Get to know one of our graduate students!
Kevin Johan Zabala Rodriguez is from Barranquitas Colombia, and is pursuing a master’s degree in Sciences of Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Zabala is currently in his third semester and is an active member of PREM, working in the colloidal and soft material area. His project is about “Influence of chemically-functionalized gold nanoparticles on emulsions of thermotropic liquid crystals”. This project focuses on improving the optical response and the stability of LC emulsions by preventing coalescence. Knowing the stabilizing properties of particles at interfaces of water-oil emulsions and the sensitive characteristics of liquid crystals. Their approach makes use of AuNPs functionalized with binary mixtures of self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols displaying polar (i.e., hydroxyl or amine) and non-polar (methyl) groups to trigger changes in LC droplet configurations that can be readily observed using polarized light.
Zabala’s career goals include getting a job for where he can apply his knowledge, and improve processes and products in the industry. After obtaining the experience in a company, he is also determined to apply for a doctoral program in Chemical Engineering and continuing his studies.
