Application Scientist at Daylight Solutions
Greater San Diego Area
- Current
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- Application Scientist at Daylight Solutions, Inc.
- Past
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- R&D Engineer/Chemist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (University of California, San Diego)
- Consultant at NanoGram Corporation
- Research Scientist at Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California
- Research Scientist at Institute for Combustion and Gas Dynamics, University of Duisburg, Germany
- Post Doctoral Scientist at Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Post Doctoral Scientist at Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
- Education
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- Ph.D. Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
- M.Sc. Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Peter Buerki’s Summary
Experienced Ph.D. chemist with international and interdisciplinary background. Extensive experience in the following fields: applied inorganic analytical chemistry, materials science, microgravity research (parabolic flights), geochemistry, scientific instrumentation, instrument design/prototyping, drafting, writing process control and data acquisition software in LabVIEW.
Interested in opportunities for Senior Research & Development Scientist and Application Scientist positions in startup companies, corporate research and academia, as well as laboratory manager positions (geochemistry, paleoclimate research).
Peter Buerki’s Specialties:
Custom-designing, prototyping, and building automated vacuum systems, automated cryogenic distribution systems, cryostats, laser reactors, robotic sample processing lines, autosamplers
Process and Method development
Customizing off-the-shelve equipment and adapting instrumentation to new applications
Natural and synthetic diamond (synthesis, characterization, spectroscopy, technical applications)
Multilingual and multicultural experience
Peter Buerki’s Experience
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Application Scientist
Daylight Solutions, Inc.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Research industry)
October 2007 — Present (2 years 3 months)
Leads and contributes to several R&D projects to develop applications for miniaturized broadly tunable pulsed and cw mid-infrared laser sources based on quantum cascade technology. Applications currently under development are instruments for the advanced molecular detection of gases and solids for environmental monitoring, homeland security, and the biomedical field.
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R&D Engineer/Chemist
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (University of California, San Diego)
(Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Research industry)
August 2003 — October 2007 (4 years 3 months)
Helped managing a leading geochemistry laboratory specialized in paleoclimate research
Designed and built robotic vacuum processing line for extraction of air from ice core samples, automated cryogenic distribution system to supply and temperature control multiple stations with liquid nitrogen and cold nitrogen gas, helium exchange gas cryostats, and autosampler for isotope ratio mass spectrometer
Troubleshooted, maintained, and repaired mass spectrometer and vacuum equipment.
Continues providing consulting services and technical support for these projects.
Mentored and advised graduate students, post docs, and technical staff. -
Consultant
NanoGram Corporation
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Nanotechnology industry)
October 2005 — June 2007 (1 year 9 months)
Led project for NanoGram Corporation, San Jose, California to implement advanced precursor delivery technologies to scale-up an existing laser synthesis process for the manufacturing of nanopowders.
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Research Scientist
Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California
(Non-Profit; 501-1000 employees; Research industry)
1997 — 2003 (6 years )
Helped managing the world's leading gemological research laboratory
Responsible for R&D of advanced identification methods of natural and synthetic diamond, minerals and gemstones, and their laboratory treatments
Introduced and trained personnel in good laboratory practices to increase laboratory safety -
Research Scientist
Institute for Combustion and Gas Dynamics, University of Duisburg, Germany
(Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Higher Education industry)
1994 — 1998 (4 years )
Initiated, helped planning, building up and managing four research projects (one as Principal Investigator)
Helped writing and edited three joint research proposals, planned strategy, prepared budgets, designed and built 0.5 kW CO2 laser reactor, evaluated and purchased equipment, initiated research partnerships, helped hiring project staff. Project funds of USD 600,000 for a two-year pilot phase were received from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Prepared price-winning proposal that received a grant of USD 56,000 from the German Space Agency (DLR).
Developed and tested first airborne CO2 laser reactor for nanopowder synthesis.
Wrote process control software for automated parabolic flight experiments.
Prepared patent applications. A Swiss patent was granted in 1997.
Initiated collaboration with astrochemists to simulate the formation of interstellar diamonds in experiments. -
Post Doctoral Scientist
Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
(Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Research industry)
1994 — 1994 (less than a year)
Supervised start-up phase of a Ph.D. thesis project, researched literature to identify candidate materials for high temperature corrosion resistant coatings to increase the lifetime and reliability of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells. Teached and mentored a graduate student in the synthesis of ceramic coatings using RF-plasma CVD reactor.
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Post Doctoral Scientist
Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Research industry)
1993 — 1994 (1 year )
Developed method to separate diamond nanoparticles from other carbon phases for TEM analysis. Characterized structure and crystallinity of diamond particles using transmission electron microscopy. Prepared successful proposal on laser synthesis of materials under space conditions to European Space Agency (received grant to participate in the 25th ESA Parabolic Flight Campaign, October 20-30, 1998 on ESA's Airbus A300-Zero G parabolic aircraft).
Peter Buerki’s Education
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Ph.D. Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
Ph.D. , Inorganic and Physical Chemistry , 1987 — 1991
Advisor: Prof. Samuel Leutwyler, Thesis title: CO2 laser induced gas-phase synthesis of silicon nitride and diamond
- Activities and Societies:
- Editor of the monthly magazine "Der Katalyt" of the University of Bern Chemists Association from 1987 to 1990
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M.Sc. Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
M. Sc. , Analytical and Environmental Chemistry , 1982 — 1987
Advisor: Prof. Paul E. Schindler, Thesis: Size Distributions and Heavy Metal Inventories of Aerosols of Some Important Emittents
Additional Information
Peter Buerki’s Websites:
Peter Buerki’s Interests:
Blackbelt Shotokan Karate of America Gardening, Cooking, Hiking, Photography, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Astrochemistry Solo-flutist of Stadtmusik Solothurn (until 1992)
Peter Buerki’s Groups:
American Chemical Society,
Meteoritical Society,
American Geophysical Union,
Shotokan Karate of America
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Laboratory Robotics Interest Group (LRIG)
Peter Buerki’s Honors:
Intospace Low-G Award for the Best European Ideas for the Application of Microgravity in Research,1995
NIRIM Center of Excellence COE Fellowship, Japan, 1994
Science and Technology Agency Fellowship (now JSPS Fellowship), Japan, 1993
Peter Buerki’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
