(5bu) Biocompatible Thin Films for Use in Tissue Engineering

            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.