Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Washington State University, Materials Science and Engineering, 2016 (Outstanding Thesis Award)
Title: Spectroelectrochemical photoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging of reactive surface defects in titanium dioxide nanoparticles [link to dissertation]
B.Sc., The Evergreen State College, Physics, 2010
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
Physical Science and Engineering Editor, Enago, 09/2017 – present
· Copy editing and substantive editing for scientific journal submissions in a variety of fields.
Research Assistant, Washington State University, 08/2011 – 05/2016
· Worked with a research team to plan and complete research projects resulting in four first author publications on optical and electronic properties of metal oxide thin films in American Chemical Society journals.
· Applied wet chemistry techniques to morphology-controlled synthesis of nanoparticles.
· Used SEM and TEM for particle characterization, phase identification, and elemental analysis.
· Maintained and repaired laser, optical, and electrochemical lab instruments.
Research techniques: Photoluminescence, UV/Vis absorbance, and fluorescence spectroscopies; single particle spectroscopy and imaging; cyclic voltammetry; electrodeposition; impedance spectroscopy; photocurrent measurements; SEM and TEM; inorganic synthesis; fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized solar cells
Laboratory Assistant, Bioanalytical Systems, Inc., 10/2010 – 02/2011
· Worked in a team environment and followed strict standard operating procedures to prepared tissue samples for trace chemical analysis and maintain lab equipment.
Research Intern, Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, 06/2009 – 08/2009
· Co-developed content and software in Java for teaching how to recognize and annotate important solar events.
· Studied solar fluid and magnetic properties by manipulating parameters in plasma physics simulations.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Faculty, Chemistry, Saint Martin’s University 09/2017 – 12/2017
· Lab Instructor for Chemistry for Engineers.
Visiting Faculty, Chemistry, The Evergreen State College 09/2015 – 06/2017
· Primary Instructor for interdisciplinary General Chemistry lectures and labs.
· Worked on a faculty team to plan learning objectives and course curricula.
· Mentored student research projects in chemistry and materials science.
Teaching Assistant, Washington State University, 01/2012 – 12/2015
· Led lab sessions and group tutorials in general chemistry.
Teaching Assistant, The Evergreen State College, 09/2008 – 06/2010
· Individual and small-group tutoring and lab set up for calculus and calculus-based physics.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Student Chapter President, Materials Research Society, 2014-2015 (Outstanding Service Award)
· Planned and organized Q&A sessions between industry scientists and materials science students:
Boeing, Nov. 2014; Bradken, March 2015.
· Organized a facility tour of Honeywell Electronic Materials (Spokane) for MRS club members, March 2015.
· Co-wrote application that awarded our student club $1,173 for club activities.
· Connected MRS student club members with volunteer opportunities.
PUBLICATIONS
· Riley E. Rex, Yi Yang, Fritz J. Knorr, Jin Z. Zhang, Yat Li, Jeanne L. McHale, “Spectroelectrochemical Photoluminescence of Trap States in H-Treated Rutile TiO2 Nanowires: Implications for Photooxidation of Water,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, 120, 3530 – 3541. [link to article]
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne, L. McHale, “Imaging Luminescent Traps on Single Anatase TiO2 Crystals: The Influence of Surface Capping on Photoluminescence and Charge Transport,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2015, 119, 26212 – 26218. [link to article]
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, “Spectroelectrochemical Photoluminescence of Titanium Dioxide Nanosheets and Nanoparticles in Aqueous and Nonaqueous Environments,” Proc. SPIE 9165, Physical Chemistry of Interfaces and Nanomaterials XIII, 91650T (2014); DOI: 10.1117/12.2063585. [link to article]
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, “Surface Traps of TiO2 Nanosheets and Nanoparticles as Illuminated by Spectroelectrochemical Photoluminescence” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2014, 118, 16831 - 16841. [link to article]
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, “Comment on “Characterization of Oxygen Vacancy Associates within Hydrogenated TiO2: A Positron Annihilation Study”.” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2013, 117, 7949 - 7951. [link to article]
· Clay Showalter, Riley E. Rex, Neil E. Hurlburt, E.J. Zita, “Solar Tutorial and Annotation Resource.” Eos Trans. AGU, 90(52) Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SH13B-1512.
PRESENTATIONS
· Riley E. Rex, Yi Yang, Fritz J. Knorr, Jin Z. Zhang, Yat Li, Jeanne L. McHale “Spectroelectrochemical photoluminescence of reactive trap states in H-treated rutile TiO2 nanowires,” Poster, 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, April 2-6, 2017, CATL-454.
· Riley E. Rex “Towards a clean energy future: Improving solar energy devices by engineering at the nanoscale.” Science Cafe at Orca Books, November 8, 2016. (Invited talk)
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, Yi Yang, Jin Z. Zhang, Yat Li. “Investigation of the possible role of trap states of rutile nanowires in water photooxidation as revealed by spectroelectrochemical photoluminescence,” Poster, 2nd Molecules and Materials for Artificial Photosynthesis Conference. February 25-28 2016, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. 1st Place Poster Award.
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, “Photoluminescence of titanium dioxide and the influence of environment of electronic trap states,” Poster, 2nd Gordon Research Conference on Nanomaterials for Applications in Energy Technology, February 22-27, 2015.
· Riley E. Rex, Fritz J. Knorr, Jeanne L. McHale, “Spectroelectrochemical photoluminescence of titanium dioxide nanosheets and nanoparticles in aqueous and nonaqueous environments,” Presentation, Proc. SPIE 9165, Physical Chemistry of Interfaces and Nanomaterials XIII, 91650T, August 17-21, 2014.
· Fritz J. Knorr, Riley E. Rex, Jeanne L. McHale, “Illuminating trap states of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide and their role in dye-sensitized solar energy conversion,” 248th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA, United States, August 10-14, 2014, ENFL-168.
AWARDS
· National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences, 2016 - 2017
· Outstanding Thesis Award, Mat. Science and Engineering Program, WSU, 2016
· 1st Place Poster, Molecules and Materials for Artificial Photosynthesis Conference, 2016
· Outstanding Service Award, Mat. Science and Engineering Program WSU, 2015
· Graduate Student Travel Grant Awards, summer 2014 and spring 2015
· 1st Place Image, Inland Northwest Micrograph Contest, 2014
· National Science Foundation: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics Scholarship, 2008
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH and VOLUNTEERING
· Women of Achievement, YWCA of Olympia, 2017
· Science Carnival, The Evergreen State College, Dry-Ice Ice Cream, 2016
· Science Fair Judge, Univ. of Idaho, Youth Water Summit, 2015
· Science outreach, Society of Women Engineers, WSU, Hands-on Making Batteries, 2015
· Guest Instructor, Kendrick High School, Hands-on Solar Cell Demo, 2015
· Instructor, Physics of light outreach activity, Nez Perce Tribe/WSU, 2014
· Science Fair Judge, Colfax Elementary School, 2014
· Instructor, Cougar Quest Science Camp, Washington State University, Solar Cells, 2013
· Guest Instructor, Nespelem School, Colville Indian Reservation, Hands-on Solar Cells, 2012
· Idaho at Play, Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, 2014
· Youth Water Summit, Confluence Project University of Idaho, 2014
· Animals of the night, Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, 2013
· Pullman Stream Clean Up, Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, 2012
· Pullman Stream Clean Up, Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, 2012