MICHAEL LARTEY

893 Belchertown Rd, Amherst, MA, 01002

Cell:(413) 230-7584
E-mail: mlff3676@westpost.net

CAREER OBJECTIVE:
======================================================
Driven, goal-oriented team player eager to apply in-
depth knowledge in organic and polymer chemistry
towards launching a successful career with a
progressive company that rewards initiative and
superior performance with long-term opportunities for
professional growth.

EDUCATION:
======================================================
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry
March 2011 (expected)
University of Massachusetts (UMASS), Amherst
Dissertation: Hydrogels and nanogels for drug release
and molecular separation
Advisor: Prof. Sankaran Thayumanavan
M.Sc. Applied Polymer Science
2005
Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Dissertation: Interactions between amphiphilic block
copolymers and phospholipids
Advisor: Prof. Joerg Kressler
B.Sc. Chemistry
2000
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana
Dissertation: Organochlorine pesticide residues and
levels of some metals in tomatoes from Agogo
Advisor: Dr. Samuel Osafo Acquaah

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
======================================================
* Experienced in design, synthesis and
characterization of monomers and polymers using free,
controlled radical and inverse emulsion polymerization
techniques.
* Developed biocompatible polymer hydrogels and
nanogels as carriers for controlled and sustained drug
release. Established that tuning monomer charge
density, crosslinking density and inclusion of
aromatic groups afford tunability of drug loading
efficiency and the release profile.
* Investigated the separation and purification of
small molecules using ionic polymer hydrogels.
Molecules of similar sizes but different charges can
be separated.
* Experienced in the preparation and characterization
of liposomes for drug delivery.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:
======================================================
* Experienced in spectroscopic and chromatographic
identification, characterization and quantification of
organic compounds (NMR, IR, UV-visible, fluorescence,
GPC, HPLC, CD)
* Experienced in light scattering techniques (DLS)
Proficient in thermal analysis (TGA, DSC)
* Experienced in surface pressure measurements using
Langmuir- Blodgett trough
* Knowledge in polymer processing (extrusion,
injection molding, blow molding)
* Knowledge in testing of plastics (bend, Charpy
Impact, hardness, compression and tensile impact
tests)

PUBLICATION AND PRESENTATIONS:

======================================================
* Ghosh, Suhrit; Lartey, Michael; Basu, Subhadeep;
Sandanaraj, Britto S.; Thayumanavan, S., "Synthesis
and characterization of novel co-polymer for
reversible bio-conjugation" Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng.
2007, 96, 575.
* Michael Lartey and Sankaran Thayumanavan "Controlled
release of drugs from amino acid-based hydrogels",
Poster presented at the 239th American Chemical
Society National Meeting and Exposition, San
Francisco, CA, March 2010.
* Michael Lartey and Sankaran Thayumanavan "Amino
acid-based superabsorbing and biocompatible hydrogels
for sustained and controlled drug release" Poster
presented at the Fall Polymer Event, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, 2009.
* Lartey, Michael and Thayumanavan, Sankaran "Amino
acid-based hydrogels for controlled opioid release"
(Manuscript in preparation)
* Lartey, Michael and Thayumanavan, Sankaran
"Hydrogels for molecular separation" (Manuscript in
preparation)

CAREER HISTORY:
======================================================
Research Assistant
2005 - present
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst
* Designed, synthesized and studied hydrogels and
nanogels for controlled drug delivery and (bio)
molecular separation.
* Designed and synthesized copolymers for multiple
covalent immobilization of proteins.
Research Assistant
2003 - 2004
Department of Applied Polymer Science, Martin-Luther-
University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
* Developed protocol for measuring critical micelle
concentration of polymeric surfactants using confocal
laser scanning microscopy that led to a reduction in
the quantity of material required for the
determination of critical micelle concentration as
compared to tensiometry.
* Analyzed specific polymer properties such as surface
morphology, critical micelle concentration, dye
release from pluronic micellar assemblies using
confocal laser scanning microscopy.
* Investigated the interaction of phospholipid
monolayers and liposomes with pluronic block
copolymers. Established that insertion of polymer into
liposome affect packing density of phospholipd and
lead to increased drug release.
Quality Control Analyst
1999
Phyto Ricker Pharmaceuticals, Accra, Ghana (Intern)
* Conducted physical and chemical tests on raw
materials, intermediate and final products (e.g.
quantities of drug components, ash content, purity
assay, moisture content and disintegration tests)
* Analyzed water used at production plant (e.g. ions,
suspended and dissolved particle content) as well as
biological and chemical oxygen demand of effluent
water.
Teaching Assistant
2005 - present
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst
* Mentored, organized, supervised, taught and graded
reports of Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry
laboratories.
Teaching Assistant
2006
Department of Chemistry, Smith College, Northampton,
MA
* Organized, supervised and taught General Chemistry
laboratories.
Chemistry Teacher
2000 - 2002
Ghana Education Service, Juaben Secondary School,
Juaben - Ashanti, Ghana
* Developed teaching plans, designed syllabi and
taught chemistry (10th - 12th grade).
* Mentored students on post-secondary education and
provided extra tutoring for students with special
needs in chemistry and general science.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

======================================================
* President, Ghana Students Association, UMASS Amherst
2007-2008.
* Executive Committee Member, African Graduates and
Scholars Association, UMASS, Amherst
2007-2008.
* Volunteer for Academic and other Initiatives for
Maximum Success (AIMS) to motivate and provide
academic enrichment in mathematics and literacy to
children from low-income families in Amherst, MA
2010.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
======================================================
* Member, American Chemical Society since 2008

1
Michael Lartey