Expert Details
Quantum Dots, Nanocrystals, Nanomaterials, and Surface Chemistry
ID: 733938
Massachusetts, USA
Expert has worked on chemical and material technologies in academic and national lab settings, an SBIR-funded small business, a large corporation, and a VC-funded startup company. His expertise in quantum dots for displays and lighting, among other energy conversion technologies, is particularly deep. He currently consults and speaks on this topic regularly and is regarded as an expert in this growing field.
Expert's unique combination of hands-on and business experience in this field allows him to communicate well with individuals and teams who possess wildly varying backgrounds from administrators to bench chemists to executives.
Highly respected difference-maker in the field of nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, and surface functionalization. Track record of innovating and achieving success with aggressive approaches by maintaining an eye on target results. Polished presenter, communicator, and collaborator.
As a consultant, Expert conducts technology review, technical due diligence, focused tech reports, literature and patent reviews, hands-on synthetic problem-solving, brainstorming, proposal writing and editing.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2012 | Degree: Ph.D. | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Year: 2000 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: Muhlenberg College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Designed and built website and marketing materials with no prior experience. Continue to expand and utilize my vast network in the chemistry and nanomaterials community toconnect individuals and companies for the benefit of all involved. Performed technical due diligence on materials startup company for a venture capital firm. Identified new SBIR funding opportunity for a client – collaborated on proposal and industry support letters. Patent disclosure submitted with client. Presented to fortune-500 company on the technical status & challenges of a hot-topic technology Created custom reports for multiple clients interested in learning about specific technical areas in quantum dot technology. Brainstormed with scientific team innovative ways to overcome #1 technical road block in a QD bio-application – proposed path way well received by team. Invited speaker at QLED and HDR Display Summit June 2017 in Hollywood, CA, and September 2017 in Berlin, Germany. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2015 to 2017 | Employer: QD VIsion | Title: Senior Chemist, – Project Leader | Department: |
Responsibilities: Led a multifaceted team of internal scientists, academic collaborator, and commercial LED partner in a 6 month, $600k program to explore feasibility of a novel on-chip phosphor substitute– Accelerated testing demonstrated 50-100X enhancement in reliability of QDs in on-chip environment. Worked with reliability team to design accelerated lifetime protocol and analyze data (jmp software and excel) for hundreds of materials combinations to screen for “needle in a haystack” event. Utilized knowledge of QD surface chemistry and synthetic expertise to screen hundreds of inorganic material combinations for enhanced on-chip performance – two hits discovered. Added inorganic metal oxide coating to QDs and formulated into silicones to achieve reduced scatter, and improved optical properties. Applied simple recrystallization technique to encapsulate QDs in stable polymer microcapsule leading to enhanced stability, decreased cost, and broad matrix applicability. >10 internal patent disclosures within first year at company. Recruited, hired, managed team members key to project success and valuable disclosures. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2015 | Employer: Voxtel Nano | Title: Senior Scientist | Department: |
Responsibilities: Led synthetic quantum dot chemist for visible and infrared emission and detection. Led creative process for successful proposal for $2M DARPA Atoms-to-Products program to assemble usable products from nanoscale feedstock. Co-inventor of game-changing technology for ultra-fine pitch semiconductor interconnects using conductive nanosilver ink and soft lithography approach – converted Phase I to Phase II award. Managed $1M Phase II SBIR effort to develop visual standoff detection of chemical and biological warfare agents using non-toxic quantum dot emitters. Utilized and expanded my network of quantum dot experts to assist in reaching project goals including hiring key employees. Mentored scientists and interns while improving group morale by contagious positive personality. Juggled technical input, hands-on synthesis, and leadership of multiple SBIR projects. Improved safety protocols and acted as the lead safety contact for VoxtelNano group. Collaborated with Oregon faculty on STS analysis of semiconducting nanocrystals resulting in publication demonstrating first-ever visualization of localized mid-gap states in PbS QDs. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2012 to 2014 | Employer: National Renewable Energy Lab | Title: Nanomaterial Scientist | Department: |
Responsibilities: Characterization and surface manipulation of plasma synthesized nanocrystals from newly developed reactor – overcame numerous problems associated with developing a new process. Synthesis, characterization, surface functionalization, and photophysical control of nanocrystals for renewable energy applications, specifically Si and Ge, and III-V nanocrystals. Collaborated with multiple NREL teams to brainstorm and pursue new research paths including developing nanocrystal ink for inexpensive silicon devices. Improved synthesis of size controlled InN nanocrystals and discovered unique plasmonic optical properties; rapidly took project from inception to publication. Led proposal for NRELs Innovation Challenge on Si nanocrystal-polymer composite. Initiated collaboration with Lawrence Berkley National Lab scientists through networking which led to acceptance of a user proposal at the Molecular Foundry. Consulted by co-workers as a technical resource for surface chemistry, nanocrystal surfaces, characterization of nanomaterials, and air free synthesis/characterization techniques. |
|||
Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2012 to 2014 | Agency: National Renewable Energy Laboratory | Role: Nanomaterial Scientist | Description: Expert worked with quantum dot and nanocrystal systems to synthesize and tune their properties for solar energy applications. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Chemical Society Materials Research Society |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Courtesy Research Associate at the University of Oregon EXAMPLE PROJECTS WITH CLIENTS • Performed technical due diligence on materials startup company for a venture capital firm. • Identified new SBIR funding opportunities – collaborated on proposal and industry support letters as well as submitted a patent disclosure with client. • Led creative process and content creation for ARPA-E concept paper. • Presented to fortune-500 company on the technical status & challenges of a hot-topic technology • Created custom reports for multiple clients educating them in QD technology. • Brainstormed with start-up scientific team innovative ways to overcome #1 technical road block in a QD bio-application – proposed path way well received by CEO. • Recommended safe procedures for chemical and nanomaterial processes for multiple clients. • Taught air-free synthetic QD skills to client with ambitious timeline – Successful transfer of skills and incorporation of client’s chemistry into QD synthetic process with impressive results. • Invited participant and leader of winning team at Bayer seed-sorting 3-day “hackathon.” • Identified vital carbon nanotube equipment for a DARPA project – mastered carbon nanotube deposition and expanded the utility of equipment by creating unique, controlled structures. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| • Nottingham Prize finalist – Physical Electronics Conference • W. H. Bauer Doctoral Prize in Chemistry (Best thesis) – RPI • Best poster nominee – Materials Research Society Fall Meeting • NSF-IGERT Terahertz Fellowship – RPI • Best talk award – American Vacuum Society 33rd Applied Surface Analysis Symposium • Link Energy Foundation Fellowship – Honorable Mention • Weissman Family Fellowship – RPI • Rensselaer School of Science Distinguished Scholar award |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert has published over 10 peer-reviewed journal articles in various areas of materials chemistry, renewable energy, nanomaterials, and quantum dots. |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Expert teaches many aspects of chemistry and materials chemistry technologies, e.g., quantum dots for displays. He commonly teaches on this subject for clients. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Expert has participated in the selection of vendors for scientific equipment many times in the past. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Expert created his own marketing materials and his own website for his consulting business with no prior experience. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert is a frequent invited speaker on quantum dot technology to various companies and conferences/trade shows. He has done so most recently at IFA in Berlin, Germany. Expert has not been an expert witness before but looks forward to gaining experience and helping companies who require someone with his skill set. He is highly regarded by those who have worked with him -- particular strengths include excellent communication skills and a knack for articulating difficult concepts to a wide range of people. Selected Skills: Nanomaterials/Quantum Dots Surface/interfacial chemistry Optoelectronic materials Brainstorming/innovation Materials characterization Hands-on problem solving Air-free synthesis Entrepreneurial mindset Excellent communication |