OBJECTIVE

• Enthusiastic, results-oriented, and creative PhD chemist with expertise in polymer chemistry, surface chemistry, synthesis and characterization of polymer and polymer-composites.
• Seeking a fulltime opportunity to implement skills to positively impact a scientific community.

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

• Proved to be competent, creative and innovative research scientist by successfully completing a novel project and discovered interesting physical properties of H-bonded acrylic polymers on silica surface
• Developed strong communication and leadership skills by teaching, mentoring and motivating undergraduates over 5 years as a graduate teaching assistant
• Won the outstanding graduate student award (2013) for excellence earned in graduate program
• Won best poster presentation award in NATAS, De Moines, Iowa
• Strongly involved in teaching undergraduate labs since 2009.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND EXPERTISE

• Experience with synthesis of acrylic polymers by conventional free radical technique.
• Experience with coating formulations of superhydrophobic coatings prepared from diatomaceous earth coupled with fluorosilane coupling agent.
• Extensive knowledge and experience working with different instruments like electron microscopes (Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC).
• Hands on experience with dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA).
• Significant experience with modeling and fitting of data.
• Extensive knowledge about Microsoft Office.
• Experience with MatLab, and SAS programing.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Polymer Chemistry                                                                    May 2014

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK                                                                    GPA: 4.0

Dissertation: Study of interfacial properties of polymer at different interfaces.

Mentor: Frank Blum

Research Focus: Synthesis of polymer nanocomposites, reinforced polymers, and polymer composites, characterize them and study their physical properties.

Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal                                                                  May 2009

Master of Science, Physical Chemistry                                                                    GPA: 80% (US equivalent A)

Dissertation: determination of fluoride concentration in drinking water by using

iron thiocyanate complex.

Research Focus: Application of spectroscopic techniques to analyze (both qualitatively and quantitatively) the presence of inorganic anions in drinking water.

Tri-Chandra College, Kathmandu, Nepal                                                                 May 2006

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry                                                                                             GPA: 72% (US equivalent A)

RELATED COURSES

Electron Microscopy (SEM, SEM-EDX, TEM, AFM), Thermodynamics II, Organic Foundation, Inorganic Foundation, Organic Spectroscopy, Solid State NMR, Introduction to Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Introduction to matlab programming.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research Assistant: Oklahoma State University                                                            August 2009 - May 2014

Advisor: Frank D. Blum

• Prepared nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacrylate) and silica by surface adsorption technique.
• Examined the thermal properties of the nanocomposites such as glass transition temperatures, thermal degradation temperatures etc.
• Studied the surface properties of superhydrophobic coatings made from diatomaceous earth and different polymers by using scanning electron microscopy.
• Measured heat capacities of bulk polymers, silica and their nanocomposites and fitted the data with different models to determine how the surface interactions affected the properties of polymer.
• Gained experience in the synthesis and purification of acrylic polymers by conventional free radical technique.
• Currently, studying the effect of solvent on physical properties of polymers, and polymer adsorbed on surfaces.
• I am also studying the interaction of graphene oxide with different polymers such as Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) etc.
  

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

August 2009 – May 2014

Oklahoma State University

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Taught lab for CHEM 1314 (CHEM1), 1515 (CHEM2), 3015 (CHEM3)

Aug 2008 - May 2009

Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Teaching Assistant
• Taught lab for CHEM 303 (chemical kinetics and thermodynamics).
• Taught general chemistry for undergraduates.

June 2006–May 2007

Diamond English Medium School

Science Teacher

Taught chemistry for high school students

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Bal K. Khatiwada and Frank D. Blum, Determination of Amount of Adsorbed Polymer in Silica by Quasi-isothermal Method of Heat Capacity Determination, 56^th American Chemical Society Pentasectional Meeting, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, March 12, 2011.

Bal K. Khatiwada and Frank D. Blum, Adsorption and Thermal Properties of PMMA on Silica, 39th Annual Conference of North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS), De Moines, Iowa, August 7 - 10, 2011.

Bal K. Khatiwada and Frank D. Blum, Quasi-isothermal Heat Capacity Measurements of Adsorbed PMMA on Silica, 242^nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, Colorado, August 28 - September 1.

Bal K. Khatiwada, Charmaine V. Munroe, and Frank D. Blum, Polymers at Interfaces, Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, Oklahoma Section Meeting, Stillwater, Oklahoma, February 28, 2013.

Bhishma R. Sedai, Bal K. Khatiwada, Helanka Perera, Abhijit Paul, and Frank D. Blum, Hydrophobic Coatings from Fluoro-silanated Diatomaceous Earth, American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7 – 11.

Helanka Perera, Bhishma R. Sedai, Bal K. Khatiwada, Abhijit Paul, and Frank D. Blum, Superhydrophobic Polymer Surfaces with Silane-treated Diatomaceous Earth, American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7 – 11.

Charmaine Munro, Bal K. Khatiwada, and Frank D. Blum, Heat Capacity of Poly(Amino Acids) on Silica, American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7 – 11.

PUBLICATIONS

Khatiwada B. K.; Blum F. D.; polymer preprint 2011, 320, 20.

Khatiwada B. K.; Hetayothin B.; Blum F.D.; Macromolecular Symposia 2013, 327, 20.

Khatiwada B.K.; Blum F.D.; Heat Capacity Measurements of Adsorbed PMMA on Silica, Under Revision

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

Involved in Supervising an Undergraduate in Our Research Lab.

Member of Phi Kappa Phi, 2011-2012.

Member of American Chemical Society, 2011 – Present.

Treasure, Nepalese Student Association, August 2011 - May 2012.

Vice-President, Nepalese Student Association, August 2012 - May 2013.

ACADEMIC AWARDS

• O.C. Dermer Award, Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, 2012
• Best Poster Presentation Award, Northern American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS), 2011
• Graduate Tuition Award, Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, 2006- 2009
• Undergraduate Tuition Scholarship Award, Tri-Chandra College, Kathmandu, 2003-2006
• Outstanding Student Award, Mahendra Morang Multiple Campus, Biratnagar, Nepal, 2001-2003