EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, KY, September 1998.
Dissertation: Quantum Chemical Characterization of Solid Acid Catalysts.
GPA: 3.9 / 4.0
Research Advisors: Dr. Raul Miranda (Chemical Engineering) and Dr. John F. Richardson (Chemistry)

M.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, KY, December 1993.
Thesis: Design of an Automobile Exhaust Catalyst using Neural Network Methodology.

B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering, Anna University, Madras, India, May 1991
Project: Synthesis of Phenyl Butazone.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Experimental Catalysis

Synthesis, shape selectivation and characterization of zeolite and oxide catalysts for alkyl-aromatics production and hydrocarbon dehydrogenation & cracking.


Zeolite synthesis, de-alumination and substrate washcoating for automotive exhaust adsorption.


Chemisorption and physisorption measurements of heterogeneous catalysts for determination of acidity, surface area and pore size distribution.


Planning and direction of laboratory-scale testing for alkyl-aromatics synthesis and alkane-alkene cracking.


Molecular Simulation

Acidity characterization and reaction modeling in Silica-Alumina, Supported Transition Metal oxides and Sulfated Zirconia catalysts using quantum chemical methods (ab initio, density functional, semi-empirical techniques).


Gas-Solid adsorption, thermal stability and catalysis studies in Zeolites using quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics and Monte Carlo techniques.


Elucidation of structure-activity and property relationships (QSAR, QSPR) in petrochemical catalyst and pollution control material design using molecular modeling methods.


Design of catalytic materials, and elucidation of composition-performance correlation using neural networks and genetic algorithms methods.


Computer Skills

Adept use of molecular modeling packages MSI/BIOSYM (InsightII, Cerius2, Discover), GAUSSIAN, and SPARTAN for adsorption and reaction studies; and molecular graphics programs Molden, GaussView, PCModel, and Moviemol.


Proficient use of neural networks and genetic algorithms packages BrainMaker Professional and BioComp Systems for analysis of catalyst synthesis-properties-performance data.


Experience in the use of process simulation packages ProVision/Pro-II for chemical engineering equipment design.


Experience in Unix, VMS, IBM, OS/2 and Microsoft Windows operating systems; SGI, IBM and HP Convex Exemplar hardware platforms; and Fortran and Basic programming languages.


Selected Graduate Courses

Chemical Reaction Engineering, Kinetics & Catalysis, Solid State Chemistry, Advanced Thermodynamics, X-ray Diffraction Analysis, Quantum Mechanics.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Basic Chemicals and Intermediates Technology, Exxon Chemical Company, Baytown, TX, 10/98-Present.
Synthesis, Pore engineering and Characterization of zeolite catalysts, and testing for alkyl-aromatics synthesis and paraffin dehydrogenation & cracking to olefins.


Graduate Intern, Environmental Products R&D, Corning Inc., Corning, NY, 10/96-09/97.
Molecular-Modeling-Aided design of adsorbent materials (Zeolites, Metal Oxides) for automotive exhaust emission adsorption.


Zeolite synthesis, substrate washcoating and adsorption testing for automotive exhaust control.


Elucidation of Synthesis-Performance correlation for catalyst substrates and ceramics manufacture.


System management of SGI O2 and Indigo workstations.


Research Fellow, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Louisville, 08/94-07/98.
Petrochemical and Pollution Control Catalyst studies.


Computer hardware and simulation software analysis.


Teaching Assistant, Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Departments, University of Louisville, 08/92-07/94.
Courses: Advanced Thermodynamics, Chemical Engineering Analysis, Reaction Engineering, Kinetics & Catalysis, Solid State Chemistry, Physical Chemistry.

PUBLICATIONS

List attached.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
American Chemical Society (ACS).
North American Catalysis Society (NACS).

HONORS & LICENSES

University Research Fellowship Award, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 1994-98.
Student Researcher Fellowship Grant, International Congress on Catalysis, Baltimore, MD, 1996.
"Teaching Assistant of the year" Award, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 1993.
Merit Award and Scholarship, Chemical Engineering Alumni Association, Anna University, Madras, India, 1987-88
Listing in the 'Directory of Catalysis', Catalysis Today, 1997.
Engineer-In-Training, Kentucky State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, June 1996.

REFERENCES

Available on request.

VISA STATUS

Authorized to work in the United States. (Permanent Resident visa).

Mail