Darren Zhu

Experience

• 

  Shanghai University

  Jul 2005 - Jun 2007

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Studied the preparation of fluoro-containing cyclopropane derivatives, and investigated their application to the construction of cyclopropane ring fused pyridazinone derivatives and pyrazole derivatives. Products were isolated and purified by flash chromotography; the molecular structures were identified by 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR, MS, IR, UV-Vis, Element analysis, X-ray crystallography.Advisor: Prof. Weiguo Cao

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  Fudan University

  Sept 2008 - Jun 2010

  Studied the synthesis of supported nano-gold catalysts, and investigated their applications in the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehyde to α,β-unsaturated alcohol in liquid phase. The reaction products were analyzed by GC, and the target products were identified by GC-MS; catalysts were systematically characterized by N2 adsorption, TG-DTA, XRD, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, IR, UV-Vis, VSM, SEM, TEM, XPS, XAFS.Advisor: Prof. Minghua Qiao Taught organic chemistry laboratory practice to sophomore undergraduate students twice per week; presented pre-lab content lectures including safety precautions; supervised the laboratory work; provided detailed instruction and guidance; evaluated experiment reports and assignments.

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Aug 2007 - Jun 2010

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Sept 2008 - Jan 2009
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  University of Notre Dame

  Jan 2011 - Jun 2013

  Studied the synthesis of cobalt(II,III) oxide and ruthenium doped cobalt(II,III) oxide nanorods, and investigated their application for Sabatier reaction, namely carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methane. To build a direct correlation between catalytic performance and structure and surface chemistry of catalyst, we mainly use in-house near ambient pressure XPS to study the catalyst under reaction conditions, combined with other characterization techniques such as XRD, TEM, XAS etc..Advisor: Dr. Franklin (Feng) Tao Show less

  • Research Associate

    Aug 2012 - Jun 2013

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Jan 2011 - Aug 2012

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Jan 2011 - Aug 2012
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  University of Tokyo

  May 2011 - Jun 2011

  Visiting Student

  Learned how to prepare heterogeneous photocatalyst and build phototcatalytic water splitting set-up in Prof. Kazunari Domen Group.

• 

  Container Coatings Division, MEGA Coatings

  Sept 2013 - Mar 2016

  • Assist technical service representatives for on-site coating application at container manufacturing factories. Solve technical issues and complaints.• Provide high-performance product and reliable service to our shipping/leasing companies to prevent the recurrence of white powdery salt formation caused corrosion on reefer aluminum alloy T-floor at various depots located across the coastal cities in China and Southeast Asia.• Support marketing initiatives and develop alternative paint systems for off-shore containers to meet the requirement of NORSOK M-501 or DNV Standard.• Offer 3rd party inspection of existing paint defects on dry van or refrigerated containers in service period as per client's demand.• Cooperate with container manufacturing factories to achieve the integration of reefer aluminum T-floor automatic coating process into the online production.• Work closely with container manufacturing factories to figure out how to overcome difficulties of container water-borne coating system online application and how to make necessary modification of the production line. Show less

  • Sales Engineer

    Sept 2015 - Mar 2016

  • Application Engineer

    Sept 2013 - Aug 2015
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  MEGA Coatings

  Apr 2016 - now

  Marketing Manager

  • Initiate and assess product development and innovation projects.• Drive customer projects with cross-functional teams including R&D, technical service, sales.• Implement marketing strategy for container industry to ensure profitable, long-term business expansion.• Support Marketing Director in necessary marketing analytical work of customer requirements and commercial and technical environment.