Education

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B.S. Chemical Engineering — University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

August 2021 – December 2025

Professional Experience

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Process Development Researcher — University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

June – December 2025

• Developed and optimized Aspen Plus simulation models of different configurations of operating units for supercritical transesterification of waste cooking oil.
• Performed a techno-economic analysis of equipment sizing and selection for a batch reactor for enzymatic transesterification of waste cooking oil.
• Regressed ternary glycerol-ester-ethanol equilibrium data to refine phase behavior modeling of decanter separations in Aspen Plus.
• Supported lab activities involving HPLC and enzymatic reactions.

Process Engineer Intern — PegasusTSI, Tampa, FL

July – August 2023

• Developed and refined a complex hydraulic model for a 15,000 GPM multi-loop cooling water system using AFT Fathom.
• Prepared standard calculation templates for sizing rupture disks and pressure relief valves per the API-520 Standard.
• Generated PFD stream tables for a Rare Earth facility across multiple scenarios by interpolating third-party heat and material balance data in CHEMCAD and Excel macros.
• Developed Visual Basic programs to automate information transfer and spreadsheet formatting for PFD stream table development.

Process-Mechanical Engineer Intern — Stantec, Tampa, FL

July – August 2022

• Developed an Excel/VBA tool to calculate daily feed rates for four anaerobic digesters during startup, based on lab results using mass balance calculations and recommended operating ranges. (Project Article)
• Validated and updated contents of valve, pipe, and equipment schedules by cross-referencing P&IDs and mechanical drawings.
• Collaborated on an interdisciplinary review for a 4,800 cfs stormwater pump station and reservoir project.
• Troubleshot a pump station hydraulic model in Pipe-Flo to determine deviations against field operating data.
• Developed a MATLAB script for dynamic simulation of a digester overflow event to size required sludge containment.

Capstone Design Project

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Project Lead — “A Sustainable Supply Chain Biodiesel Production System from Waste Cooking Oil” (Project Article)

• Focused on the reuse of waste cooking oil in the Tampa Bay area using enzymatic and supercritical transesterification in a two-stage process.
• Researched process designs, conceptualized base configuration, developed mass and energy balances, and integrated the design in an Aspen Plus simulation including a heat exchanger network, optimized separation train, reaction system, and dynamic control scheme.
• Coordinated group efforts to develop an economic analysis, batch reactor modelling, PFDs, P&IDs, HAZOP/LOPA analysis, and the final report.

Other Key Projects

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• Developed a multiloop control strategy for a naphtha cracker in Simulink to maximize profit by regulating excess oxygen and furnace temperature via fuel and air feed adjustments. (Project Article)
• Developed an extractive distillation process model in Aspen Plus for the separation of methanol and toluene, optimizing cost by adjusting stage count and reflux ratio using sensitivity analysis. (Project Article)
• Sized a combined water-gas shift and CO₂ adsorption reactor in MATLAB to adjust the CO:H₂ ratio of a syngas gasifier feed in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner. (Project Article)

Skills

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Process Engineering & Design
Process simulation, mass and energy balances, process optimization, PFD/P&ID development, equipment sizing, process scale-up, techno-economic analysis, lifecycle cost and feasibility evaluation.

Simulation & Modeling Software
Aspen Plus, CHEMCAD, AFT Fathom, Pipe-FLO

Programming & Data Analysis
Python, MATLAB & Simulink, Excel VBA/Macros

Engineering Tools
Microsoft Office, Power BI, Visio, SolidWorks (CSWA Certified)

Process Improvement & Operations
Process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, statistical process control, process validation

Safety & Compliance
Pressure relief system design (API 520), HAZOP and LOPA analysis, process safety management (PSM)

Certifications

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• Engineer in Training (EIT) — Chemical Engineering, certified January 2026
• AIChE SAChE Safety Certifications (February 2023 – November 2024)

Languages

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English (fluent), Spanish (fluent)

U.S. citizen — authorized to work for any employer, no sponsorship required.