Bridging Industrial Process Development with Advanced Scientific Instrumentation
PhD physical chemist and laser systems engineer with 10+ years of experience across production, national laboratory, and university research environments. Expert in laser process development, high vacuum systems, machine vision, and sensor integration — with a track record of achieving measurable production outcomes and a foundation in advanced spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and imaging.
Key Achievements
Achieved 99% yield independently across two separate laser ablation processes through sensor integration, process design, and statistical process control.
Reduced manufacturing takt time 3× across multiple systems via strategic laser upgrades, parameter optimization, and Python-based automation.
Led development of a proprietary vacuum insulated glass evacuation process achieving 2× throughput, 99% yield, and improved unit R-Value.
Fully restored a cryogenically-cooled ion trap mass spectrometer including UHV system rebuild, laser integration, and control software programming.
Applied machine learning and machine vision to glass surface inspection and quality control — including deployment of a single glass plane defect detection system.
Author of 20+ publications including papers in Science and JACS with 430+ citations, demonstrating deep scientific expertise across analytical and physical chemistry.
Professional Experience
- Integrated fiber laser ablation system, achieving 99% yield and 3× takt time reduction; separately achieved 99% yield and 2× takt time reduction on a second ablation process through sensor integration and SPC
- Led development of vacuum insulated glass (VIG) evacuation process in first factory, achieving 2× throughput increase, 99% yield, and improved unit R-Value
- Led development of laser heating processes for vacuum insulated glass production
- Served as cross-functional technical liaison between factory engineering, scaling, and R&D teams
- Deployed single glass plane defect detection system in collaboration with vision system integrator; integrated material color measurement system; applied ML and machine vision for QC
- Subject matter expert for all laser and high vacuum processes — authored SOPs, work instructions, control plans, and troubleshooting guides; overhauled preventative maintenance procedures
- Designed and built custom ultra-high vacuum imaging instrument for hypersonic collision studies with electron-ion coincidence detection
- Implemented laser system for novel VUV detection of atoms and molecules; performed MeV-UED experiments at SLAC National Laboratory using advanced instrumentation and custom Python analysis
- Mentored research group members and led lab operations as senior postdoc
- Restored $1M+ cryogenically-cooled ion trap mass spectrometer including UHV system rebuild, tunable IR OPO/OPA laser installation, and programming of LabVIEW control and data analysis software
- Developed IR, UV, and double resonance spectroscopy methods for novel molecular detection and structural characterization of metal–molecule complexes
- Published breakthrough research in Science on quantum resonances in molecular dynamics using velocity map imaging
- Designed comprehensive laser automation systems and custom optical detection for UHV molecular beam experiments
- Developed mass spectrometry methods across Waters, Thermo, and Bruker platforms with ion mobility spectrometry for biological and polymer analysis
- Taught analytical chemistry laboratory courses including chromatography and separation science
- Developed porous silicon particle workflow from wafer to fractionated particle; characterized materials via FTIR, calorimetry, dynamic pressure measurements, and porosimetry for energetic materials applications
Technical Skills
Laser Systems
Vacuum and Advanced Instrumentation
Sensor Integration and Machine Vision
Programming and Data Science
Spectroscopy and Analytical Chemistry
Process Engineering and Production Improvement
Publications and Research
& JACS
Selected Publications
Full publication list available on Google Scholar
Education
Dissertation: Quantum Aspects of Roaming Dynamics
Advisor: Professor Arthur G. Suits
Advanced particle imaging, spectroscopy, laser system design, and UHV instrumentation. Research Excellence Fellowship recipient.
President's Scholarship recipient. Gained industrial laboratory experience at Dow Chemical during undergraduate study.
Get In Touch
Contact
Open To
Senior scientist and engineering roles, and open to consultation, in:
- Laser Systems
- Vacuum Systems
- Instrumentation
- Novel Optical Detection Methods
- Machine Vision and Imaging
- Process Development and Scale-Up
- R&D Technology Development
- Analytical Chemistry
- Cross-Functional Technical Leadership