1. Malcom Muguku
413-222-3667 ● mmuguku@umass.edu
Summary Statement
Technically strong engineering student whose main objective is to obtain a full-time position. Effective communicator
with great analytical skills and is motivated by new challenges.
Education
2015 – 2019 B.S. Chemical Engineering University of Massachusetts Amherst
Relevant Courses
Process Design & Control, Calculus, Thermodynamics, Physics, Fluid Mechanics, Kinetics & Reactor Design, Organic
Chemistry, Mathematical Modeling, Mechanical Engineering Material Science, Polymer Science, Accounting & Finance
Field Experience
Laboratory Experience
2018 (Summer) Aclarity Water Solutions Internship
• Applied electrochemical advanced oxidation process to electrodes and/to developed the second
generation Aclarity device
• Wrote literature reviews on water-purification research and collaborated on R&D experimental
protocol with teammates
• Explored worldwide suppliers for electrode materials and investigated water-purifying markets
in USA, China, and India
• Participated in administrative aspects of Aclarity using Grow with Google to develop marketing
skills and reach out to potential investors
• Conducted market studies and customer discovery/product market fit
2018 & 2019 Ion Exchange Experiment
• Analyzed how the degree of cross-linkage of the Dowex resin affects the sorption of copper
sulfate from a water solution
• Pretreated Dowex resins due to potential impurities and compared them to dry resin
• Concluded that adsorption of copper ions from the solution is favorable
• Determined equilibrium constants and ion exchange capacity values through the linearization of
Langmuir Isotherms
Distillation Experiment
• Utilized a 13-bubble tray distillation column to separate a methanol/water mixture
• Manipulated feed, distillate, reflux, and bottoms flow rates to determine the optimum
parameters for separation
• Determined energy requirements and tray efficiencies after each steady state operation
• Analyzed how flow rates of feed, distillate, reflux, bottoms, and steam would directly affect the
purity and efficiency of the trays and column
Methanation Experiment
• Determined carbon monoxide conversions for a methanation reaction over 7.5 wt % nickel
catalyst in a plug flow reactor
• Manipulated flow rates and temperature to analyzed their effect on conversion
• Obtained turnover frequencies and compared them to literature/theoretical values
Polymer Extrusion Experiment
• Determined the die swell, crystallinity, maximum load, viscosity, shear rate, mass flow rate and
volumetric flow rate of polyethylene
• Analyzed viscosity as a function of shear rate to observe shear thinning
• Performed tensile strength tests on samples
Biodiesel Experiment
• Produced biodiesel through the transesterfication of canola oil
• Measured purity, gathered, and analyzed kinetics data through HPLC & Gas Chromatography
• Optimized process by changing catalyst concentration
pH Control
• Used water to tune a PID controller for reactor level control
• Utilized acids and bases to tune a PID controller for pH control
• Implemented step changes to better understand reactor controls and dynamics
2. Academic Projects
Related Experience
Technical Skills
• Leadership & Team Building
• ASPEN Plus
• MATLAB
• Project Management
• Microsoft Office &
• Market Research
• Data Collection & Analysis
• Research & Development
• Technical Writing
2017 (Spring) Writing in Engineering — Developing & Selling a Product
• Collaborated with three engineering students to educate peers regarding the design process of a
3D printer
• Researched and presented the role of chemical engineering in the design and use of a 3D printer
• Collected data and researched a possible target audience to successfully sell 3D printers
• Developed a marketing strategy for selling the product
• Created advertisement that could be used to appeal to the identified target audience
Mathematical Modeling — Habituating Control for Non-Square Nonlinear Systems
• Analyzed how a chemical reactor(CSTR) performance is affected when controlled inputs or
outputs are introduced into the system
• Developed a Matlab script that expressed how nonlinear differential equations and their
respective parameters would combine to help formulate a dynamic set of solutions for different
combinations of inlet temperature and inlet concentration
• Used experimental data to determine that an increase in inlet concentration caused substances
to rapidly reach steady state conditions, while reactor and find temperature remained stable
2016 (Fall) Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering — Michaeli-Menton and Clausius-Clapeyron Anaylsis
• Analyzed the effects of temperature on saturated pressure and developed a Matlab code that
predicted temperature values whenthe pressure of the saturated stream increased
• Developed a Matlab code depicting how reaction rate was affected after increasing substrate
concentration by analyzing the Michaeli-Menton equation
• Used the concepts from the Clausius-Clapeyron equation to design Matlab code that showed the
line relationship of temperature & saturated pressure
2018 (Spring) E-commerce Business Founder
• Designed and developed an online store that appeals to consumers
• Built consumer loyalty by providing individualized benefits and offers
• Analyzed trends to identify a target audiences
• Contacted suppliers to build stock intended to appeal to the target audience
• Personally managed profits and business expenses
2016 (Spring) Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• Developed experience with reactants and catalysts used to conduct experiments in an organic
chemistry lab
• Gained familiarity with instruments and materials used to conduct reaction experiments
