JONATHAN MASERE, PH.D.
E-mail: j_masere@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE: Research and Development Chemist

IMMIGRATION STATUS: Permanent Resident (Green Card)

EDUCATION:
* Doctor of Philosophy, West Virginia University, December 1996
*Bachelor of Science Honours (Chemistry) University of Zimbabwe

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
*Developed method for scalable synthesis/production and purification of cationic polymers for stable and fast-acting emulsion breakers for Ethylene Plant Dilution Steam System;
*Developed metal-free strong organic hydroxides neutralizers for Ethylene Plant Dilution Steam System;
*Developed free-radical polymerization inhibitors for purification-by-distillation of reactive unsaturated monomers;
*Developed organometallic salts for organic electrolytes for re-usable, high performance thermal batteries;
*Developed low-temperature, around 0 degrees Celsius, polymerization methods for fabricating plastic-based optical materials i.e. gradient index materials for fiber optics, lenses, organic optical limiters and polymer matrix for solid-state dye lasers
*Synthesized and characterized novel gas-free initiators for high-temperature free-radical polymerization;
*Synthesized phosphate-based ionic liquids, en masse, used for producing solid-state electrolytes as well as non-aqueous media for organic synthesis
*Successfully designed and carried out in situ syntheses of ionic polymer-based solid-state electrolyte composites by employing a novel technique called frontal polymerization instead of the traditional batch polymerization. The polymer composites had high salt percentages without macroscopic phase separation and high ionic conductivities were observed. Work involved synthesis of ionic liquids and ionic liquid monomers
*Conducted work on surface tension techniques used to improve crude oil recovery percentages
*Conducted experiments involving the isolation, purification and characterization of herbal plant concoctions, which had been clinically shown to be immuno-boosters
*Performed organic synthesis of nucleotide analogues and compound analysis using NMR and IR techniques. Compounds were used to study competitive autocatalysis in DNA/RNA-like organic molecules and part of the work involved
*Devised chemical indicator dyes for monitoring interfacial-gel polymerization
*Studied and mapped out the safety of self-heating and self-sustaining polymerization systems involving highly exothermic and potentially explosive multifunctional acrylates
*Investigated mechanical integrity of highly cross-linked polymers made via frontal polymerization

LEADERSHIP:
*As a post-doctoral researcher, supervised 12 undergraduate students and on graduate research students
*Was appointed leader of invigilators while in graduate school
*Co-ordinated undergraduate laboratory classes of 800 students while in graduate school
*Was member of a student government body executive committee
*Currently member of a steering committee that has successfully won federal and state approval for the establishment of a community development credit union for the economically depressed area of the City of Hattiesburg, MS.

MEMBERSHIP:
*Member of the American Chemical Society
*Member of the Mississippi Academy of Science
*Member of the NAACP

TECHNICAL SKILL:
*Characterization of physical properties of polymers using DSC, TGA, NMR and Chromatography
*Organic synthesis
*Video imaging and digitization with Mcintosh 8500 using Avid Videoshop 3.0.2 and AlpaImager 200 Documentation Analysis System
*Familiar with WordPerfect and MSWord word processing as well as KaleidaGraph, Adobe PhotoShop and SigmaPlot graphic software
*Have given presentations using MSPower Point presentation software
*Used a Kruss Spinning Drop Tensiometer

OTHER SKILLS:
*Proficient and conversant in the English language
*Experienced writer in technical English, attested by co-authored papers

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
(1) Masere, J.; Stewart, F.; Meehan, T.; Pojman, A. J., Chaos 1999, 9(2).
(2) Merkin, J. H.; Scott, K. S.; Masere, J.; Showalter, K., J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 1998, 94, 53-57.
(3) Masere, J.; Pojman, J. A., J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 1998, 94, 919-922.
(4) Petrov, V.; Gaspar, V.; Masere, J.; Showalter, K., Nature. 1993, 361, 240-243.
(5) Masere, J.; Vasquez, D.; Edwards, B. F.; Wilder, J. W Showalter, K., J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 6505 6508.
(6) Simoyi, R. H.; Masere, J.; Muzimbaranda, C.; Manyonda, M.; Dube, S., Int. . J. Chem. Kineti. 1991, 23, 419.
(7) Simoyi, R. H.; Manyonda, M; Masere, J.; Mtambo, M.; Ncube, I.,: Patel, H., J. Phys. Chem. 1991, 95(2), 770-774.
(8) Masere, J.; Chekanov, Y.; James R. Warren, Felicia D. Stewart, Al-Kaysi, R.; Rasmussen, J. K.; Pojman, J. A., (manuscript submitted to J. Applied Poly. Sci.)
(9) Masere, J.; Lewis, L. L.; Pojman, J. A., (manuscript submitted to J. Applied Poly. Sci.)
(10) Masere, J.; Bourne, T.; Chekanov, Y.; Fuller.; J. Pojman, J. A., (manuscript ready for submission to Macromolecules.)
(11) Masere, J.; Petretto, E.; Rustici, M.; Pojman, J. A., (manuscript in preparation).
(12). Masere, J.; Pojman, J. A. (submitted to Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. Prep. Div. Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng.)

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