Nelson Rodriguez

Experience

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  University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

  Jan 2012 - Aug 2014

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Project: Synthesis, Functionalization and Characterization of Proton Exchange Membranes (PEM) for fuel cells.Executed different synthesis techniques to functionalize a polymer material for PEM applications.Functionalized PEM by adding and varying the concentration, alone or in combination, of: sulfonation, cations, carbon nanotubes and ionic liquids.Characterized material composition, stability, strength, function and efficiency using various analytical techniques. Material characterization was performed using: GC, FTIR, TGA, DLS, Fuel Cell Test System and among other non-equipment related characterizations. Show less

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  Amgen Manufacturing Limited

  Jan 2015 - Aug 2015

  Associate Engineer COOP

  Lead and developed a training program, based on the Six Boxes Methodology, on the use and troubleshooting of an analytical equipment. Developed troubleshooting guidelines for pressure tests. Certified personnel. Increased system uptime and productivity.Implemented Steam in Place (SIP) maintenance upgrades by analyzing systems Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID’s) improving productivity.Mapped new product introduction in a cross functional team. Proposed process design specifications and modified current P&ID’s.Responsible for various equipment functionality and delivery. Provided overall plant engineering support. Show less

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  NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Jan 2016 - Sept 2016

  X-HAB Tarzan Innovation Microgravity Engineers (XTIME) – UPRM

  Project: Manufacturing Technology for Aluminum Alloys in a Microgravity EnvironmentPosition: Material and Process Engineer Winners of nation-wide X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge and awarded $20,000 to develop proposed project in the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus.Proposed a new and innovative metallic additive manufacturing procedure that would benefit applications in a microgravity environment.Identified ideal materials & conditions for operation.Collaborated in designing extruder and heat bed.Created detailed material and component specification sheets.Developed reports for materials & process using system engineering approach. Show less

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  University of Minnesota

  Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Program: Life Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) - Cancer Research, Education and Training Experience (CREATE)Project: ​Oncolytic Adenovirus Expressing IFN-α in Combination with Chemo-radiation for the Treatment of Pancreatic CancerPerformed survival studies on multiple cell lines, for both human and mouse, of pancreatic cancer using chemotherapeutics, radiation and oncolytic adenoviruses. Assessed virus specificity and lethality in pancreatic cancer and normal cells.Determined the effective dose, ED50, of Gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cell linesAnalyzed treatment killing effect, either synergistically, additively or antagonistically, using CompuSyn.Assessed virus specificity and lethality in pancreatic cancer cells by performing colony formation assays. Show less

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  University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

  Aug 2016 - Sept 2019

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Project: ​A Tumor-Mesenchymal In vitro Model of Hedgehog Signaling in Triple Negative Breast CancerStudied the effect that activating/inhibiting the Sonic Hedgehog pathway/signaling has in breast cancer and mesenchymal stem cells, how this affects the proliferation of breast cancer, the stem cell phenotype and corresponding gene expression in a paracrine signaling modality, both in vitro and in vivo.Designed, built and manufactured microfluidic devices (PDMS and polystyrene) to perform advanced cell culture techniques.Simulate, in vitro (co-culture & tri-culture), cell microenvironment to study paracrine signaling, or communication between cells, by diffusion through liquid medium.Techniques and equipments: Cell culture, microfluidic devices, co-culture and tri-culture of cells, fluorescence microscopy, qRT-PCR, Nanodrop spectrophotometry, in vitro/vivo studies. Show less

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  University of Minnesota

  Aug 2017 - Jan 2020

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Project: Capturing T Cell Dynamics in Live Pancreatic Ductal AdenocarcinomaExamine the influence of dynamic physical and chemical interactions between stromal, carcinoma and immune cells in live mouse tumor slices, before, during and after therapies that modify the stroma using a Multiphoton Laser Scanning Microscope. Perform time-lapse imaging and quantification of CD8+​ T-cell migration on mouse tumor slices under various treatment conditions.Perform immunofluorescent techniques on tissue samples to study cancer metastatic potential due to tumor microenvironment.Perform image analysis with Fiji and Matlab.Techniques: Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, T cell Isolation and activation, Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, in vitro/vivo studies, necropsy. Show less

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  Boston Scientific

  Jan 2020 - Oct 2020

  Quality Engineer

  Characterize and qualify components and devices to ensure compliance with R&D, product specifications and clinical requirements.Develop and validate test methods for improving incoming material quality inspections while reducing scrap and cycle time.Create, update & convert process risk analysis to associate hazards and FMEAs to manufacturing processes for various product lines.Lead core team meetings for implementation of continuous improvements projects for manufacturing builds across the site Show less

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  Bangs Laboratories, Inc.

  Oct 2020 - Aug 2021

  Scientist II

  Perform chemical synthesis and fluorophore/protein conjugation techniques on microspheres used for equipment calibration and fluorescence quantitation.Troubleshooting and optimizing production processes to improve turnover rate & product yield.

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  Eli Lilly and Company

  Aug 2021 - now

  • Principal Scientist - TS/MS

    Mar 2024 - now

  • Sr. Scientist - TS/MS

    Aug 2021 - Mar 2024