Engineer

• Oct 2021 - Present

Graduate Research Assistant

• Jan 2018 - May 2021

Original thesis: “Degradation of 2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol in a Biotrickling Filter in the presence of Fungi and Bacillus Subtilis”• Maximized the process design by incorporating a fungal biocatalyst and set up a batch scale treatment plant to achieve 98% removal efficiency.• Reduced the operational cost by 15% through the integration of biosurfactant, thereby producing an energy-efficient alternative to incineration in automobile industries.• Investigated the impact of surfactin concentration on the effectiveness of the process employed by a batch experiment.• Successfully evaluated the degradation of VOC up to 300 ppmv and, devised the kinetics model and carbon mass balance. • Formulated a stable GC-FID, GC-MS and HPLC method and calibration using Chemstation.• Supervised and trained undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory safety, EPA compliance and disposal of hazardous waste. Show less

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• May 2018 - Apr 2020

• Teaching Assistant for Chemical Engineering Process Design I & II. Handled the AIChE-SAChE Certificates evaluation, PHA assessments and organized the Annual AIChE Design Exposition.• Teaching Assistant for Environmental and Radiological Measurements Laboratory. Assisted in teaching Aeration, COD Analysis, Jar Test, Ion Exchange with Atomic Absorption Analysis, Filtration, Fixed Bed Adsorption process, UV-VIS, Total Carbon Analyzer, and Ion Chromatography.• Aided in restructuring the Chemical Engineering Process Design syllabus and evaluated the Annual Course Assessment survey. Show less

Program Coordinator and Administrator

• May 2018 - Apr 2021

• Strategized with the Grant Administrator in managing and disbursing the $580,000 grant. • Designed and headed an E-Portfolio system for the program and directed the NSF reporting database. • Co-authored the 2018 and 2019 Annual NSF Report, a 200-page technical document. • Spearheaded bi-weekly committee meetings with faculty and staff to communicate program developments, organized monthly socials for each cohort of scholars and, recruited and mentored students in the program. • Strategized with the Grant Administrator in managing and disbursing the $580,000 grant. • Designed and headed an E-Portfolio system for the program and directed the NSF reporting database. • Co-authored the 2018 and 2019 Annual NSF Report, a 200-page technical document. • Spearheaded bi-weekly committee meetings with faculty and staff to communicate program developments, organized monthly socials for each cohort of scholars and, recruited and mentored students in the program.

Process Engineering Intern

• Jan 2016 - Apr 2016

• Worked in the FCC Unit of the Petroleum Plant and gained hands-on experience with process control systems and design. • Collaborated with Process Engineers in optimizing operating parameters of the Debutanizer column, thus increasing the efficiency of the catalytic cracking unit by 23%. • Worked in the FCC Unit of the Petroleum Plant and gained hands-on experience with process control systems and design. • Collaborated with Process Engineers in optimizing operating parameters of the Debutanizer column, thus increasing the efficiency of the catalytic cracking unit by 23%.

Research Assistant

• Sep 2015 - Dec 2015

• Collaborated with the Department of Chemistry in synthesizing a derivative of cinnoline and studied its applications in pharmaceuticals. • Performed calculations and analysis using Gaussian 9.0 and IR Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the molecular structure, NBO, first order hyperpolarizability and HOMO-LUMO properties of the compound. • Collaborated with the Department of Chemistry in synthesizing a derivative of cinnoline and studied its applications in pharmaceuticals. • Performed calculations and analysis using Gaussian 9.0 and IR Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the molecular structure, NBO, first order hyperpolarizability and HOMO-LUMO properties of the compound.

Environmental Engineer

• May 2015 - Dec 2015

• Developed a sustainable waste management and sanitation project for a rural community in Chennai, India. • Participated in local communities’ green building and renewable energy initiatives and contributed to their entrepreneurial development of reusing raw materials. • Developed a sustainable waste management and sanitation project for a rural community in Chennai, India. • Participated in local communities’ green building and renewable energy initiatives and contributed to their entrepreneurial development of reusing raw materials.