Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Publications
Conference Presentations
Timeline
Generic

Ross Ransom

San Francisco,CA

Summary

Scale-up leader with deep experience advancing novel chemical processes from lab to pilot to commercial readiness. Skilled in risk mitigation, cross-functional coordination, and managing global partners to deliver reliable, specification-driven production and accelerate technology deployment.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Manufacturing Scale-up Director

Novoloop
Menlo Park, CA
05.2025 - Current
  • Lead Novoloop's global scale-up strategy, overseeing pilot, demo, and FOAK plant programs.
  • Direct external tolling and CMO projects, ensuring IP protection, cost efficiency, and schedule adherence.
  • Manage technology readiness and risk reduction initiatives across ATOD, purification, and TPU production.
  • Partner with EPC firms, fabricators, and chemical parks on site selection, utilities, and permitting.
  • Build and mentor cross-functional engineering teams to deliver on aggressive board-level milestones.

Manufacturing Scale-up Manager

Novoloop
Menlo Park, CA
08.2024 - 04.2025
  • Managed external tolling and CMO projects.
  • Oversaw technology readiness and risk reduction projects for FOAK plant construction.
  • Led vendor trials for FOAK plant equipment.

Process Development Team Lead

Novoloop
Menlo Park, CA
01.2022 - 07.2024
  • Directed the scale-up of Novoloop's process from polyethylene to TPU.
  • Supervised design, construction, and commissioning of the Demo Plant in Surat, India.
  • Managed in-house pilot reactors and production.
  • Led a team of 8 scientists and engineers.

Senior Scientist, Process Development

Novoloop
Menlo Park, CA
11.2021 - 12.2022
  • Scaled-up the Polyol process 10x and built the first pilot reactor.
  • Developed novel polyol grades and defined specifications for TPU products.
  • Oversaw the build-out of two new laboratories, including a pilot lab.

Senior Development Scientist

Galata Chemicals
Taft, LA
06.2019 - 10.2021
  • Developed novel PVC stabilizers for sites in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
  • Led yield improvement and troubleshooting projects for tin products.
  • Established a new R&D lab and supervised a direct report.

Ph.D. Candidate

Tulane University, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
New Orleans, LA
08.2014 - 06.2019
  • Designed a gas flow reactor for NOx reduction using Cu-SSZ-39.
  • Mapped crystallization kinetics and aluminum uptake in Zeolite SSZ-39.
  • Correlated synthesis properties of SSZ-39 with catalytic activity.
  • Presented quarterly updates to SACHEM in New Orleans and Austin, TX.

Scientist I: Process Development Engineer

Abbvie (Abbott Laboratories)
North Chicago, IL
01.2012 - 01.2014
  • Led Process Analytical Technology (PAT) lab for new technology implementation.
  • Developed feedback control systems for reactions and crystallizations.
  • Managed transfer of lab-scale processes to Pilot Plant operations for clinical trials.

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant

University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
01.2010 - 01.2012
  • Synthesized polyphosphate-bound nanoparticles for blood clotting applications.
  • Led general chemistry lectures and lab sessions for over 100 students.

Analytical Chemistry Technician

Universal Oil Products (Honeywell)
Riverside, IL
01.2008 - 01.2009
  • Conducted wet chemistry tests for heavy-crude refining.
  • Developed SOPs to match safety and technology standards.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Designed and conducted research on exocytosis mechanisms in Tetrahymena thermophila.

Education

Ph.D. - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
06.2019

M.S. - Chemical Engineering

University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
01.2013

B.A. - Chemistry

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
06-2008

B.S. - Geophysical Sciences

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
01.2008

Skills

  • Project Management
  • CMO and CDMO Management
  • Process Design and Optimization
  • Reactor Design and Engineering
  • Data analysis
  • Effective communication
  • Problem solving
  • Team mentoring
  • Scale-up strategies
  • Technology readiness
  • Risk management
  • Cross-functional leadership

Publications

  • Ransom, R., Mouton, R., & Shantz, D.F., Influence of Structure Directing Agent Isomer of Zeolite SSZ-39 on the Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide., Catalysis Science & Technology, 382, 339-346, 2020
  • Ransom, R., Coote, J., Moulton, R., Gao, F., & Shantz, D.F., Synthesis and Growth Kinetics of Zeolite SSZ-39., Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 56, 4350-4356, 2017
  • Shahami, M., Ransom, R., & Shantz, D.F., Synthesis and Characterization of Tin/Boron Containing MFI Zeolites., Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 251, 165-172, 2017
  • Szymusiak, M., Donovan, A.J., Smith, S.A., Ransom, R., et al., Colloidal Confinement of Polyphosphate on Gold Nanoparticles Activates Blood Coagulation., Biomaterials, 27, 102-109, 2016

Conference Presentations

  • Ransom, R., Moulton, R., & Shantz, D.F., The Structure Directing Agent Isomer of Zeolite SSZ-39 Influences the Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide., North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2019
  • Ransom, R., Coote, J., Moulton, R., Gao, F., & Shantz, D.F., Synthesis and Growth Kinetics of Zeolite SSZ-39 for The Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx., American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2018
  • Ransom, R., Coote, J., Moulton, R., Gao, F., & Shantz, D.F., Synthesis and Growth Kinetics of Zeolite SSZ-39., North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Denver, CO, 2017

Timeline

Manufacturing Scale-up Director

Novoloop
05.2025 - Current

Manufacturing Scale-up Manager

Novoloop
08.2024 - 04.2025

Process Development Team Lead

Novoloop
01.2022 - 07.2024

Senior Scientist, Process Development

Novoloop
11.2021 - 12.2022

Senior Development Scientist

Galata Chemicals
06.2019 - 10.2021

Ph.D. Candidate

Tulane University, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
08.2014 - 06.2019

Scientist I: Process Development Engineer

Abbvie (Abbott Laboratories)
01.2012 - 01.2014

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant

University of Illinois at Chicago
01.2010 - 01.2012

Analytical Chemistry Technician

Universal Oil Products (Honeywell)
01.2008 - 01.2009

Undergraduate Research Assistant

University of Chicago
01.2006 - 01.2008

Ph.D. - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Tulane University

M.S. - Chemical Engineering

University of Illinois at Chicago

B.A. - Chemistry

University of Chicago

B.S. - Geophysical Sciences

University of Chicago