Experiences
Postdoctoral researcher, 2024-Present
Rosales Research Group, The University of Texas at Austin
Advisor: Adrianne Rosales, Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Project: Investigating protected peptide assembly in organic medium
Studying the gelation behavior of peptides with protected side chains in an organic media to optimize post-synthesis treatment in therapeutic peptide manufacturing.
Graduate research assistant, 2018-2024
Letteri Polymer (Bio)materials Lab, University of Virginia
Advisor: Rachel Letteri, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia
Project I: Designing peptide stereocomplexes to control biomaterial properties
Leveraging stereochemistry-directed interactions between peptides, we develooped biomaterials with tunable thermo-mechanical and stability to mimic native cellular environments.
Project II: Peptide stereocomplexes as dynamic junctions in polymeric biomaterials
In this project, we designed a new class of advanced biomaterials using peptides as crosslinks in polymer hydrogels. We connected how peptide's molecular features impact the bulk properties of stereocomplexed hydrogels for cellular therapeutics and tissue engineering.
Project III: Developing polymer tablets for water purification
We developed rechargeable chlorine releasing polymer tablets for water purification in collaboration with James Smith's lab at UVA and their company, Silivhere Technologies, Inc. Specifically, I am working on scaling up the tablet synthesis and the development of efficient purification methods.
Laboratory student mentor, 2019-2024
Letteri Polymer (Bio)materials Lab, University of Virginia
Trained four undergraduate students and one graduate student, at UVA on peptide synthesis and characterization techniques.
Darren Miller, Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student, UVA 2022-2024
Joshua Alexander, Biomedical Engineering, UVA, 2023-2024
Jonathan Paul, Chemical Engineering, UVA, 2021-2023
Calista Reiken, Department of Biology, UVA, Summer 2022
Emma Laudermilch, Chemical Engineering, UVA, 2019-2021
Assisted them in designing and conducting experiments.
Helped in graduate school applications.
Teaching assistant, Spring 2024
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia
Course: Chemical Engineering Laboratory I (CHE 3398 )
Taught fluid mechanics and distillation theories and applications to the third year chemical engineering students.
Guided students in improving experiment design.
Assisted students in conducting and troubleshooting experiments in the lab.
Graded students' weekly oral presentations and technical memos.
Teaching assistant, Fall 2020
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia
Course: Chemical Engineering Laboratory II (CHE 4491)
Taught synthesis chemistry and characterization techniques theories of degradable biopolymers to the final year chemical engineering students.
Guided students in designing polymer and conducting experiments.
Made video tutorials demonstrating step by step experimental procedures.
Graded students' weekly oral presentations and written reports.
Research assistant, 2016-2018
Co-advisors:
Nafisa Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Syed Hossainy, Adjunct Professor, Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley
Project: Computational study of plasma protein adsorption and thrombin generation on blood contact surfaces
Studied the mechanism adsorption-desorption of major proteins (Albumin and Fibrinogen) on blood contact surface leading to platelet aggregation, their interaction and conformational change in adsorbed state and the pathway of fibrin generation through thrombin formation by coagulation.
Developed kinetic models that estimate time-dependent protein adsorption along with platelet concentration on implant surface and concentration profile of thrombin and other coagulation factors.
Simulated the models in MATLAB and compared the results with literature data to validate the model.
Undergraduate researcher, 2015-2016
Quantitative and Environmental Biotechnology (QEB) research group, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Advisor: Shoeb Ahmed, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Project: Biodiesel from Low-Cost Feedstock: Production, Feedstock Evaluation and Parameter Optimization
Produced biodiesel from waste frying oil, beef tallow and chicken fat by trans-esterification method.
Characterized the biodiesel and optimized the catalyst (NaOH) concentration.
Tested engine performance at different biodiesel blends and analyzed the engine exhaust.