Jeffrey V. Zurawski

5109 Huntingdon Dr. Raleigh, NC 27606 / Phone: (303) 807-1933 Email:

OBJECTIVE

To work in a position in biomolecular engineeringin the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State UniversityMay, 2016

M.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University2012

B. S.,Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University 2009

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

GraduateResearch AssistantAug 2010 – Present

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

PI: Robert Kelly

Summary: Research focus on microbial physiology of extreme thermophiles with emphasis on characterization and optimization of microbial lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction and conversion

Skills and Experience:

  • Cultivation of extremely thermophilic bacteria, E. coli and yeast
  • Analytical method development and validation
  • HPLC and GC analysis of fermentation products
  • Bioreactor setup and operation (2-liter and 20-liter scale)
  • DNA and RNA isolation and analysis
  • Oligonucleotide array design, printing and gene expression analysis
  • Protein expression, purification and activity assay development

Graduate Research AssociateMay 2009 – Aug 2010

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

PI: Kenneth Reardon

Summary: Research focus on characterization and conversion of residual algal biomass after lipid extraction to higher value chemicals

Skills and Experience:

  • Culturing of algae and E. coli
  • Design, setup and operation of photo-bioreactors

WORK EXPERIENCE

Process Safety Lab Intern, Pfizer Research and Development Groton, CT May 2008 –Aug 2008

  • Developed methodology and clarified analysis of thermal screening unit (TSU) testing.
  • Created experimental plans to study the effect of decreasing sample size on safety analysis.

Summer Intern Production Projects. Amgen, Juncos, Puerto Rico May 2006 – Aug 2006

  • Coordinated projects in the fill and finish facility utilizing both Spanish and English Communication
  • Created URS (user requirement specifications) and work orders

Summer Intern QAL, Amgen, Longmont, CO May 2005 – Aug 2005

  • Performed chemical tests according to cGMP guidelines on raw materials used in the production process of bio pharmaceuticals.
  • Documented all work in a laboratory notebook according to cGDP guidelines

Production Projects Assistant, Amgen, Longmont, CO June 2004 –Aug 2004

  • Worked on several projects including Cell Culture operations and business processes.
  • Performed historical data collection and reviewed to support non-conformance investigations.

PUBLICATIONS

Zurawski J .V., Conway J.M., Lee L.L., Simpson H.J., Izquierdo J.A., Blumer-Schuette S.E., Nookaew I., Adams M.W.W. and Kelly R.M. (2015) Comparative Analysis of Extremely Thermophilic Caldicellulosiruptor Species Reveals Common and Unique Cellular Strategies for Plant Biomass Utilization. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 81: 7159–7170.

Zurawski, J. V., Blumer-Schuette, S. E., Conway, J. M., and Kelly, R. M. (2014) The Extremely Thermophilic Genus Caldicellulosiruptor: Physiological and Genomic Characteristics for Complex Carbohydrate Conversion to Molecular Hydrogen, in Microbial Bioenergy: Hydrogen Production, Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration (Zannoni, D., and De Philippis, R., Eds.), pp 177–195.

Conway, J. M., Pierce, W. S., Le, J. H., Harper, G. W., Wright, J. H., Tucker, A. L.,Zurawski, J.V., Lee, L.L., Blumer-Schuette, S.E., and Kelly, R. M. (2016). Multi-domain, surface layer associated glycoside hydrolases contribute to plant polysaccharide degradation by Caldicellulosiruptor species. J. Biol. Chem.doi:10.1074/jbc.M115.707810

Blumer-Schuette, S. E., Giannone, R. J., Zurawski, J. V., Ozdemir, I., Ma, Q., Yin, Y., Xu, Y., Kataeva, I., Poole, F. L., Adams, M. W. W., Hamilton-Brehm, S. D., Elkins, J. G., Larimer, F. W., Land, M. L., Hauser, L. J., Cottingham, R. W., Hettich, R. L., and Kelly, R. M. (2012) Caldicellulosiruptor core and pangenomes reveal determinants for noncellulosomal thermophilic deconstruction of plant biomass. J. Bacteriol. 194, 4015–28

Blumer-Schuette, S.E., Alahuhta, M., Conway, J.M., Lee, L.L., Zurawski, J.V., Giannone, R.J., Hettich, R.L., Lunin, V.V., Himmel, M.E., and Kelly, R.M.(2015)Discrete and structurally unique proteins (tāpirins) mediate attachment of extremely thermophilic Caldicellulosiruptorspecies to celluloses. J. Biol. Chem. 290:10645-10656

TEACHING AND MENTORING

Teaching Assistant, North Carolina State University

  • BIT 564 – Protein Purification 2012 - 2014
  • CHE 312 – Transport Processes II 2011
  • CHE 551 – Biochemical Engineering 2011

Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University

  • CBE 201 – Material and Energy Balances 2009

Undergraduate Mentor

  • Directed 5 undergraduate students on summer and semester research projects 2012 - 2015

LANGUAGES AND ACOMPLISHMENTS

Languages

  • English – Native Language
  • Spanish – Proficient (speaking, reading); Intermediate (writing)

Accomplishments

  • President – NC State CHE Graduate Student Association 2011
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Vice President, Secretary and Chronicler 2004 - 2006

REFERENCES

Available Upon Request