CURRICULUM VITAE - UCLA Engineering

CURRICULUM VITAE
MICHAEL JUSTIN KAHN
HOME
3740 Bagley Avenue #6
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 409-9820
Email: michael.kahn@gmail.com
WORK
University of California, Los Angeles
6817A Boelter Hall, 420 Westwood Plz.
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 409-9820
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles, PhD, Chemical Engineering, expected June 2010
GPA: 3.8
University of California, Los Angeles, BS, Chemical Engineering with
Semiconductor Manufacturing Option, June 2005
GPA: 3.4
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
UCLA Graduate Division, Dissertation Year Fellow, academic year 2009 – 2010.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Chemical and Reaction Engineering Division Travel Award, Awardee, 2009.
Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Fellow, 2009.
NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (NSF-IGERT)
UCLA Materials Creation Training Program (MCTP), Fellow.
Two awards – Academic years 2006 – 2007, and 2007 – 2008.
RESEARCH INTERNSHIP
Independent Researcher Representing the MCTP and UCLA
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
June 2007 – September 2007
Topic: Utilization of nano-silicon as an anode for lithium-ion secondary batteries
Mentor: William West, PhD
Completed a summer research project from concept to working device. Performed comprehensive
literature search; synthesized doped silicon nanoparticles by ball milling; prepared suspensions of silicon
nanoparticles, conductive additives, and polymer binding agents; spray coated suspensions onto copper
foil to create anodes for lithium / silicon half-cell reactions; assembled coin-cell-type half cells for testing;
tested cells for lithium intercalation capacity and cycle life using an Arbin system under constant current
mode.
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INDUSTRY-RELATED CONSULTING
Research Consultant for CCI Thermal Technologies, Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
University of California, Los Angeles
March 2008 – September 2009
Topic: Improvement of Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalyst from 85% efficiency towards 100% efficiency
PI: Jarek Szynkarczuk, PhD; Selim M. Senkan, PhD
Utilized high-throughput and combinatorial catalyst testing and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
to discover logical routes for improvement. Employed catalyst preparation improvements by two routes:
traditional, impregnation based multi-metallic catalysts; and novel, gel combustion synthesis (GCS)
catalysts. The catalyst efficiency was significantly improved while reducing the required amount of
platinum by about a factor of 5. Research was performed in our laboratory at UCLA.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Student Researcher
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
September 2007 – Present
Topic: Employ modified hopcalite catalysts prepared via gel combustion synthesis (GCS) for improving
the direct synthesis of propylene oxide
PI: Selim M. Senkan, PhD
Invented a novel, small scale, and parallelized gel combustion synthesis (GCS) technique to produce
various oxide catalysts for catalytic applications. Having found novel leads for the partial oxidation of
propylene reaction, new catalyst synthesis routes are being explored to further improve propylene oxide
production. Hopcalite, which is traditionally a total oxidation catalyst, is being modified using GCS as a
versatile technique to maximize its partial oxidation efficacy.
Graduate Student Researcher
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
June 2005 – June 2007
Topic: Preparation, characterization, and reaction screening of catalytic nanoparticles created by pulsed
laser ablation
PI: Selim M. Senkan, PhD
This topic involved the use of Pulsed Laser Ablation (PLA) as a method of preparing new nanomaterials,
characterizing them, and using them for catalytic applications. This technique was employed to rapidly
yet thoroughly screen the periodic table to search for new catalyst leads for the partial oxidation reactions
of propylene. Characterization of catalysts was carried out by way of transmission electron microscopy
(TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and gas chromatography (GC). Several promising leads
were found and have been applied to more recent research.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
June 2004 – June 2005
Topic: Characterization of single- and multi-metallic nanoparticles created by PLA, and reaction
screening of rhodium nanoparticles for the partial oxidation products of propylene
PI:
Selim M. Senkan, PhD
Mentors: Tom Miyazaki, PhD; Shici Duan, PhD
This topic was a speculative initiative that, through extensive transmission electron microscope (TEM)
work, yielded the basis for my current research topic. The versatility of PLA to produce uniform,
crystalline, single- and multi-metallic nanoparticles was demonstrated by using high resolution TEM
(HR-TEM) equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Preliminary reaction screening
results proved that nanoparticles created by pulsed laser ablation are a viable material for use in the field
of combinatorial catalysis.
MENTORING / SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE
Mentor to Undergraduate Research Assistant
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
June 2006 – August 2006 (Summer)
Closely supervised an undergraduate student named Matthew Kiesz from Caltech’s SURF (Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowships) program. Taught the basics of lasers, electron microscopy, laser
ablation, presentation skills, and lab skills. Matt was subsequently admitted to the PhD program in
UCLA's chemistry department.
ADDITIONAL LABORATORY EXPERIENCE - (CLASS 100 CLEANROOM)
Student – Undergraduate Semiconductor Fabrication Laboratory
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
March 2005 – June 2005 (Spring)
Built a variety of semiconducting devices on a 4 inch p-type {100} silicon wafer. The devices were
fabricated using typical 1 μm semiconductor fabrication processes: photolithography using positive
photoresist, wet and dry oxide growth, low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), wet chemical
etching, dry reactive ion etching (RIE), self-aligned ion implantation, and physical vapor deposition
(PVD). Devices built and tested: nMOSFETs, bipolar junction transistors (BJT), p-n diodes, MOS
capacitors, resistors, inverters, and solar cells.
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LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Internal Vice President – Engineering Graduate Student Association
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA
September 2007 – June 2009
Organized multiple student-run events with over 600 attendees. Attended and provided feedback at
Faculty Executive Committee meetings. Represented over 1200 graduate students in various capacities.
Worked with over a dozen student executive board members. Attended private meetings with the Dean of
the engineering school. Helped to obtain corporate sponsorships for EGSA and job opportunities for
students. Managed a budget. Facilitated socializing and networking between engineering graduate
students and business school (UCLA Anderson) students.
EXPERIENCE WITH SPECIFIC HARDWARE
Well experienced:
JEOL and Philips transmission/scanning electron microscopes (TEM/SEM) + gold sputtering
PANalytical Powder X-Ray Diffractometer (PXRD)
Gas chromatograph (GC) and quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS)
Thermocouple/temperature controller systems, tube/box furnaces
MKS mass flow controllers
Rotary and turbopump (high vacuum) systems
Swagelok hardware
Capillary & miniature-scale tube fitting systems
Lambda Physik Class IV excimer laser
Proficient:
UV-Vis-IR spectrometers
Cyclic voltammeters
Cryogenic liquids
Spin coaters
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
Glove boxes, wet chem, hydrofluoric acid environments
Optical microscopy
Information Technology Experience:
Windows-based workstation and server systems
Network hardware including routers, switches, and wireless solutions
Network attached storage (NAS), RAID systems, file and print servers, backup solutions
Virtualization technology
Safety:
Trained in laser, pressure vessel, hazardous waste, PPE, and cryogenic liquids safety
ZERO safety incidents or injuries in entire research career
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PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS
Kahn, M., Seubsai, A., Senkan, S. (November 2009). Rational synthesis, characterization, and reaction
screening of alkali-modified hopcalite: employing a total oxidation catalyst for a partial oxidation
process. Oral presentation was given at the 2009 AIChE Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN.
Kahn, M., Senkan, S. (November 2008). Modified hopcalite catalysts prepared via gel combustion
synthesis for improving the direct synthesis of propylene oxide. Poster was presented at the 2008 UCLA
Materials Creation Training Program Symposium at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) in Los
Angeles, CA.
Kahn, M., West, W. (November 2007). Nano-silicon as an anode for lithium-ion secondary batteries.
Poster was presented at the 2007 UCLA Materials Creation Training Program Symposium at CNSI in
Los Angeles, CA.
Kahn, M., Senkan, S. (November 2007). High-throughput and combinatorial nanoparticle catalysis for
the direct synthesis of propylene oxide. Oral presentation was given at the 2007 UCLA Materials
Creation Training Program Symposium at CNSI in Los Angeles, CA.
Kahn, M., Senkan, S., Duan, S. (May 2006, November 2006). High-throughput preparation and
reaction screening of catalytic nanoparticles. Poster was presented at the 2006 UCLA Engineering
Research Review, and at the 2006 UCLA Materials Creation Training Program Symposium in Los
Angeles, CA.
Senkan, S., Kahn, M., Krantz, K., (November 2006). Nanostructured catalytic materials for NOx
reduction using combinatorial methods. Oral presentation was given at the 2006 US EPA STAR
Nanotechnology Environmental Applications and GRO Progress Review Workshop in Arlington, VA.
Kahn, M., Senkan, S., (November 2006). High-throughput metal nanoparticle catalysis by pulsed laser
ablation. Oral presentation was given at the 2006 AIChE Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.
PUBLICATIONS
Kahn, M., Senkan, S. (2009).
Modified hopcalite prepared by gel combustion synthesis as novel partial oxidation catalysts. In
Preparation.
Kahn, M., Seubsai, A., Senkan, S. (2008).
Combinatorial/High-Throughput Heterogeneous Catalysis: Direct Epoxidation of Propylene. Accepted to
Combi. Chem. & High Through. Screen., Feb 2009.
Duan, S., Kahn, M., Senkan, S. (2007).
High-throughput nanoparticle catalysis: Partial oxidation of propylene. Combi. Chem. & High Through.
Screen., 10 (2), 111 – 119.
Senkan, S., Kahn, M., Duan, S., Ly, A., Liedholm, C. (2006).
High-Throughput Metal Nanoparticle Catalysis by Pulsed Laser Ablation. Catalysis Today, 117, 291 –
296.
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