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Alexei A. Valiaev

144 Hudson Hall, Duke University, Box 90300, Durham NC, 27708, Tel: (919) 218-5264, av12@duke.edu

Entrepreneurial leader with five years of graduate research experience and two years of industry experience. Passionate and result-oriented team player. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

 

EDUCATION

Duke University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Durham, NC

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, 09/2006.

Thesis: “Mechanical Properties of Elastin-like Polypeptides Single Molecules and Surface Grafts”

Primary Specialization: Material Science and Engineering.   Secondary Specialization: Life Sciences

Moscow State Technical University

Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2001, GPA 4.77/5.0

 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE 

Nanotechnology-Molecular Devices and Tools Corporation (NT-MDT Corp.), Moscow, Russia

Service Engineer, 01/2000 - 01/2002

Provided support service to nearly one hundred customers, performed fifteen installations of scanning probe microscopes (each unit costs ~ $100 thousands), worked with NT-MDT distributor in South Korea and facilitated sales of research equipment, represented NT-MDT Corporation at industrial exhibitions and trade shows in South Korea and Germany.

Biolit Nanotechnology

Co-founder, 2005-2006

Wrote a business plan to commercialize a technology based on a novel biomaterial developed at Duke University. Formed a team of five graduate and MBA students to compete in the MRS Entrepreneurship Challenge. In February of 2006, the team was selected to attend FastTrac business development course sponsored by the North Carolina Council for Entrepreneurial Development(CED)

 

ACADEMIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

Duke University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences, Durham, NC

Doctoral Research Assistant, 01/2002 – present

Studied mechanisms of elasticity using elastin-like polypeptides, developed a method for analysis of protein-solvent interaction on a single molecular level, discovered force induced cis-trans isomerisation of prolines, constructed a home-built spectrometer with improved mechanical and electronic design, developed a statistical approach for accurate analysis of force spectroscopy measurements.

 

DUKE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK  EXPERIENCE

n       Duke Student Center for Integrated Education Research and Development (CIERD), Founder and Co-Chair,  02/2004-09/2006

Achieved ten-fold increase in membership over a period of two years. Initiated interdisciplinary research discussion sessions, grant writing workshops, resume contest, academic networking workshops, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Symposiums.

Through CIERD projects, served to research and career development needs of three hundred Duke University students from over thirty departments

Raised $15,000 for group’s projects. CIERD has been funded by several Duke University Schools, the provost office and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center

n       Duke Coalition of Students from Eastern Europe, Co-Founder and President, 2003-2004

Led a diverse team of students from Eastern Europe. Planned social and educational events that represented cultures of Eastern European countries at Duke University and in local community. Events included bard song concerts, movie series, national food festival, Russian language mini-series, and volleyball tournaments

n       One of four students selected by the Duke University Graduate School to attend the Second National Conference on Graduate Student Leadership in St-Louis, MO,  11/2005

 

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

n       Durham Hope Valley summer camp, volunteer. Assisted 3rd and 5th grade students with basic calculus, writing  and art work, Summer 2006

n       Durham George Watts Montessori Magnet School, tutor. Improved writing and learning style of a 5th grade student, Fall 2006

n       Duke University, Graduate Student Affairs Advisory Committee, member. Advised the Duke Graduate School on issues of student professional development, 2003-present

 

AWARDS Soros Student International Academic Program Grant (2000), Hanyang University Award, Korea (2001), American Chemical Society Travel Grant (2004), International Symposium on Bio-Interface Sciences Travel Grant (2005), Merit Research Assistantship (2002), Duke University Travel Fellowship (2005), ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry Best Presentation Award (2005).

 

SKILLS Matlab, Mathematica, PHP, MySQL, materials analysis, instrument design, data modeling

 

PUBLICATIONS

1.      Valiaev A., Abu-Lail N., Lim DW., Chilkoti A., and Zauscher S., Micro-Cantilever Sensing and Actuation with End-Grafted Stimulus-Responsive Elastin-Like Polypeptides. Accepted to Langmuir (September 2006)

2.      Valiaev A., Zauscher S., and Schmidler S., Statistical Analysis of Single-Molecule AFM Force Spectroscopy Curves. Submitted to Biophysical Journal (October 2006)

3.      Abu-Lail N., Kaholek K., Valiaev A., Lim DW.,  Chilkoti A., LaMattina B., Clark R.,  and Zauscher S.,  Micro-Cantilevers Decorated with Tethered Stimulus-Responsive Polymer Brushes and Polypetides for Actuation and Sensing, American Chemical Society (ACS) Polymer Preprints (2006)

4.      Valiaev A., Chilkoti A., Schmidler S., and Zauscher S., Polypeptide-Solvent Interactions Measured by Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy, Material Research Society (MRS) Proceedings (2005)

5.      Valiaev A., Abu-Lail N., Lim DW., Chilkoti A., and Zauscher S, Stimulus responsive elastin-like polypeptides as coatings for microcantilevers: applications for sensing and actuating., American Chemical Society (ACS) Polymer Preprints (2005)

6.      Valiaev, A., R.L. Clark, A. Chilkoti, and S. Zauscher, Conformational Mechanics of Stimulus-Responsive Polymers. Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Proceedings of SPIE, 2003, 5053: p. 31-40.

7.      N.N. Gerasimenko, V.Y. Troitskij, and A.A. Valyaev, Probe Microscopy Investigation of Nanoscale Si-Ge structures Fabricated by Ion Beam. Advanced Materials (In Russian), 2002., 5., p. 26-30

8.      Ladysev V.S.,  Valyaev A.N., Mendygaliev D.R. Valyaev, A.A, Pogrebnjak A.D. Defects in a-Fe induced by intense-pulsed ion beam (IPIB).  Nuclear Instruments and Methods B 41194, 2000, p.1-6

9.      Valyaev A.N., Kylyshkanov M., Pogrebnjak A.D., Valyaev A.A, Plotnikov S.V. Modification of mechanical and tribological properties of R6M5 steel and be by intense pulsed-ion and pulsed-electron beams. Vacuum, VAC1775, 2000

PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION

1.      Valiaev A., Lim D.W., Clark R., Chilkoti A., Oas T., and Zauscher S., Force-Induced Conformational Changes in Elastin-like Polypeptides. To be submitted in PNAS (2006)

2.      Valiaev A., Lim D.W., Chilkoti A., and Zauscher S., Conformational Mechanics and Hydration of Stimulus-Responsive Elastin-Like Polypeptides. To be submitted in Macromolecules (2006)

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Enjoy endurance sports; was in the college cross country running and cross country skiing extramural team. Fluent in English and Russian, basic Kazakh