Resume

• 1999

  Masters of Science (MS) (2002) & Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (2004)

  My graduate studies in chemistry was conducted in the areas of catalysis and environmental chemistry with Dr. Sarah C. Larsen as my research advisor. I was involved in research the application of iron-exchanged zeolites (FeZSM-5) in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx and characterization of zeolites and nanocrystalline zeolites. Techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

  solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR)

  inductively couple plasma (ICP)

  and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted to characterize samples that were used in the masters and doctoral work.

  Physical Chemistry

  University of Iowa

• 1994

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

  Chemistry

  American Chemical Society

  National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers

  Southern University

  Physical Chemistry I

  Physical Chemistry II Lab

  General Chemistry I Lab

  Physical Chemistry II

  Physical Chemistry I Lab

  General Chemistry I

• 3

  Heterogeneous Catalysis

  Scientific Writing

  Alternative Energy

  Advisement

  solid-state NMR

  Environmental Science

  Scientific Presentation

  UV/Vis Spectroscopy

  Energetic Materials

  Catalysis

  Materials Science

  Scientific Papers

  General Chemistry

  Biofuels

  Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

  Reaction Kinetics

  Renewable Energy

  Academic Tutoring

  Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

  Physical Chemistry

  3’-Dinitrobisphenol A

  Frank R. Fronczek

  Satvika Uppu

  Chintan Pathak

  Sainath Babu

  Rao Uppu

  3’-Dinitrobisphenol A

  D.A. Jaworske

  Jeremiah S. McNatt

  Michael J. Kulis

  S.J. Ergas

  D.Y. Goswami

  Aloysius F. Hepp

  I. Udom

  Enhanced TiO2 Photocatalytic Processing of Organic Wastes for Green Space Exploration

  M. Joseph Roberts

  Gregory R. Yandek

  Andrew J. Guenthner

  Brian J. Petteys

  Michael E. Wright

  Synthesis and Chemistry of a Monotethered-POSS Bis(cyanate) Ester: Thermal Curing of Micellar Aggregates Leads to Discrete Nanoparticles

  I am currently the principal investigator for this project that was awarded to me by the Department of Homeland Security ($50

  000). This project seeks to investigate novel synthesis

  characterizing

  and novel detection methods for inorganic based green energetic materials.

  Investigations of Nickel-Exchanged Zeolites as Potential Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Heck Reaction

  This project was awarded $15

  000 from the National Science Foundation as part of the NSF HBCU-UP Start Up Grant. The research focused on the role of nickel

  incorporated in the zeolite framework

  in the Heck reaction and its comparison to palladium

  the metal that is currently used in this reaction. This research also studied the type of zeolite used (Mordenite vs. ZSM-5)\nand particle size (microsized vs. nanosized zeolites). Catalytic and kinetic measurements were also involved in this study. \n

  METAL-GUANIDINE COMPLEXES AS POTENTIAL SIMULANTS FOR GREEN ENERGETIC MATERIALS (GEMs)

  METAL-GUANIDINE COMPLEXES AS POTENTIAL SIMULANTS FOR GREEN ENERGETIC MATERIALS (GEMs)

  CHEM 422/423 - Chemical Research

  Conrad

  Jones

  Southern University

  US Department of Homeland Security

  NASA Glenn Research Center

  NASA Glenn Research Center

  Baton Rouge

  Louisiana Area

  Southern University

  NASA Glenn Research Center

  Cleveland

  Ohio

  As visiting scientist in 2011

  I conducted research with the investigation of transition metal TiO2 catalysts at theNASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland

  Ohio with Dr. Aloysius F. Hepp. SEM/EDS analysis were done on cobalt-alumina catalysts. From these analysis

  qualitative and quantitative information were obtained about the catalysts such as particle morphology and elemental analysis

  respectively. Photocatalytic studies were done on the transition metal-TiO2 catalysts with the application of UV/vis spectroscopy. Each catalyst was placed in a very dilute Rhodamine B solution in a photoreactor with UV light for a certain time period. UV/Vis spectroscopy was used to measure the degradation of the organic dye Rhodamine B over a 1 hour period with each transition metal-TiO2 catalyst. In each case

  UV/vis spectroscopy showed evidence of dye photodegradation of the Rhodamine B absorbance peak. However

  certain transition metal-TiO2 catalysts such as 1% wt. ruthenium and 1% wt. platinum had superior performance than 1% wt. silver and 5% wt. copper.

  NASA Glenn Visiting Scientist

  Cleveland

  Ohio

  As visiting scientist at NASA

  I conducted research with the synthesis and application of advanced nickel materials for alternative fuel production at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland

  Ohio with Dr. Aloysius F. Hepp. Different nickel precursors were reacted with either trithiocyanuric acid (TMT) or the sodium form of trithiocyanuric acid (TMT-55) in order to synthesis very effective nickel catalysts. In addition

  the catalytic conversion of polymers into a potential fuel source was also investigated at NASA Glenn Research Center. Polymer solubility in various solvents

  different reaction conditions (thermal vs. light) in water and toluene

  different catalysts (nickel on silica/alumina catalyst vs. titanium dioxide (TiO2)

  and viscosity measurements before and after reaction were conducted in this study.

  NASA Glenn Visiting Scientist

  NASA Glenn Research Center

  As a visiting scientist at DHS

  I was involved in the work of developing materials that could be potential energetic materials. This was done in collaboration with Dr. Louisa Hope-Weeks.

  DHS Visiting Scientist-Texas Tech University

  Lubbock

  Texas Area

  US Department of Homeland Security

  As assistant professor

  I teach general chemistry lecture & lab courses and physical chemistry I & II lecture and lab courses to undergraduate students at Southern University. My responsibilities as assistant professor also requires me to be academic and research advisor for undergraduate students in chemistry. My research interests are catalysis/kinetics

  environmental chemistry

  physical chemistry alternative energy

  green energetic materials

  and NMR/EPR/UV-Vis spectroscopy

  In addition

  I serve as NMR facility manager. My responsibilities as NMR facility manager include operation/maintenance of NMR and facility

  training undergraduate/graduate students in the operation of NMR

  consultation/collaboration with faculty

  performing advanced NMR experiments (DEPT

  HSQC

  HMBC

  etc.)

  performing periodic helium/nitrogen fills.

  Assistant Professor/NMR Facility Manager-Department of Chemistry

  Baton Rouge

  Louisiana Area

  Southern University

  National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers

  American Chemical Society

  English

  French

  Spanish

  Portuguese

  NASA Glenn Faculty Fellow

  NASA Glenn Research Center

• 000

  NSF HBCU-UP SMART Start-Up Grant Recipient

  Awarded $15

  NSF (through Southern University)

  Department of Homeland Security Grant Recipient

  Awarded $50

  Department of Homeland Security

  NASA Glenn Faculty Fellow

  NASA Glenn Research Center