Welday D Weldu
Forest City,IA
Summary
Ph.D. graduate with extensive research expertise in organic synthesis, chemical biology and electrochemistry coupled with long-standing experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. My research expertise spans glycan synthesis and modification, arylboronic acid conjugated small molecules and dendrimer synthesis for applications in metabolic glycoengineering, amino acid polymerization for corrosion inhibition, formulating ionic-liquids and deep eutectic solvents for carbon dioxide electrochemical reduction, membrane protein extraction and transdermal drug delivery. I am skilled in a wide range of analytical techniques, including NMR, UV, CV and cell culture bioassays. Accompanied by a strong commitment to research and community service, I strive to foster a deep interest in chemistry among students by applying innovative, student-centered teaching strategies to make learning accessible, engaging and inspiring.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Professor
Waldorf University
Forest City, Iowa
08.2025 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
10.2023 - 05.2025
- Conducted multidisciplinary research in metabolic glycoengineering, green solvent formulation, electrocatalysis and functionalized polyamino acid synthesis
- Managed laboratory setups, including safety compliance, maintenance of equipment, and purchase of facilities.
- Mentored undergraduate and graduate students, providing training and guidance in research and professional development.
- Participated in grant proposal writing and secured funding for an ongoing research project on green solvent formulation and application study.
- Organized outreach activities to promote science education and engagement among students at Crystal Academy in Miami.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Academia Sinica
Nangang District, Taipei City
02.2022 - 09.2023
- Conducted research in automated methodology development for glycan synthesis based on reactivity of starting materials
- Managed laboratory setups, including safety compliance and maintenance of equipment.
- Mentored graduate and internship students, providing training and guidance in research and professional development.
Lecturer
Samara University
Samara
07.2013 - 08.2017
- Courses taught: Organic chemistry I, Organic chemistry II, Physical organic chemistry, Biochemistry, Polymer chemistry, Food chemistry, Agricultural chemistry.
- Conducted research on application of natural product extracts in milk coagulation
- Organized outreach activities to promote science education and engagement among high school students in Afar regional state, Ethiopia.
- Served as department curriculum development and evaluation committee member
Graduate Assistant/ Assistant Lecturer
Samara University
Samara
12.2008 - 08.2011
- Courses taught: General chemistry, Environmental chemistry, Chemistry educational subject matter.
Education
Ph.D. - Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
01.2022
M.Sc. - Chemistry - Organic
Bahir Dar University
07.2013
B.Ed. - Chemistry with Mathematics Minor
Mekelle University
07.2008
Skills
- Organic synthesis - Glycochemistry - Chemical biology
- 1D NMR and 2D NMR analysis
- Chromatography
- Cyclic voltammetry
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
- Cell culture bioassays
- Protein-ligand docking
Awards Recognitions
- Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology Postdoctoral Research Fund, 2022-08-01, 2023-09-01
- Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Research Grant, 2022-02-01, 2022-07-01
- Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) Scholarship Grant for Ph.D. study, 2017-09-01, 2022-01-01
Publications Ongoing Projects
- Ionic liquid-mediated electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide under aqueous systems., Welday, D. W.; Samuel. A. O.; Christian, A., 2025, Manuscript Submitted
- Increased Hydrophobicity Enhances Hydrogen Bonding in Ionic Liquid-based hybrid solvents., Samuel. A. O.; Welday, D. W.; Christian, A., J. Phys. Chem. B, 2025, 129, 7228-7237
- Design Principles for Immunomodulatory Biomaterials., Samuel. A. O.; Welday, D. W.; Keerthana, J.; Kelsie, A. B.; Christian, A., ACS Appl. Bio Mater., 2024, 7, 8059-8075
- Synthesis and Statistical Analysis of Reactivity-Based Chemical Glycosylation of Oligosaccharide Donors., Welday, D. W.; Hirofumi, E.; Toshiki, N.; Wang, C. -C., 2023, abstract available online
- Rationalizing the Stereoelectronic Influence of Interglycosidic Bond Conformations on the Reactivity of 1,4-O-Linked Disaccharide Donors., Welday, D. W.; Wang, C. -C., J. Org. Chem., 2021, 86, 17906-17917
- Selective Acetylation of Non-anomeric Groups of per-O-Trimethylsilylated Sugars., Welday, D. W.; Wang, C. -C., J. Org. Chem., 2021, 86, 5336-5344
- Comparative study of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Rumex abyssinicus with commercially available Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia., Alemayehu, Y.; Welday, D. W., Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric., 2021, 8, 1-11
- Application of Ficus Carica L. and Solanum Incanum L. Extracts in Coagulation of Milk: The Case of Traditional Practice in Ab'ala Area, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia., Welday, D. W.; Shumbahri, M.; Gebrehiwot, S., Biochem. Res. Int., 2020, 2020, 1-7
Conferences and Presentations
- 2024-10-01, Regulating cell migration through metabolic glycoengineering., 75th ACS Southeastern Regional Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA
- 2022-05-01, Donor-Acceptor Reactivity-Based Statistical Assessment of Chemical Glycosylation., Taiwan GlycoForum Retreat, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- 2022-03-01, Donor-Acceptor Reactivity-Based Statistical Assessment of Chemical Glycosylation., Chemistry National Meeting, Taipei City, Taiwan
- 2021-06-01, Selective Acetylation of Non-anomeric Groups of per-O-Trimethylsilylated Sugars., 21st Tetrahedron Symposium, Online
- 2017-05-01, Investigating the application of Ficus carica and Solanum incanum extracts in coagulating milk: The case of traditional practice in Ab'ala area, Afar regional state, Ethiopia., National Conference, Samara, Ethiopia
- 2015-03-01, Comparative study of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Rumex abyssinicus with commercially available Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia., 31st Annual Congress of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Timeline
Assistant Professor
Waldorf University
08.2025 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Miami
10.2023 - 05.2025
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Academia Sinica
02.2022 - 09.2023
Lecturer
Samara University
07.2013 - 08.2017
Graduate Assistant/ Assistant Lecturer
Samara University
12.2008 - 08.2011
Ph.D. - Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
M.Sc. - Chemistry - Organic
Bahir Dar University
B.Ed. - Chemistry with Mathematics Minor
Mekelle University
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