Young dynamic scientific woman, I have professional experiences, that either in industry (AREVA NC La Hague, treatment and recycling of used nuclear fuel site) or in laboratory (UNLV radiochemistry section, working on Technetium and Los Alamos National Laboratory, working on actinium chemistry).
My current interests are focused on developing fundamental concepts that advance use of radio-pharmaceutical anti-cancer agents. As such, my research lies at the intersection of synchrotron spectroscopy, radiochemistry, and inorganic chemistry. In general, I draw from my experiences in studying nuclear fuel cycles, technetium chemistry, and actinium and the other actinide elements to develop creative solutions to technical problems in radio-pharmaceutical chelation.
My position at the School of Medicine at UW in the Radiation and Oncology department is involved with several funded research projects. I was involved in the production and/or labeling studies in Dr. Wilbur's laboratory with several different radionuclides, such as At-211, Th-227/226, and U-230. My position enabled me to work on targetry and isotope production, as well as develop separation chemistry, study the radiolabelling ability of few ligands (made in house and commercially available) and help with proposal writing to help the expansion of the program.
Company Description
School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Inorganic Isotope and Actinide Chemistry group
February 2015
to March 2018
Full-time
Los Alamos
United States - New Mexico
Evaluate electronic structure and bonding in trivalent actinides (Ac, Am, Cm) vs. lanthanides for development of actinide technologies (e.g., separations relevant to nuclear forensics, development of advanced fuel cycles and use of actinide in alpha-therapeutic treatment of cancer)
Determined reproducible and high recovery radiochemical and chemical purification process for Ac-227 and Am-243
Synthesize actinium, americium and curium compounds for analysis
Use X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) spectroscopy at synchrotron facility for analysis
Designed triply containments for highly radioactive liquid sample analysis
Coordinated shipping of highly radioactive material to and from facilities
Wrote proposals for beam time access at Stanford, successfully
Benchmarked synthesis yield and purification process yield for Ac-227 chemistry using Ac-225 and gamma spectroscopy measurements
Compare Ac-227 XAS data with Am-243 and Cm-248 XAS data on known compounds to validate XAS methodology
Collaborated with theoretical group at LANL to create adequate models in order to analyze data from XAS experiments
Ph.D. Thesis "Chemistry of technetium sulfide: Application for waste form storage" • Bibliographic research on transition metal sulfides chemistry • Syntheses of rhenium sulfide performed as in literature and transposed to technetium-its analog • Solution work in organic or acidic media with use of Schlenk line techniques • Solid work in sealed tube at high temperature • Characterization used: o Spectroscopy analysis:
* UV-Visible (UV-Vis) used for kinetic and speciation studies * Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS) for elemental analysis * X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) to determine amorphous compound local geometry and environment * Infra-Red (IR) to have molecular structure o Other methods: * Mass spectrometry to determine the mass of unknown compounds * Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm crystalline structure * Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) for elemental analysis for technetium
Independent studies: • Developed protocol to prepare simulated melt glass in high temperature furnace • Assisted senior laboratory researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during dissolution of irradiated foils • Facilitated production of melt glass with activated products and shipment to Los Alamos, Pacific Northwest and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories • Trained first year Ph.D. student to produce melt glass • Mentored undergraduate students during Fuel Cycle Summer School to produce and characterize different type of urban material surrogate
Detailed Description
The focus of my research is on the synthesis of technetium sulfide species. The high fission yield isotope technetium-99 has a long half-life (2.13x10-5 years) and the ability to form mobile species (TcO4-) which is a major concern for its final disposal. While ongoing research examines Tc alloys or oxides, acquisition of new fundamental knowledge on technetium sulfide chemistry could be useful for novel waste forms. The work I have been involved focused on technetium oxosulfide complexes and the already known technetium sulfides compounds: TcS2 and Tc2S7. This research led me to be proficient with the following analyzers: UV-Visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Infra-red spectroscopy, to present my results at national and international conferences, and publish in peer reviewed journals.
Company Description
Radiochemistry Program (study the chemistry of actinides, technetium and other radionuclides)
Complexes for stable chelation of actinium and actinium-daughter radioisotopes • Implemented known separation schemes to isolate Ac-225 from a Th-229 generator • Defined adequate conditions to quantify complexation o Established developing media for thin layer chromatography analysis o Used phosphor imaging and gamma spectroscopy to evaluate labeling efficiencies o Conceptualized an EXCEL document to automatically determine the percentage of complexation from gamma spectroscopy data • Determined selectivity for home-made and commercial ligands between Ac and Bi • Followed kinetics of complex formation between Bi and ligands • Assessed stability of complexes by introducing challenging ligand or metals • Synthesized new bismuth complexes • Characterized compounds by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and XRD
Detailed Description
LA-UR-14-25323
Radionuclides are commonly used for biological imaging and therapy. Gamma-emitters and positron-emitters are favorable for imaging purposes, whereas beta-emitters may be used for therapeutic applications. Recently, significant research efforts have explored targeted alpha therapy (TAT) as a promising treatment for cancers and infectious disease. Alpha particles properties (i.e., high linear energy transfer and short range) are valuable because they deliver high cytotoxic radiation dose to targeted cells, while limiting damage to non-diseased cells. To assure that the radionuclide is delivered to the desired site in the body, two components are needed: a biological targeting vector and a chelating agent attached to the chosen radionuclide. A relatively new radionuclide, Ac-225, is lately of interest for TAT. Ac-225 is an alpha-emitting nuclide with a 9.9 days half-life. From the Ac-225 decay scheme, the four alphas emitted come from Ac-225, Fr-221, At-217 and either Bi-213 or Po-213. Alternatively, Ac-225 can be used as a generator for the shorter-lived daughter isotope: Bi-213. The stability of actinium and bismuth complexes for a series of nitrogen containing heterocycles was investigated. The affinity of the ligands for one or the other metal was investigated as well as the stability of the complexes formed. The labelled complexes were challenged by addition of competing metal ions, or competing ligands such as EDTA or transferrin. The kinetics of formation of the complexes and their stability were followed by spotting aliquots on a TLC plate. The TLC plates were analyzed using phosphorimaging techniques and gamma spectroscopy. New, viable chelators for Ac-225 and Bi-213 were studied and showed rapid kinetics and elevated stability against various metal ions and ligands that could compete in biological environment.
Chemical and electrochemical studies technetium metal in acidic media • Potentials of dissolution determined by linear voltammetry and Tafel Plot • Dissolution rates of technetium at constant potential applied were obtained by measuring the concentration of technetium in solution by UV-Vis and LSC • Products of corrosion were analyzed in solution by UV-Vis and on the surface of the electrode by EDS and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
AREVA, NC La Hague Unit of extraction/concentration
June 2006
to September 2006
Internship
La Hague
France
Study of the PUREX process in industrial scale: learn schemes for unit of extraction/concentration and solvent regeneration with all different components (pumps, columns, evaporators, ...) and all specifications (chemicals, flow rates, concentrations, temperatures, ...)
Optimization and standardization of analytical programs of units with creation of a table summarizing and comparing all analysis workshops and suggesting areas for improvement achievable
Development of autonomy, creativity, initiative, relational and practical approach to office work
L2M (Laboratory of Macromolecular Material) INSA Rouen
January 2007
to April 2007
Student Project
Rouen
France
Copolymerization of dimethyl ketone with other ketones • Copolymerization reactions and solvent distillation • Controlled and reproducible results were obtained with analysis in line with expectation • New terms of reference were established • Equipment and techniques used in analysis: DGA, NMR (carbon and hydrogen), DSC
“Holidays for all” - we allowed underprivileged children to discover the sea • Partnership with an non-profit association "Secours Catholique" • Realization of the whole project (organisation, budget, harvesting money, time management …)
