Heather Broadhead

Assisstant Teaching Professor

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EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND

May 2013

The University of Southern Mississippi
Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering
School of Polymers and High Performance Materials
Advisor: Dr. Marek W. Urban

2007

William Carey University
B.S. Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Summa Cum Laude
Advisor: Dr. Randall K. Harris; Dr. Gregory Brust

October 2013 –

May 2014		Post-doctoral Researcher – The University of Southern Mississippi
Laboratory researcher involved in several projects relating to polymer science
Provide mentorship to undergraduate students working on research within the lab  
August 2013 – May 2014

Adjunct Faculty - The University of Southern Mississippi
Provide classroom and laboratory instruction for “Intro to Polymers”, “Polymer Techniques”, and “Polymer Characterization” courses within the polymer science undergraduate curriculum

June 2014 - Present

Associate Director for Undergraduate Success - The University of Southern Mississippi

Provide classroom and laboratory instruction for “Intro to Polymers”, “Applications of Polymers”, “Polymer Techniques”, and “Polymer Characterization” courses within the polymer science undergraduate curriculum
Serve as academic advisor for all undergraduate students majoring in Polymer Science or Polymer Science and Engineering.
Coordinate the Polymer Science Tutorial Center
Manage teaching labs and shared instrumentation facilities and train new instrument users.
Work on recruiting and retention efforts for the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Urban Research Group – The University of Southern Mississippi (May 2008 – May 2013)

Surface synthesis and polymerization utilizing microwave plasma
Tethering of polyelectrolytes and antimicrobial species to polymeric surfaces
Molecular spectroscopy and morphology analysis: FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy, Chemical imaging
Design and analysis of biologically active species; assay analysis and electrophoresis  

Lochhead Research Group – The University of Southern Mississippi (August 2013 – May 2014)

Formulation of cellulose based bioremediation agents for oil spill recovery
Characterization of silsesquioxane containing treatment for hair
Scanning electron microscopy, Mechanical/tensile testing

TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS

  1. Eastman Focus School Forum - Kingsport, TN (June 13, 2011) H. A. Pearson, N. Aumsuwan, and M. W. Urban
    Tunable Antimicrobial Polymeric Surfaces: Attachment of Antibiotics Effective Against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria
  2. International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials - Hattiesburg, MS     (October 24, 2011)
    H. A. Pearson, N. Aumsuwan, and M. W. Urban
    Tunable Antimicrobial Polymeric Surfaces: Attachment of Antibiotics Effective Against Gram (+) and Gram (-) Bacteria
  3. Waterborne Symposium - New Orleans, LA (February 16, 2012)
    H. A. Pearson, N. Aumsuwan, and M. W. Urban
    Tunable Antimicrobial Polymeric Surfaces: Attachment of Antibiotics Effective Against Gram (+) and Gram (-) Bacteria
  4. American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition - San Diego, CA (March 27, 2012) H. A. Pearson, J. M. Andrie and M. W. Urban
    Switchable Polyelectrolyte Tethers on Polymeric Substrates:  A New Platform for Covalent Attachment of Multilayers (CAM) with Responsive Bioactive Components
  5. International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials - Santa Rosa, CA (October 23, 2012) H. A. Pearson, N. Aumsuwan, and M. W. Urban
    Micro-Patterned Streptavidin-Biotin-Ampicillin and Heparin on Poly(tetrafluoroehtylene) (PTFE) Surfaces; Simultaneous Antimicrobial and Anticoagulant Activities
  6. International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials - Santa Rosa, CA (October 23, 2012) H. A. Pearson, J. M. Andrie, and M. W. Urban
    Switchable Polyelectrolyte Tethers on Polymeric Substrates: A New Platform for Covalent Attachment of Multilayers (CAM) with Responsive Bioactive Components  (Poster Award)
  7. New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists Technology Transfer Conference - Iselin, NJ (November 13, 2013) H. A. Pearson, Gyan S. Sahukhal, Chase A. Tretbar, Mohamed O. Elasri, and M. W. Urban
    Phage-Bacterium War on Polymeric Surfaces: Can Surface-Anchored Bacteriophages Eliminate Microbial Infections  (Poster Award)
  8. OVSCC “The Personal Care Industry: Past, Present and Future” - Cincinnati, OH (November 19, 2013) H. A. Pearson, Gyan S. Sahukhal, Chase A. Tretbar, Mohamed O. Elasri, and M. W. Urban
    Phage-Bacterium War on Polymeric Surfaces: Can Surface-Anchored Bacteriophages Eliminate Microbial Infections

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

 

  1. Micro-Patterning of Streptavidin Biotin-Ampicillin/Heparin on Poly(tetrafluoroehtylene) (PTFE) Surfaces: Simultaneous Antimicrobial and Anticoagulant Activity, Natharika, Aumsuwan, Heather A. Pearson, and Marek W. Urban, Biomaterials Science, 2013, 1, 711.
  2. Phage-Bacterium War on Polymeric Surfaces: Can Surfaces-Anchored Bacteriophages Eliminate Microbial Infections? Heather A. Pearson, Gyan S. Sahukhal, Mohamed O. Elasri, and Marek W. Urban, Biomacromolecules, 2013, 14, 1257.   
  3. Covalent Attachment of Multilayers (CAM) as a Platform for pH Switchable Antimicrobial and Anticoagulant Polymeric Surfaces, Heather A. Pearson, Joseph M. Andrie and Marek W. Urban, Biomaterials Science, 2014, 2, 512.
  4. Simple Click Reactions on Polymer Surfaces Leading to Antimicrobial Behavior, Heather A. Pearson and Marek W. Urban, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2014, 2, 2084.
  5. What’s Happening in Hair Damage, Protection, and Repair, Robert Lochhead and Heather Pearson, Cosmetics and Toiletries, 2014, 129, 28.