Keynote and Workshop Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Jeffrey D. Clogston, PhD
Principal Scientist, Physicochemical Characterization, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL)
Maryland, USA
Dr. Jeffrey D. Clogston is a Principal Scientist and the Head of the Physicochemical Characterization Section at the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL). In his position, Dr. Clogston conducts physicochemical characterization and standardization of nanoparticles, develops new analytical methodology for critical quality attributes, and assesses current instrumentation for nanoparticle characterization. Dr. Clogston has been with the lab for over 16 years. During this time, Jeff has helped to establish many protocols for nanoparticle characterization, working collaboratively with experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and standards organizations such ASTM International and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Prior to joining the NCL in March 2006, Dr. Clogston received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. His areas of expertise include physicochemical characterization of and in vitro release from lipid- and polymer- based drug delivery systems, development of novel analytical methodologies to address characterization challenges and gaps, and protein and lipid biochemistry.
Dr. Natalia P. Ivleva is a senior researcher at IWC-TUM. She studied chemistry and biology at the Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russia). After receiving her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1997 from the Institute of Chemical Physics (Chernogolovka, Russia), she started her postdoc at the same institute. In 2003, she joined the Institute of Hydrochemistry (IWC) and Chair of Analytical Chemistry at the TUM, where she is now leading Raman & SEM Group. In 2019, Dr. Ivleva accomplished her habilitation “Raman Microspectroscopy for Environmental Analysis”. Her research interests focus on the analysis of complex environmental and industrial samples by means of Raman microspectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and stable isotope approach, with special attention on online/high- throughput analytics. She combines Raman-based methods with techniques based on electron microscopy and also with different separation and fractionation approaches (asymmetrical flow (AF4) and centrifugal field-flow fractionation (CF3)) for the identification, quantification, and characterization of various analytes/pollutants, ranging from biofilms and microorganisms through engineered (magnetic) nanoparticles to micro- and nanoplastics.
Natalia P. Ivleva, PhD
Head of Raman & SEM Group, Institute of Hydrochemistry (IWC), Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Garching, Germany
Susanne Boye, PhD
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Institut Makromolekulare Chemie, Zentrum Makromolekulare Strukturanalyse
Dresden, Germany
Dr. Susanne Boye graduated in biochemical engineering in Dresden in 2006. Afterwards, she wrote her doctoral thesis in the polymer separation field, entitled “Modern fractionation techniques for branched polymers”, at the Technical University Dresden and IPF. From 2103-2014 she joined the young scientist group ChemIT in the excellence “Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden” as a postoral researcher. As a member of the Polymer Separation Group, she established the AF4 technique at the IPF. She has further dealt with the application and sophisticated development of AF4 with multidetection systems. Susanne is particularly interested in the physicochemical and in-depth characterization of polymer-protein conjugates, complex synthetic and natural (bio-)nanostructures, and molecular interactions. She has specific expertise in the field of conformation analysis of biomacromolecules.
Dr. Xiaoming Xu serves as Lab Chief in Division of Product Quality Research in Office of Testing and Research in FDA, where he leads multiple regulatory research areas such as complex formulations, nanomaterials and advanced manufacturing. Xiaoming is a member of FDA Nanotechnology Task Force and is responsible for developing international collaborative programs and standards in areas related to nanotechnology. Xiaoming is a passionate and successful educator and mentor. He has developed and directed several training courses within the FDA on complex and challenging topics such as particle size analysis and drug release for complex formulations. He has mentored 15 postdoctoral fellows and summer students. Xiaoming is also an editorial board member of the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Pharmaceutics from China Pharmaceutical University and Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Science from University of Connecticut.
Xiaoming Xu, PhD
Lab Chief, Division of Product Quality Research; Office of Testing and Research, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality; Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Maryland, USA
Wyatt N. Vreeland, PhD
Chemical Engineer, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Maryland, USA
Dr. Wyatt N. Vreeland performed his PhD thesis research at Northwestern University in Chemical and Biological Engineering where he developed synthetic organic chemistries for production of large bio- mimetic molecules to be used in various genomic applications. After completing his Ph.D. research, Dr. Vreeland joined the microfluidic research group at NIST as a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Laurie Locascio. Dr. Vreeland is now a permanent member of NIST’s scientific research staff. In these duties he manages a research lab that focuses on the manufacture, manipulation, and measurement of various colloidal particle systems of interest to the academic biology community (extracellular vesicles and lipoproteins) and/or the pharmaceutical industry (viral vectors for gene therapy, lipid nanoparticle and liposomes). Over his 20 years at NIST he has co-invented and developed the seminal technology to create lipidic nanoparticles as well as a suite of flow-based separations with light scatting characterization. Dr. Vreeland also was detailed as Embassy Science Fellow to the US Embassy – Prague where he established and strengthened ties between the Czech and US biotech research communities as well as identifying and assessing areas of strategic growth of mutual benefit to the two countries.
Dr. Alina Astefanei obtained her PhD from the University of Barcelona on a thesis that concerned the characterization of carbon nanoparticles. She then joined the HIMS institute at the University of Amsterdam, where she was appointed assistant professor in 2019. Her work is now directed at methodological innovation to solve problems of high impact on society, such as environmental science and art conservation. Alina is developing tools for detailed characterization and quantitation of both large and small molecules, to understand how they interact with each other, and change over time in different conditions. Field-flow fractionation and mass spectrometry form the main technology platform.
Alina Astefanei, PhD
Faculty of Science Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Workshop Speakers
Serge Battu, PhD
Professor at University of Limoges
Limoges, France
Dr. Serge Battu is a Pharmacist, and he received is PhD degree from the University of Limoges in 1997 in Cellular and Molecular Biology (separation and characterization of eicosanoids by LC-MS). After his promotion he was pointed Assistant Professor (1998) and Professor (2013) of Analytical Chemistry at University of Limoges. Since 1998, his research has been focused to develop SdFFF prototypes and methodology for cell sorting (4 patents). Since his pioneering study on neurons sorting, he particularly works in the field of oncology, neurology, stem cells (normal and cancer stem cells), and microbiology. He has published over 70 scientific articles and book chapters. He founded with G. Lespes (IPREM, Pau) and M. Martin (ESPCI, Paris), the French-speaking group of FFF or G4F. He has been developing the coupling of FFF with new DEP-biosensors for clinical applications. He is also at the origin of the creation of a start-up company, Damoclès, with a view to applications in the field of microbiological diagnosis.
Dr. Wei Gao is a Principal Research Scientist in Analytical Science, Corporate Research and Development, at Dow Inc. She received her BS degree from Fudan University and PhD in Polymer Chemistry and Physics from Peking University. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow and an Associate Professor in the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Employment at the NSF-I/UCRC center for Biocatalyisis and Bioprocessing of Macromolecules at Polytechnic University (Now NYU Tandon School of Engineering) followed in 2000, and in 2005 she became a Research Assistant Professor. In 2006, Wei joined Rohm and Haas/Dow. She intensively works on polymer and particle characterization, the synthesis−structure−property relationship of polymeric and colloidal systems, and sustainable polymers. She has published over 30 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters, edited one book, and has more than 20 patents and patent applications. She has organized American Chemical Society (ACS) symposia in the areas of separation and characterization of macromolecules and particles, polymer sciences for everyday things, polymer colloids, and industrial innovation of polymer science. She is a lifetime member of Chinese American Chemical Society (CACS) member. She also served on the scientific program committee for the GPC2015 conference and the steering board member for international symposium on Field- and Flow-Based Separations (FFF2018 and FFF2022). She was the recipient of the NOVA Innovation Award from Rohm and Haas Company (2008), US EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (2003 and 2013), Vernon A. Strenger Scientists’ Award from Dow (2019), and ACS Polymer Chemistry Division (POLY) fellow (2021).
Wei Gao, PhD
Principle Research Scientist, Corporate Research and Development, Dow Inc.
Pennsylvania, USA