Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Personal Information
Languages
Publications
Timeline
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Laura Sterling

Middletown

Summary

I am a recent PhD graduate in chemistry, demonstrating expertise in technical writing, data analysis, problem-solving and research. Throughout my Ph.D. career, I have been recognized with three esteemed research fellowships, contributed to three publications, and hold one patent. I have played a pivotal role in securing over $1.4M in grant funding, displaying invaluable industry knowledge and experimental design. My research is centered around developing chemical methods to upcycle and recycle biomass waste and plastic waste to enable a more sustainable chemical industry.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Graduate Research Assistant

New York University
New York
08.2018 - 04.2024
  • Headed the development of two major grant proposals through the U.S
  • Department of Energy and the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, which earned over $1.4 million in research funding over a three-year time span
  • Formulated novel solutions within the fields of biomass upcycling and plastic waste recycling, culminating in three publications in high impact journals and one U.S
  • Provisional patent
  • Designed, executed, and performed data analysis for 1800+ experiments, contributing towards the discovery a reaction that lowers the production cost of a valuable chemical by 82%
  • Delegated tasks to external collaborators, including a team of two chemical engineers and two materials chemists, facilitating cross-functional approaches for analyzing and interpreting data
  • Delivered research presentations at two regional conferences and two department-wide seminars, communicating with audiences of diverse academic and professional backgrounds
  • Supervised two undergraduate students and five graduate students over a 5-year span, resulting in three co-authored publications
  • Directed weekly organic chemistry laboratory classes for a group of 32 undergraduate students
  • Organized and mediated a career panel of four industry chemists from three different pharmaceutical companies with 50+ attendees including undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lehigh University
Bethlehem
01.2016 - 05.2018

Discovery Chemistry Intern

Merck
West Point
06.2017 - 08.2017
  • Conducted 200+ experiments, delivering 57 final compounds towards the optimization of pharmaceutical molecules within an early drug development project
  • Employed experimental design to develop novel methodology for the late-stage chemical modification of drug molecules.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Chemistry

New York University
04.2024

Bachelor's Degree - Biochemistry

Lehigh University
01.2018

Skills

  • Data Analysis
  • Research Skills
  • Scientific Writing

Personal Information

Title: PhD Graduate in Chemistry at New York University

Languages

English

Publications

  • Implementing a Doping Approach for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Recycling in a Circular Economy
  • Depolymerization of Lignin via a Microscopic Reversible Biosynthesis Pathway
  • Selective Cleavage of Lignin Model Compounds via a Reverse Biosynthesis Mechanism
  • Synthesis of lactate derivatives via reductive radical addition to αoxyacrylates

Timeline

Graduate Research Assistant

New York University
08.2018 - 04.2024

Discovery Chemistry Intern

Merck
06.2017 - 08.2017

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lehigh University
01.2016 - 05.2018

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Chemistry

New York University

Bachelor's Degree - Biochemistry

Lehigh University

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Laura Sterling