Shawn D. McConaughy
Education
Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering The University of Southern Mississippi		May 2008 (Projected Date) Hattiesburg, MS
Bachelor of Engineering, Plastics Engineering Technology The Pennsylvania State University		May 2002 Erie, PA
Research Interests
· Rheological properties of acidic polysaccharides capable of in-situ gelation · Controlled release of polypeptide drugs from acidic polysaccharides · Chemical modification and fluorescent labeling of polysaccharides and polypeptides
Current Research Activities
My research focuses on acidic polysaccharides capable of in-situ gelation, primarily dealing with their applications as controlled delivery platforms for polypeptide drugs. This research can be broken down into three main areas; polysaccharide structure & solution characteristics, gelation behavior & gel matrix properties, polypeptide capture/controlled release.
Ultimately these three areas of research will provide fundamental information which provides for the long term controlled release of selected proteins and peptides from an in-situ gelling acidic polysaccharide naturally sourced from the Aloe vera plant. Polysaccharides from the alginate and pectin families will be selected and compared to the Aloe vera polysaccharide to determine how molecular composition, structure and molecular weight affect gelation and protein/peptide delivery. Correlations will be drawn between the fundamental issues of how the polysaccharides respond to changes in salinity, pH, and temperature in solution and how these variables impact interactions with polypeptides. Steady state and dynamic rheology, classic and dynamic light scattering, Na^23 NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy will be employed to gain insight into the effects that branching, galacturonic acid content, degree of methylation, ionic strength, pH, and temperature have on solution behavior and the gelled state which ultimately govern protein/peptide escape from the polymer matrix.
Previous Research Experience
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute		Troy, NY		August-December 2002
I was the recipient of a Semi-Conductor Research Corporation (SRC) Fellowship. Under this fellowship I investigated self-assembled monolayers and polymer layers on silicon wafers. The purpose of these layers was to inhibit copper diffusion while promoting the thermal stability and adhesion properties of deposited copper.
“Self-Assembled Ultra Thin Barriers for less than 50 Nanometer Substructures.” My research was presented at a SRC review meeting in November of 2002. Present at this meeting were professionals from Intel and IBM, along with members of academia from institutes such as MIT, Cornell and UC, Berkeley.
Zurn Industries, Inc.		Erie, PA		August 2001-May 2002
I initially worked on various engineering design issues, such as fusion welding systems for high-density polyethylene tubing. Another task at Zurn carried over into an undergraduate research assistantship during my senior year. This research sought to develop a polyethylene nanocomposite that would have oxygen barrier characteristics suitable for piping applications. From this project, I published;
“Effects of Nanocomposites on the Oxygen Barrier Properties of Polyethylene.” I presented this research at ANTEC, the annual Plastics Engineering conference, in San Francisco during May of 2002.
MedSource Technologies, Inc.	Corry, PA		June- August 2001, February-June 2003
In the summer after my sophomore year of undergraduate school at Penn State, Behrend, I was hired by Medsource Technologies. MedSource produces plastic and metal injection molded components for the medical community. I was responsible for the research and development of experimental feedstocks. These feedstocks are combinations of polymers, antioxidants, and powdered metals. I worked on tailoring the polymer systems in order to enhance the feedstock’s molding properties and its stability during initial stages of sintering. This work led to two publications:
“Using Crosslinked Polyethylene to Stabilize Metal Injection Molded Feedstock” This paper was presented at ANTEC in Dallas during the spring of 2001.
“Effects of Nano-Sized Additives on the Characteristics of Sintered Metal Injection Molded Articles” This research was presented at the Eighth Annual International Conference on Composites Engineering conference held in the Canary Islands during the summer of 2001.
Collaborators DelSite Biotechnologies Inc. An early stage drug delivery and biotechnology company located in Irving, Texas Robert Lochhead, Ph.D. The University of Southern Mississippi (Department of Polymer Science) Kenneth Mauritz, Ph.D. The University of Southern Mississippi (Department of Polymer Science)