Performing novel research and getting solid, reproducible results are the main goals of any graduate student and post-doctorate researcher, including myself.  Besides the novel research that I performed as a graduate student and as a post-doctorate researcher examining ways to improve coating adhesion on implant metals, I have also had many opportunities to collaborate with other researchers, mentor graduate students, teach two different classes, write proposals based on my research, and perform research on a topic different from my graduate work.  As an assistant professor, I plan to develop my research program on ways to improve implant coating adhesion without sacrificing biocompatibility. 

            Modifying the surface of implant quality titanium to improve bone cell attachment and growth was the focus of my research as a graduate student and as a post-doctorate researcher.  We were able to greatly improve the bond between chitosan and commercially pure grade 4 titanium, using two novel reaction schemes that I developed.  X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to examine the titanium surface following the metal treatments, passivation or piranha, and following the individual reaction steps, including the deposition of aminopropyltriethoxysilane or triethoxsilylbutyraldehyde.  XPS was also used to ensure that no changes occurred to the chitosan film based on the four treatment combinations.  Nano-indentation was used to further ensure that the mechanical properties of the chitosan film were unchanged, while tensile testing confirmed that the chitosan films were bound to the titanium surface more strongly than previously published research.  Biological testing, including cell attachment and growth, were performed to ensure that the toluene solvent and/or the silane molecules did not change the biological properties of the chitosan.

            As both a graduate student and a post-doctorate researcher, I have been the laboratory manager for the XPS equipment at Mississippi State University.  This position has allowed me opportunities to collaborate with many different professors, departments, schools, and companies and to mentor graduate students involved in surface science.  In addition to running and analyzing samples for professors within Chemical Engineering, I have had the opportunity to work with people from the departments of Plant and Soil Sciences and Electrical and Computer Engineering.  I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with people from the University of Texas Health Science Center and Georgia Tech.  As a laboratory manager, I am also responsible for teaching graduate students the proper way to prepare their samples, load and run samples, and analyze the data gathered.  I am also currently teaching two people how to maintain the equipment so that a smooth transition can be made upon the completion of my post-doctoral work. 

            I envision developing a broad, interdisciplinary research program incorporating surface science, mechanical testing, and biological studies as an assistant professor.  Surface science equipment, such as XPS, is a necessary part of my research, but will not be solely dedicated to my research nor will it be the only equipment needed.  I believe a strong collaboration could be developed between myself and other professors, including those using XPS, nano-indentation, other mechanical testing equipment, and biological studies.  I believe these collaborations should take place both within Chemical Engineering and between other departments, such as Mechanical Engineering, Biology, and Biological Engineering.

            As part of this collaboration, I believe that I need to be able to assist in other research areas besides modifying implant surfaces to improve coating adhesion.  One area in which I believe I can be a solid contributor is in the area of Wastewater Treatment.  As a post-doctorate researcher, I have had the opportunity to work on a project completely different from my dissertation.  Since I obtained a minor in Microbiology as an undergraduate student, this project allowed me to use my microbiology background and combined it with new laboratory methods with which I was previously unfamiliar.  The project involved testing a new chemical, peracetic acid, to disinfect wastewater and was sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and FMC Corporation.  The hope of this research was to be able to treat wastewater without having to store the dangerous chemical associated with chlorination and also to reduce or eliminate the production of hazardous disinfection by-products.  Using peracetic acid at two concentrations, we were able to determine that the permitting levels required by the EPA for wastewater treatment plants could be met.  Following the successful completion of this project, FMC requested that proposal be created to allow my group to perform more funded research.  The proposal is currently in development and is expected to be submitted in the middle of May. 

            In addition to the research I performed as a graduate student, I also had the opportunity to teach two classes.  The first class I taught was an entirely new laboratory for an established class, focusing on process design simulation.  As part of my responsibilities, I created all of the materials needed, including the syllabus, Powerpoint presentations covering individual unit operations, homework, and a final project combining the individual unit operations into a working flowsheet.  I also was responsible for grading both the homeworks and the final projects.  I was responsible for teaching this class for the Fall semester and the Spring semester and was evaluated by the students, receiving 4.7/5.0 for both semesters.  I also taught Unit Operations Laboratory I and II in the Spring semester.  I was responsible for teaching the class, including assigning the groups to the experiments each week, for grading the laboratory reports, and for assigning final grades.  As with the class I developed, I was evaluated by the students, receiving a 4.5/5.0 average.

            As an assistant professor, I plan to continue collaborating with professors in both my research area, biomedical implants and biomaterials, and in other research areas and departments.  I truly enjoy teaching and look forward to teaching both established undergraduate and graduate classes and classes I create based on my research interests.