Dawn Lynn Nida, Ph.D.
Mobile +1.512.775.7251 | dawnnida13@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/dawnnida Education Rice University, Houston, TX
Doctor of Philosophy: Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Topic: Development of optical probes for in vivo imaging
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum North Carolina State
Master of Science:
Thesis Topic: Supervisor: 2008
University, Raleigh, NC
2000
Materials Engineering
TEM/Mathematical characterization of twinning in III-V semiconductors Dr. Nadia El-Masry
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelor of Science: Materials Engineering
1998
Research and Professional Experience
Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA
Food Protection Team – Materials Engineer, GS-12
2009-present
- Developed methods to functionalize nanofibers with bio-recognition elements
- Developed proposal and secured funding, leading basic research team in the development of methods to functionalize and characterize (chemical/electrical) graphene with bio-recognition elements
- Characterized degree of labeling using confocal microcopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, AFM and SEM
- Initiated proposal and led team to develop techniques and methods to determine the physical and
genetic responses of pathogens to stressors
- Developed multiple methodologies to extract pathogens from food samples - Developed XRF techniques to detect heavy metals in food sources
- Coordinated and influenced multiple disciplinary teams involving national labs and universities to
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develop biological and chemical assays to understand nanoparticle interactions with cells
Developed graphene-based field effect transistors to detect pathogens
Developed methods to characterize and understand nanoparticle cytotoxicity due to digestion
Designed and built a bench top fluorescent reader for pathogen detection captured on nanofibers
Developed field portable techniques to isolate and detect chemical toxins and compared to AOAC
methods
Collaborating with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Institute of Soldier Nanotechnology),
University of California, Santa Barbara (Institute of Collaborative Biotechnology, University of
Massachusetts - Lowell and Trition Systems Inc. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nanoscale Sensing Lab, Cambridge, MA. 2008-2009
Post Doctoral Researcher
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Designed mass enhancement techniques to detect pathogens
Reconfigured suspended micro-channel resonator system for mass detection
Designed and implemented sedimentation assays
Characterized mass-based enhancement agents with: SEM, wide-field microscopy, absorbance and cell culture
Optimization of gold-antibody labeling techniques
University of Texas / Rice University, Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging Lab, Austin, TX.
Graduate Research Assistant
2002-2008
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Synthesized CdTe quantum dots via high temperature organometallic synthesis
Designed synthesis techniques to functionalize quantum dot surfaces Designed synthesis techniques to tether antibodies to quantum dots
Developed new contrast agents
Characterized contrast agents with: TEM, XRD, Absorption Spectroscopy, PL, DLS, Confocal Microscopy
- Utilized targeted quantum dots to label and image squamous cell carcinoma
- Directed targeting of quantum dots and organic dyes to mouse tumors in vivo
- Comparison of targeting proteins in vivo using whole animal fluorescent imaging
Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Austin, TX.
Failure Analysis Engineer/Photolithography Engineer
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2000-2001
Maintained all photolithography processes within statistical process control
Used analysis techniques to determine the physical cause of failure in DRAM
Determined the processing step(s) responsible for failure
Feedback to processing engineers to remedy problem
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Graduate Research Assistant
1998-2000
- Characterization of III-V thin film semiconductor materials
- Used transmission electron microscopy to characterize defects in III-V semiconductors
- Mathematically verified twinning of III-V semiconductors from diffraction patterns obtained via TEM National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.
Student Researcher
Summer,1998
- Correlated interfacial reactions in metal contacts (Ti, Al, Ni, Au) to GaN with phase equilibria in the
Metal/GaN systems
- Aided in experimental and mathematical analysis to develop ternary phase diagrams of metals and
semiconductors
- Assessed pressure-temperature-composition phase diagram of the GaN/Metal system
Publications
1. Sokolov K, Aaron J, Hsu B, Nida D, Gillenwater A, Follen M., MacAulay C, Alder-Storthz K, Korgel B,
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Descour M., Pasqualini R, Arap W, Lam W, Richards-Kortum R., “Optical Systems for In Vivo Molecular
Imaging of Cancer,” Opt. Express 11, 1436-1451 (2003).
Nida D, Rahman M, Carlson K, Richards-Kortum R, Follen M, “Fluorescent Nanocrystals for Use in Early
Cervical Cancer Detection,” Gynecological Oncology 2005, 99 (3), S89-S94.
Sokolov K, Nida D, Descour M, Lacy A, Dharmawardhane S, Ellington A, Korgel B, Richards-Kortum R.
(2006). Molecular Optical Imaging of Therapeutic Targets of Cancer. Adv. Cancer Research 2007, 96,
299-344.
Nida D, Nitin N, Yu W, Colvin V, Richards-Kortum R, “Photostability of Quantum Dots with Varied Surface
Passivation Strategies,” Nanotechnology 2008, 19 (3), Art. 035701.
Muldoon T, Nida D, Gillenwater A, Richards-Kortum R, “Subcellular resolution molecular imaging within
living tissue by fiber microendoscopy,” Optics Express 2007, 15(25), 16413-16423.
Marek P, Senecal K, Nida D, Magnone J, Senecal A, “Application of a biotin functionalized QD assay for
determining available binding sites on electrospun nanofiber membrane,” J. Nanotech 2011 9(48). Presentations and Posters
Nida D, Hsu E, Shieh F, Korgel B, Follen M, Sokolov K Richards-Kortum K, “Cellular labeling of SiHa and oral
biopsies with quantum dot bioconjugates” SPIE Photonics West Biomedical Optics, January 2005.
Nida D, Hsu E, Shieh F, Korgel B, Follen M, Sokolov K Richards-Kortum K, “Cellular labeling of SiHa and oral
biopsies with quantum dot bioconjugates” poster presentation, Gordon Research Conference on Lasers in
Medicine and Biology, July 2004.
Nida D, Hsu E, Shieh F, Korgel B, Follen M, Sokolov K Richards-Kortum K, “Cellular labeling of SiHa and oral
biopsies with quantum dot bioconjugates” SPIE Photonics West Biomedical Optics, January 2004.
Nida D, Nitin N, Yu W, Colvin V Richards-Kortum K, “Quantum Dot Conjugates: An Evaluation of Passivation
Strategies” SPIE Photonics West Biomedical Optics, January 2007.
Knudsen S, Nida D, von Muhlen M, Delgado F, Marek P, Magnone J, Senecal A, Manalis S, “Suspended
Microchannel Resonators for Pathogen Detection” ICB, March 2009.
Benjamin Mailly, Allen Hsu, Francesco Pappalardo, Dawn Nida, Elio Guidetti, Luigi Occhipinti, Salvatore
Coffa, Jing Kong, Tomas Palacios, “Graphene Chemical Sensors on Flexible Substrates,” American
Physical Society, March 2012 .
Teaching Experience
Lecturer, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University
2006
- Mechanical Testing Laboratory (BIOE 444)
Research Supervisor, The University of Texas at Austin
- Mentored 1 electrical engineering undergraduate student 2004-2005
“Development of new optically active contrast agents”
- Mentored 1 biomedical engineering undergraduate student
2005
“Conjugation of CdTe quantum dots to targeting ligands”
Research Supervisor, Rice University
- Mentored 1 chemistry undergraduate student for project in conjunction with 2005
Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology Research Experience for Undergraduates (CBEN-REU)
“Development of Nanoshells”
Lecturer, Materials/Mechanical Engineering Department, North Carolina State University 2000
- Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I (MAE 305)