Saad A. - Graduate Research Assistant, Brown Group

Munster, United States

Experience

Jun 2020 - Present

5 years 7 months

Ames, United States

Plan, conduct experimental studies on thermochemical conversion of waste plastics
Design a novel experimental apparatus for analytical lab for studies
Perform chemical characterization of plastic pyrolysis products to determine gas, oil, wax yields
Model chemical kinetics of gas, oil, and wax formation
Determine how to achieve up to a 70% oil yield from polyolefin plastics or their waxes, helping colleagues at University of Wisconsin - Madison working on catalytic upgrading
Determine fatty alcohol, fatty aldehyde yields from plastics oxidation as function of residence time
Train a new chemical engineering Ph.D. student to work in analytical lab
Responsible for maintaining one TGA/DSC, three GC-MS instruments in analytical lab
Enforce safety rules in analytical lab

Jan 2019 - Jan 2020

1 year 1 month

Ames, United States

Teaching assistant for three chemical engineering courses with over 30 students (Transport Phenomena I, Surface & Colloid Chemistry, and Chemical Reaction Engineering)
Hold regular office hours to assist students one-on-one; graded assignments and exams
Create assignments and activities for students for one course (Surface & Colloid Chemistry)

Oct 2018 - May 2020

1 year 8 months

Ames, United States

Conduct experimental research on multiphase flows
Design a test section and microfluidic droplet delivery system for experiments
Use particle image velocimetry (PIV) to measure turbulence statistics, high speed imaging to observe deformation and breakup of droplets introduced
Prove that turbulent flow in system was homogenous, that droplet breakup was possible for BASF
Train a new mechanical engineering Ph.D. student on droplet generation, imaging

Apr 2017 - May 2018

1 year 2 months

Alsip, United States

Measure the mechanical properties of paper and plastic packaging; including tensile strength, burst strength, and tear strength
Evaluate the effectiveness of plastic films, papers, and coatings in protecting metal alloys and customer parts from corrosion under different scenarios (varying temperature, humidity, salt concentration)
Compare the performance of products of Daubert Cromwell to those of competitors (ex. Cortec)
Prepare technical reports, which are used to secure new sales and/or new clients