Education: Rice University, Houston, TX

Ph.D. in Bioengineering, anticipated Fall 2004. GPA: 3.6/4.0

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering, December 1998. GPA: 3.6/4.0

EXPErience: Rice University, Houston, TX. January 2000 – Present.

Graduate Student under Dr. Jennifer West

Developed hydrogel scaffolds with covalently incorporated bioactive components to influence the formation of engineered tissue. Planned and executed polymer and peptide synthesis and mammalian cell culture. Applied various spectroscopic methods including NMR, UV-VIS, and GPC to confirm the success of reactions. Presented findings orally at nationally attended conferences. Supervised undergraduate research projects.

Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, AZ. April 2003 – July 2003.

Intern

Designed a pulsatile flow system to investigate flow dynamics through vascular graft products. Conducted tests to assess the material properties of competitive expanded polytetrafluoroethylene products including tensile strength and suture retention strength. Studied the literature for methods to improve vascular graft performance and orally presented a summary.

BioChip Systems, Motorola Inc., Tempe, AZ. February 1999 – July 1999.

Technical Assistant

Manufactured glass slides with three-dimensional gel pads for DNA analysis applications. Improved productivity by independently modifying the manufacture protocol. Trained technicians to manufacture gel pads and supervised their work.

Gore Hybrid Technologies, Flagstaff, AZ. June 1998 – August 1998.

Summer Research Assistant

Examined a proprietary hydrogel’s cytotoxicity and its effect on pancreatic islet cell response to glucose. Conducted experiments using mammalian cell culture techniques. Interacted with an interdisciplinary team of engineers, biologists, and chemists. Summarized findings and reported directly to a biomaterial scientist.

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. May 1997 - May 1998.

Undergraduate Research Assistant under Dr. Stephen Hoffman

Investigated the effect of the neuropeptide, substance P, on the release of cytokines by immune cells.

Honors: National Institutes of Health Biotechnology Training Grant Recipient, 2001-03

Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Fellow, 2000-01

Tau Beta Pi Member

Presentations: Solitaire A. DeLong and Jennifer L. West. Tethered Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Increases Vascular Cell Proliferation. Biomedical Engineering Society. Houston, TX, October 22-26, 2002.

Solitaire A. DeLong, Brenda K. Mann, and Jennifer L. West. Scaffolds Modified with Tethered Growth Factors to Influence Smooth Muscle Cell Behavior. Experimental Biology. New Orleans, LA, April 20-24, 2002.

References: Jennifer L. West, PhD, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005,

phone: (713) 348-5955, email: jwest@rice.edu

Brenda K. Mann, PhD, Keck Graduate Institute, 535 Watson Drive,Claremont, CA 91711, phone: (909) 607-8565, email: bmann@kgi.edu

Vincent B. Pizziconi, PhD, Arizona State University, PO BOX 879709, Tempe, AZ 85287-9709, phone: (480) 965-1071, email: vincent.pizziconi@asu.edu