• B.S. Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Engineering Intern Certification, Louisiana Board

• Aspen Plus
• Ammonia Absorption and Recovery

2003 - present
Audubon Sugar Institute
LSU AgCenter
St. Gabriel, LA

Research Associate Specialist

• Currently involved in project funded by the Department of Energy to improve the biorefinery process converting sugarcane biomass into ethanol, specialty chemicals, animal feed and other by-products – utilizing Aspen Plus to simulate the process of a selected Louisiana sugar mill and a biorefinery culminating in an integrated model of the two. Also responsible for monitoring research progress and reporting to DOE for stage gate analysis.
• Worked with Principal Investigators to conceptualize a proposed ethanol producing pilot facility capable of processing 1 ton per day of lignocellulosic feedstock. Developed PFD, sized major equipment and gathered capital cost estimates. Currently implementing Aspen ® to determine heat and mass balances for energy cost estimates.
• Coordinated grant proposals to Louisiana Board of Regents, National Science Foundation and the Louisiana commodity boards from 2003-2007. Utilizing experience to assist faculty in preparing budget and budget justifications, completing environmental check-offs, and complying with proposal requirements.  Liaise with the Sponsored Programs Offices at LSU AgCenter and LSU. Solicit industrial partners/collaborators and assist in preparation of letters of support.
• Co-authored two sugar processing research proposals that were approved for funding.
• Currently assisting Principal Investigators and administrative coordinator in management of grant accounts with budgets of $350,000 in grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents and $4 million from the federal government – liaising with funding agencies in handling pre- and post-award paperwork. Currently handling timely submittal of monthly, quarterly and annual reports and other contractual obligations to funding agencies.
• Converted departmental website into institution’s standardized software, Content Management System. Author of numerous webpages and Content Reviewer for the department from 2004-2007. 
• Chief editor of magazine publication of departmental annual reports from 2003-2007.
• Developed departmental mailing list and alumni databases on Excel.
• Organized Spring and Fall short courses offered from 2003-2007 as training and professional development for personnel in the sugar and sugar-related industries – includes developing schedule, issuing brochures and web announcements; handling registrations; developing budget; planning course syllabus; compiling course materials; and assisting international delegates with travel arrangements. Also coordinated intersession Sugar Process Engineering degree course offered through the LSU College of Engineering from 2004-2007.  Taught the 2006 Intersession class in an overview of the process flow in raw cane sugar production; also supervised visits to a sugar mill and a refinery.
• Co-hosted ISSCT Processing Workshop in 2006.
  

1989–2002
Rubicon Inc.
Geismar, LA

Assistant Engineer

• Created/updated process flow diagrams and developed procedures to meet PSM requirements and company standards. Worked closely with draftsmen to implement standardized CAD drawings. Utilized  Aspen Plus to simulate  each process unit to  validate  mass and energy balances for PFD verifications and updates.
• Provided technical support to process engineers on software solutions especially Excel spreadsheets and Aspen Plus® process simulations. Responsible for software licensing issues. Acted as site representative at quarterly intra-company Aspen user group meetings.
• Designed and proposed engineering scopes for continuous and batch processes ranging from process debottlenecking to safety improvements. Developed process design for in-line injection system for catalyst and antioxidant additions. Proposed process alternatives to reduce downtime and operating costs.
• Developed a simulation model of an ammonia absorber column in the Amines unit which was validated by process and stack testing data. The model was used to assess the capacity of the column in anticipation of a major unit debottlenecking.
• Installed temperature and pressure instrumentation on the ammonia absorber column for data gathering and monitoring on the DCS system.
• Implemented inline TOC analyzer systems on the TDI and New Aniline strong effluent streams.   
• Evaluated relief valve capacities and heat exchanger performances.
• Monitored site-wide strong and weak effluent quality. Collected and evaluated daily lab analytical data on wastewater samples and reported weekly performance to management and operations. Generated monthly performance charts with statistical analysis as informational tool for site waste minimization program.  Issued  quarterly reports on deepwell performance to Department of Natural Resources.
• Involved in study of biological treatment as deepwell alternative Monitored and evaluated performance of pilot scale biological reactor equipped with activated carbon polishing.
• Implemented a ramping-down algorithm for the Strong Effluent control board based on percent valve opening to provide best-estimate of flow rates below the detection limits of vortex flow meters measuring deepwell injection.
• Responsible for site potable water and sanitary effluent. Assessed system capacity to accommodate additional change houses for contractors during debottlenecking projects. Also  collaborated with Maintenance Engineer in a project to upgrade sewer lift pumps.
• Traced site high pressure and low pressure steam network and created and updated PFDs for site steam system.
• Involved in several environmental air permit applications. Contributed in source emission calculations, supporting documentation and compilation of these documents for submittal to Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
• Maintained and updated site emissions inventory database. Converted and upgraded databases from Macintosh to IBM-compatible via inhouse programming. Designed PC-generated forms and summaries to report source emissions for environmental permit packages .
• Evaluated fixed and variable cost projections reporting directly to Process Engineering Manager and Technical Manager.
• Member of departmental Safety Committee from 1996-2002. Actively participated in planning and organizing monthly meetings and presented several safety topics.