Amanda has experience in both biological systems and materials characterization. She worked for nearly five years in the Materials Characterization Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, specializing in electron microscopy and associated sample preparation techniques such as ultramicrotomy, ion milling, electropolishing, and coatings. She is now part of the NEST facility on the UD campus.

Her master's research was done in the laboratory of Dr. Barbara Hull at Wright State University, where she examined the effect of direct current on process formation in human dermal fibroblasts in a collagen matrix. For her experiments and graduate teaching responsibilities, she prepared cells for viewing with fluorescent, phase contrast, and light microscopy by an aseptic technique and by cyto/immunohistochemistry and histological sectioning and staining.

She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in materials engineering at the University of Dayton. Her expected graduation date is August 2007.

Professional Interests:

• Electron microscopy of materials and biological samples
• Skin therapies for wound healing such as electric current applications
• Nanoparticle-cell interactions
• Bioengineering of tissues

Education:

Ph.D., Materials Engineering, University of Dayton (Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute (DAGSI) Full Assistantship), 2007
M.S., Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 2001
B.S., Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 1999

Professional Affiliations:

Microscopy Society of America (MSA)
The Materials Information Society (ASM)

Selected Presentations:

“A Dermal Equivalent Model Containing Human Dermal Fibroblasts Exposed to Direct Current,” presented at The Microscopy Society of the Ohio River Valley, May 19, 2000.

“Nanotechnology from the Eye of the Microscope,” presented at the University of Dayton Stander Symposium, April 6, 2005.  PDF, 2.4 MB