(6dr) Utilizing Surface Science to Improve the Attachment of a Biopolymer Coating on Titanium, An Implant Metal

            My research as a graduate student and as a
post-doctorate researcher has focused on modifying the surface of titanium to
increase the ability to bond a bioactive coating.  During my graduate career,
two novel reaction schemes were designed which greatly improved the bond
between chitosan and commercially pure titanium, grade 4.  These two schemes
involved the use of two silane molecules in a toluene solvent and two metal
treatments.  We employed a commonly used silane molecule,
3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and a novel silane molecule,
triethoxsilylbutyraldehyde, as the linker molecules between the titanium
surface and chitosan.  We also examined the effects of passivated titanium as
compared to piranha treated titanium.  X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
was used to examine the surface of the titanium following each individual
reaction step and to ensure that the chitosan film was unchanged by the four
treatment combinations.  To further ensure that the mechanical properties of
the chitosan film were unchanged, nano-indentation was employed, which
demonstrated that the hardness and elastic modulus values were statistically
similar to published research.  Tensile testing confirmed that the chitosan
films were bound to the titanium surface much more strongly than previously
published research.  I have extended my research as a post-doctorate researcher
to include wastewater treatment with a novel chemical, peracetic acid.  The
hope of this research is to be able to treat wastewater without having to store
the dangerous chemicals associated with chlorination and also to reduce or
eliminate the production of disinfection by-products which can harm the
environment.

            As a graduate student and as a post-doctorate
researcher, I have had the opportunity to work with many different professors,
departments, schools, and companies.  I have had the opportunity to work with
Plant and Soil Sciences, the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, the
University of Texas Health Science Center, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. 
As the primary operator of the XPS machine for most of my graduate career, and
now as a post-doctorate researcher, I have been responsible for operating and
maintaining the machine, along with teaching others to properly run and analyze
their samples.  Since the XPS machine is equipped with both a reaction chamber
and ion sputtering gun, I have also been responsible for maintaining and
operating these two additions to the machine.  As part of the maintenance of
the machine, I have performed bake-outs, replaced filaments, and performed
troubleshooting of the equipment with technicians via phone conversations. 

            I have also had the opportunity to both create
and teach classes at Mississippi State University.  As a graduate student, I
was in charge of creating and teaching a simulation laboratory to accompany the
Process Design class (ChE 4134), a senior level design class.  I received
teaching evaluations, with an average of 4.7/5.0 for both the Fall and Spring
semesters.  I was also solely responsible for Unit Operations I and II (ChE
3222 and 3232), two junior level laboratory classes, which included assigning
laboratory projects, grading laboratory reports and reporting final grades at
the end of the semester.  I again received teaching evaluations, with an
average of 4.5/5.0 for both classes during the Spring semester. 

            As an assistant professor, I plan to continue to
perform research in biomedical implants.  I also would like to continue working
with other departments and other professors, as I have had the ability to do at
Mississippi State University.  I truly enjoy teaching and would like the
opportunity to create a class that extends on the introductory materials class
to cover implant issues, problems, and possible solutions.  I also would like
to teach both undergraduate and graduate level classes.