Resume
Brandy Allen

Single-handed creation of 1,178+ technical reports in over 14+ years of employment through the analysis of 3,605+ testing samples.
Adept at understanding and using many types of technical documents such as technical journal articles, whitepapers, material safety data sheets (SDS or MSDS) and material technical data sheets (TDS).
Experienced user of many technical online resources such as Mendeley (www.mendeley.com), UL Prospector (www.ulprospector.com), Research Gate (https://www.researchgate.net/), Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/), and NIST (webbook.nist.gov).
Advanced proficiency in eleven analytical lab instruments, see link to Analytical Methods.
Microscopy: SEM, SMZ, ILM, & General Light Microscopy;
Composition Analysis: EDS, FT-IR, and GDS;
Thermal Analysis: DSC, TGA, DHR, and MFI.
Experienced cutting, cold and hot specimen mounting and preparation capabilities.
Been a materials information resource for the company available through direct communication and SE social channels (Spice, Sharepoint, Google Sites).
Manage calibration and maintenance for 20+ complex lab instruments and tools.
Administrator of lab related purchases for consumables and services from initiation to invoicing.
Supported seven capital project purchases with partners totaling two hundred and eight thousand Euros, €208K ($284k).

August 2007-April 2008 Chemist at Forbo

Chemist, Forbo Adhesives LLC, Durham, NC

Provided development assistance through synthesis of polyurethane pre-polymers.
Developed Access database to correlate present formulas with experimental formulas and compile analytical results.
Produced accurate and comprehensive research reports based of assigned projects.

January 2006-August 2007: Instrument Specialist

SMART Trac Product Specialist, CEM Corporation, Matthew NC

Successfully completed 42 SMART Trac instrument installations in 23 different states within 19 months as the SMART Trac Product Specialist.

Created a versatile database that links customers with installations allowing the useful accumulation of scientific data and the generation of weekly log reports.

Refined documentation to promote a coherent install for the three steps of the installation process: preliminary setup, onsite training and post-report.

Initiated, progressed, documented and utilized new methodologies that improved throughput and provided a cost savings for processes relating to the SMART Trac instrument.

Utilized programming knowledge to perform necessary testing to further the future development of the SMART Trac instrument.

Perform initial contact of customers after purchase of SMART Trac instrument.

Oversee all preparation for instrument install including reference sample preparation, instrument assembly and travel plans.

Perform onsite install including: instrument verification, instrument trouble-shooting, instrument calibration and in-depth instruction for operation to technicians of varying education levels.

October 2003-August 2005: Graduate Assistant

Graduate Assistant, Dr. M. El-Kouedi, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Synthesized anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template for gold, silver or striped nanorod fabrication.

Used galvanostatic deposition within AAO template with a sputtered metal coating to fabricated nanorods.

Characterized the surface area of the nanorod arrays using electro-analytical techniques and used UV-Vis spectroscopy to study the optical properties.

Utilized nanorod arrays as Surface Enhancing Raman Scattering substrates using confocal Raman model JY Labram AB.

Simulated the optical properties of nanorod arrays using computational programs.

Trained undergraduate researchers in relevant analytical techniques.

EDUCATION

Master of Science in Chemistry

M. S., Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC (GPA 3.875/4.00), August 2005.

Thesis: “Gold, silver and striped nanorod arrays employed as surface enhancing Raman scattering substrates.”

Advisor: Dr. M. El-Kouedi

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

B. S., Chemistry; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (GPA 3.12/4.00), May, 2003.

Focus on Computer Science

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Advanced User (Level 4/5), Full Utilization, Scientific Understanding and Trouble-Shooting Capabilities for the of the Following Instrumentation and Techniques:
- Molecular Identification: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman;
- Thermal Properties: Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Hyrbrid Rheometry (DHR) and Melt Flow Index (MFI);
- Microscopy: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Light Microscopy (ILM) and Stereomicroscopy;
- Elemental Analysis: Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Glow Discharge Spectroscopy (GDS);
- Instrumented Impact using Falling Dart.
- PC Software: Microsoft Word and Microsoft Access
Intermediate User (Level 3/5), Practical Application:
- Instron Tensile and Compression Testers
- PC Software: Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat and Windows
Novice User (Level 2/5), Limited Experience or Long Duration Since Use:
- Analytical Techniques: Raman spectroscopy, AA, NMR, GC-MS, UV-Vis and IR spectrometry, surface area analysis (BET), and electro-analytical techniques.
- Software Programming: HTML, Visual Basic, Java ++ and QBasic

PUBLICATIONS

“Investigation of the Effects of the Local Environment on the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectra of Striped Gold/Silver Nanorod Arrays.” Langmuir, 23 (8), 4563 -4568, 2007.

“Detection of DNA oligonucleotides on nanowire array electrodes using chronocoulometry.” Sensor and Actuators B, 114 (2), 1116-1120, 2006.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Chemical Society
Toastmasters International

Reference Available upon Request

ResumeBrandy Allen

Key Information

EXPERIENCE

April 2008-Present Analytical Chemist and Materials Scientist (14+ years)