant through to customers’ manufacturing locations
5/2008-8/200 Student Intern in R&D Dow AgroSciences ● Established new procedures for High Throughput Screening capability, cutting evaluation time from 2 months to 3 days
● Authored an internal paper and presented findings to R&D community
5/2007-8/2007 Student Intern in R&D Dow AgroSciences ● Assisted building new formulation capability for a novel application method
● Cooperated with engineers and polymer chemists in Midland Central Research to design high-throughput methods for assessing formulation properties.
Research Interests:
My current research interests involve thermal management in biomedical and electrical applications, specifically the interfaces between conductive and non conductive materials. I am a bio-design student working with the Austin Bio-Innovation Institution in Akron, which allows me to link my passion for research with patient needs. To that end, I also have interests in wound healing, biological adhesives, and prosthetics.