Cecilia Rhoades

Multi-disciplinary laboratory chemist with 3+ years in academic research laboratories and 1+ years in ISO 9001 certified environments. Proficient in analytical method development using ICP-OES, SEM, and FT-IR, with working knowledge of GLP, including OSHA storage, labeling, and waste handling. Intermediate in Python and R languages for data reporting and visualization.

R&D Laboratory Technician - Water Filtration Laboratories, Kymera International - Durham, NC, USA

(2025-04 - 2026-03)

• Supporting ISO 9001 QMS by maintaining SDS documentation, flammability, inventory records
• Analyzing copper, heavy metals in water samples using ICP-OES, wet chemistry, acid digestion
• Testing chlorine reduction according to NSF-177 with spectrophotometers, bench top meters
• Collaborating with company EHS, procurement, engineering teams, and training peers
• Developing calibration standards, curves, and SOPs for titration of secondary standards

Laboratory Technician Intern - FirePoint, National Institute for Aviation Research - Wichita, KS, USA

(2023-05 - 2023-08)

• Assisted in the building of airplane panels; sanding metal, preparation for autoclave curing
• Mounted carbon fiber material cross-sections with epoxy resin and polishing for SEM
• Imaged mounted samples on a Jeol SEM, EBSD, and a brief XPS training under supervision
• Reported and presented my summer experience to FirePoint, NIAR, military leaders & interns

Undergraduate Research Assistant - USDA FarmMore Program, Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL, USA

(2021-08 - 2023-05)

• Managed a farm of over 30 varieties of crops, managing soil health with chemical fertilizers
• Developed medicinal and beauty products in a laboratory, utilizing steam distillation of oil or extraction of syrups from crops
• Performed research on cannabinoids under Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) program

Summer Undergraduate Research Assistant - Curry Research Group, Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL, USA

(2021-06 - 2021-08)

• Assisted graduate student research; fabrication of ZiO nanoparticles uniformly across cellulose, chelated using bPEI and reduced with sodium borohydride
• Performed lab synthesis using wet chemistry; centrifugation, and solution preparation
• Presented research poster to the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (CSN) and peers

B.S. - Chemistry - Tuskegee University (2020-06 - 2024-05)