Rose Smiley
Davis,CA
Summary
I am a highly motivated, results-oriented solid-state materials chemist with extensive experience in synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical evaluation. I have a proven track record in developing and optimizing methodologies for accessing heterogeneous materials and advancing metastable materials synthesis. My skills include spectroscopy, solid-state synthesis, microscopy, and electrochemistry. I excel in leading teams and training large groups of people. I am seeking to leverage my experience to collaborate effectively in driving innovation, optimization, and scalability of products within the chemical and materials science industries.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant
University of California, Davis
09.2020 - Current
- Synthesized solid-state materials for electrocatalytic and energy storage applications using microwave-assisted and high-temperature solid-state synthesis methods, including metastable materials that are difficult to obtain through traditional synthesis routes.
- Employed electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to investigate charge transfer, proton stabilization, and product distribution analysis.
- This was done for the quantification of hydrocarbons and oxygenated species using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
- Successfully prepared proposals for access to synchrotron-based techniques at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) and for core-hole excitation modeling at the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory the latter project was supervised by Dr. David Prendergast.
- Conducted X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments at SLAC, analyzing both tender and hard X-ray regimes to gain insights into the electronic and structural properties of solid-state materials.
- Characterization of materials' morphology, composition, and crystallinity using advanced techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD).
- Experienced in the fitting of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data utilizing FEFF.
- Served as a super-user in the on-campus X-ray Crystallography Lab, training multiple users on the D8 ADVANCE Powder Diffractometer.
Teaching Assistant Training Coordinator
University of California, Davis
09.2022 - 12.2024
- Trained approximately 150 graduate students to serve as teaching assistants for the chemistry department.
- Organized and led a two-day in-person fall training program for new chemistry TAs.
- Developed and enhanced training materials covering discussion facilitation, general chemistry lab procedures, and office hour guidelines.
- Collaborated with EH&S, fire safety personnel, and research staff to ensure all TAs received proper safety training.
- Conducted hybrid virtual and in-person training sessions for TAs starting in the winter and spring quarters.
Teaching Assistant
University of California, Davis
09.2022 - 01.2024
- Instructed general chemistry lab and discussion sections for over 300 freshman and sophomore undergraduates in both virtual and in-person settings.
- Taught the upper-level inorganic chemistry lab for 24 senior undergraduates, focusing on inorganic compound synthesis and characterization techniques.
Research Technician
St. Edward’s University
06.2020 - 08.2020
- Conducted in-person research for five virtual undergraduates in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at St. Edward's University during the pandemic.
- Streamlined the synthesis of ligands and successfully crystallized metallo-organic complexes that modeled the active site of acireductone dioxygenase (ARD).
Laboratory Technician II
Thermo Fisher Scientific
03.2020 - 08.2020
- Managed a team of 9-12 laboratory technicians in the manufacturing division at the Thermo Fisher Scientific, South Austin site.
- Oversaw filling and packaging of chemicals for COVID-19 test kits distributed globally during the early stages of the pandemic.
- Collaborated with quality assurance, formulation, project managers, and site supervisors to meet production quotas while maintaining high product quality.
- Trained over 20 employees from diverse backgrounds in filling and packaging operations.
- Diagnosed and resolved technical issues with instruments and machinery in the filling and packaging division.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Inorganic Chemistry
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA09-2025
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
St. Edward’s University
Austin, TX01.2020
Skills
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Data-driven decision making
- Self-directed and motivated
- Academic research utilizing quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Scientific communication through academic presentations and publications
- Laboratory equipment and maintenance
- Event logistics coordination
- Development of course materials
- Team leading and mentorship
Publications
- Microwave-Assisted Intercalation: Exploring Electronic and Structural Features of Metastable MMo6S8 (M = Ag, Sn), Smiley, R.E.; Mason, K.G.; Lam, R.A.; Giem, A.R.; Ingargiola, D.; Wuille Bille, B.A.; Prendergast, D.; Velázquez, J.M., Materials Advances, 2025, 6, 2040-2055
- Herterointercalation in Chevrel Phase Sulfides: A Model Periodic Solid for the Investigation of Chain Charge Transfer, Mason, K.G., Mosqueda, N., Vigil, S., Del Pozo-Gonzalez, P., Feiner, S., Robinson, K., Ynzunza, J., Kumari, A., Smiley, R.E., La Plante, E., Agbeworvi, G., Moreno-Hernandez, I., Velázquez, J.M., under review
- Extended Potassium Intercalated Mo-Mo Chalcogenides as a Platform to Study Charge Transfer and Tunable Oxidation, Smiley, R.E.; Mason, K.G.; Ortíz-Rodriguez, J.C; Lam, R.A.; Hyler, F.P.; Velázquez, J.M., In Preparation
Presentations
- Microwave-Assisted Solid-State Synthesis of Catalytically Relevant Potassium Intercalated Molybdenum Chalcogenides, Rose E. Smiley and Jesús M. Velázquez, Solid State Chemistry Gordon Research Seminar and Conference, New London, NH, 2024
- Medium Temperature Intercalation via Microwave Irradiation to Access Metastable Chevrel Phases, Rose E. Smiley, Konstantina G. Mason, and Jesús M. Velázquez, Materials Research Society Conference, Seattle, WA, 2024
- Machine Learning Guided Microwave-Assisted Solid-State Synthesis of Chevrel Phases, Rose E. Smiley, ACS Fall 2023, San Francisco, CA, 2023
- Synthesis and characterization of dimensionally controlled catalytically relevant multinary molybdenum chalcogenides for CO2 conversion, Rose E. Smiley, Jessica C. Ortiz-Rodriguez, and Jesús M. Velázquez, ACS Fall 2022, Chicago, IL, 2022
Timeline
Teaching Assistant Training Coordinator
University of California, Davis
09.2022 - 12.2024
Teaching Assistant
University of California, Davis
09.2022 - 01.2024
Graduate Research Assistant
University of California, Davis
09.2020 - Current
Research Technician
St. Edward’s University
06.2020 - 08.2020
Laboratory Technician II
Thermo Fisher Scientific
03.2020 - 08.2020
Doctor of Philosophy - Inorganic Chemistry
University of California, Davis
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
St. Edward’s University
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