WELCOME

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This is where I share my work and ideas. It's an ongoing project, so you may notice some parts are still being developed.

GALLERY

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CV

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Chanda Mandisa, MSc

THINKER | CREATOR | ARCHIVIST

Earth, Gould Belt, Milky Way Galaxy

Education

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
PhD in Inorganic Chemistry
Meyerhoff Fellow
December 2024

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
MSc in Chemistry
Meyerhoff Fellow
May 2024

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSUD)
BS in Chemistry, ACS Certified
Minor in Mathematics
Denver Metro Chemistry Scholar
May 2017

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (UIUC)
Material Science and Engineering
May 2008 – May 2010

Awards

UMBC Graduate Student Association Dissertation Fellowship (2024)
Cangialosi Business Competition, 3rd Place (2023)
Base 11 DNA Diversity Challenge, 1st Place (2022)
Base 11 Parity Project Innovation Challenge, 1st Place (2022)
UMBC Three-Minute Thesis, 2nd Place (2022)
National Science Foundation (NSF) AGEP Fellowship (2020-2023)
UMBC Outstanding Graduate Research Award (2019)
Meyerhoff Fellowship (2017-2022)
MSUD Center for Advanced STEM Education Research Scholarship (2016)
MSUD Provost Scholarship (2016)
MSUD Student Activities Research Travel Grant (2016)
MSUD Urban Leadership Program Scholarship (2016)
MSUD Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (2016)
NSF Denver Metro Chemistry Scholarship (2014-2017)

Skills

Laboratory

Electron Microscopy
Spectroscopy
Synthetic Chemistry
Safety and Logistics

Technical

Database Design and Maintenance
Flutter/FlutterFlow
Java
Python
HTML/CSS
Microsoft Office
Google Suite
ChatGPT
Social Media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, etc.)
Communication Platforms (Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
Productivity Software (Notion, Obsidian, Monday.com, etc.)
Multiple Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, Tails, Parrot, Fedora)

Analytical

Experimental Design
Data Analysis
Project Management
Technical Writing and Presentation

Leadership and Management

Team Management
Budget Management
Supply Chain Management
Logistics
Fundraising
Business Pitching
Mentoring
Teaching

Professional and Interpersonal

Self-motivated and ambitious
Strong communication
Adaptability and problem-solving
Ability to work in a team
Time management and organization

Research Experience

UMBC, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Baltimore, MD USA
Inorganic Chemistry, Advisor: Dr. Marie-Christine Daniel-Onuta
October 2017 – December 2024
Focused on the assembly of inorganic nanoparticles, specifically that pertaining to gold nanoparticles.

MSUD, Department of Chemistry
Denver, CO USA
Physical Chemistry, Advisor: Dr. Joshua Martin
August 2016 – May 2017
Developed methodology of modeling biochemical processes using computational modeling tools. Developed chemical algorithms to predict biochemical mechanisms is heavily used. Results of project were submitted for completion of the Honors Thesis Program.

MSUD, Department of Chemistry
Denver, CO USA
Biochemistry, Advisor: Dr. Emily J. Ragan
August 2014 – May 2017
Studied ferritin reductase in arthropods. Performed injections of buffer and vermillion in Tribolium castaneum, or red flour beetles. Also, performed bioinformatic research to compare peptides contained in light and heavy chain ferritin.

UIUC, The Grainger College of Engineering
Urbana, IL USA
Materials Science and Engineering, Advisor: Dr. Dallas R. Trinkle
May 2009 – May 2010
Studied structural materials, which directly impact energy efficiency by improving processing capabilities of lighter materials. Predicted larger-scale material properties using mathematical modeling.

Teaching Experience

UMBC, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Baltimore, MD USA
Inorganic, Organic and General Chemistry, Teaching Assistant
August 2018 – May 2024
Assisted professor in conducting lab experiments.

MSUD, Student Academic Success Center
Denver, CO USA
Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Supplemental Instructor
August 2016 – December 2016
Conducted additional session of instruction to provide students with more exposure to material.

MSUD, Department of Chemistry
Denver, CO USA
Organic Chemistry II Lab, Lab Assistant
June 2016 – August 2016
Assisted professor with in implemented lab safety policies and assisted students in understanding lab procedures.

MSUD, Department of Chemistry
Denver, CO USA
Biochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Teaching Assistant
January 2016 – May 2017
Assisted professor with in-class activities. Helped create supplemental material and assisted teacher in grading. Held additional office hours to help assist students.

MSUD, Student Academic Success Center
Denver, CO USA
Chemistry and Mathematics, Tutor
January 2015 – May 2017
Assisted students individually to improve their knowledge of chemistry and mathematics courses.

Other Professional Experience

Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
Columbia, MD USA
Task Force for Entrepreneurial Women Intern
August 2019 – July 2020
Created, organized, and maintained a business database for entrepreneurial women.

Women in Bio (WIB)
Capital Region, USA
Membership Chair
July 2019 – July 2020
Organized and maintained database of Capital Region members of WIB.

UMBC Graduate Student Association
Baltimore, MD USA
Treasurer
June 2019 – October 2019
Maintained budget for Graduate Student Association. Organized and conducted grant review panel for graduate student grants.

UMBC Chemistry Graduate Student Association (CGSA)
Baltimore, MD USA
President
July 2018 – June 2019
Ensured that the CGSA operates in accordance with all the organization’s Governing Documents and that strong relationships are built and maintained with the relevant parties that exist in and around the UMBC community.

MSUD Student Veteran Organization
Denver, CO USA
Treasurer
October 2014 – July 2015
Focused on event planning and management, budgeting of the organization's funds, and student support.

MSUD Office of Veteran Affairs
Denver, CO USA
Peer Mentor
January 2014 – July 2015
Worked to increase Veteran student retention at the University. Duties included contacting students to follow up with their academic progress, and recruitment of students for political activities. Spoke on a panel with other Veterans on the importance of integrating soldiers into the education system.

United States Army National Guard
Buckley Space Force Base, CO USA
92A Automated Logistics Specialist, E4 Specialist
June 2010- June 2016, Honorable Discharge
Performed military tasks such as field training and vehicle and weapons maintenance. Acquired skills such as leadership, team building, and peer mentoring.

Volunteer Experience

Meals on Wheels (2020)
Baltimore, MD USA
Packaged food for people in need.

Maryland Food Bank (2018)
Baltimore, MD USA
Created and managed fundraiser to raise funds for Maryland Food Bank.

University of Colorado Denver Display Judge (2017)
Denver, CO USA
Judged displays for the 2017 Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

MSUD Chemistry Club Demonstrator (2015-2016)
Denver, CO USA
Performed chemistry demonstrations for middle school and high school students.

CoderDojo (2015)
Denver, CO USA
Assiting young developers with their coding projects.

VA Military and Veteran Student Services (2014-2015)
Denver, CO USA
Acted as a peer mentor, tutor and social support in conjunction with VFW Post 1.

Food for Thought (2014)
Denver, CO USA
Helped prepare bags of food for children living below the poverty line.

Habitat for Humanity (2014)
Denver, CO USA
Helped build a porch for elderly, disabled woman.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation (2010)
Champaign, IL USA
Raised money and shaved hair to support children with cancer.

Professional Affiliations

Mensa, Member
American Chemical Society, Member

Publications

Coming soon.

Presentations

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.-C. “Synthesis, Assembly, and Isolation of AuBP-QD-AuBP Trimers,” UMBC Chemistry Graduate Research Day. March 2023.

Lowrance, C. M., Baradaran Kayyal, T., and Daniel, M.-C. “Controlled Assembly of Gold Nanobipyramids and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot”, 2022 American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, CA. March 2022.

Lowrance, C. M., Baradaran Kayyal, T., and Daniel, M.-C. “Controlled Assembly of Gold Nanobipyramids and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot”, UMBC Chemistry Graduate Research Day. March 2022.

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.-C. “Controlled Formation of Silica on Noble Metal and Semi-Conducting Nanoparticles for Assembly via Siloxane Linkage”, UMBC Chemistry Graduate Research Day, Baltimore, MD, March 2020.

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.-C. “Coupling of Gold Nanobipyramids and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot via Amide Linkage”, Graduate Experience, Achievements, and Research Symposium (GEARS), Baltimore, MD, March 27, 2019.

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.-C. “Coupling of Gold Nanobipyramids and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot via Amide Linkage”, UMBC Chemistry Graduate Research Day, Baltimore, MD, March 2019.

Lowrance, C. M.; Daniel, M.-C. “Synthesis of a Gold Nanobipyramid – CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot Dimer via Amide Linkage”, 50th MARM, ACS, Baltimore, MD, USA, May 30st – June 1st, 2019.

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.-C. “Coupling of Gold Nanobipyramids and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot via Amide Linkage”, Poster Presentation at the 2019 NOBCChE Meeting, St Louis, MO, Nov.18-21, 2019.

Lowrance, C. M. and Daniel, M.C. “Coupling of Gold Nanorods and CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots,” IMSD Meyerhoff 100+ PhD Celebration, Baltimore, MD, August 2018.

Lowrance, C. M. “Determination of Entropy Change During the Process of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in Drosophila Melanogaster by Computational Modeling,” 2017 Metropolitan State University of Denver Honors Symposium in Denver, CO. May 2017.

Lowrance, C. M. “Determination of Entropy Change During the Process of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in Drosophila Melanogaster by Computational Modeling,” 2017 Western Regional Honors Conference in Ashland, Oregon. April 8, 2017. (Poster award winner)

Wagoner, H., Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “Investigating Role of Ferric Reductases in Iron Transport in Drosophila Melanogaster,” MSUD Undergraduate Research Conference in Denver, CO. May 2017.

Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “Organization of Ferritin Proteins Using Java,” MSUD Undergraduate Research Conference in Denver, CO. April 2016.

Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “Ferritin in arthropods: A Phylogenetic Analysis,” 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, CA. March 2016.

Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “A Qualitative Analysis of the Phylogeny of Ferritin in Arthropods at MSU Denver,” Colorado Wyoming Academy of Science Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. October 2015.

Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “Establishing RNAi in Tribolium castaneum at MSU Denver,” MSUD Undergraduate Research Conference in Denver, CO. May 2015.

Lowrance, C. M. and Ragan, E. J. “Establishing RNAi in Tribolium castaneum at MSU Denver,” 249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition in Denver, CO. March 2015.