Issak Proano

Issak M. Proano

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

University of Delaware

Newark, DE 19716

Email: iproano@udel.edu │ Phone: (917) 690-6081


Education:

      • University of Delaware (08/2019 – Present)

Graduate Research Assistant – Ph.D. Program in Chemistry and Biochemistry

Concentration: Analytical Chemistry

      • City University of New York – Brooklyn College (08/2014 – 06/2019)

B.S. in Chemistry


Research Experience:

      • University of Delaware (08/2019 – Present)

Research aims/topics to be determined.

      • New York University (08/2016 – 08/2019)

Department of Chemistry and the Molecular Design Institute at New York University

Advisor: Prof. Stefano Sacanna

At New York University, we investigated the effects of gravity on the crystallization

tendencies of colloidal superballs (also known as pseudocubes) based on previous work

performed on STS-73 onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. The gravitational forces that

all colloidal particles experience on the surface of the Earth have the ability to mask some

of the most basic interactions between colloids when crystallizing, and understanding the

mechanisms through which these particles take their crystalline morphologies (which are

akin to atoms/molecules on the atomic scale) are integral to solving problems in condensed

matter science. Once these mechanisms are well understood, tailor-made colloidal systems

can be built to yield structures for applications ranging from optics and information

transfer, to self-assembling materials for space exploration. This research was performed

in conjunction with the Department of Physics at New York University, the Center for Soft

Matter Research (CSMR) at New York University, the NASA John H. Glenn Research

Center in Cleveland, Ohio, ZIN Technologies in Cleveland, Ohio, and the crew onboard

the International Space Station.

      • University of New Mexico (05/2016 – 08/2016)

Department of Chemical Engineering

Advisor(s): Profs. Sang M. Han and Sang Eon Han

At the University of New Mexico, we investigated the effects of periodicity in coatings of

colloidal silica spheres on their ability to perform radiative cooling upon their substrates.

In the United States, a massive expenditure on the energy budget is dedicated to providing

cooling for many applications, from refrigeration to air conditioning. Radiative cooling is

a viable alternative that is able to use incoming solar radiation to thermally cool the

substrates they are upon, and colloidal coatings designed for this purpose provide a cost-

efficient method to make this technology available to the public. This research was

performed in conjunction with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

in Dayton, Ohio, and Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.


Teaching Experience:

    • City University of New York – Brooklyn College

Tutor of General Chemistry (08/2014 – 05/2016)

Activities and Memberships:

    • American Chemical Society

Student Member (06/2017 – Present)

    • New York University Molecular Design Institute Outreach Program (01/2019)

We hosted 3rd– 5th grade students from various New York City high schools to introduce

engage them to what science and research entails, while performing simple experiments.