Professional Experience
University of California Irvine – Irvine, CA
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant Sept. 2022 – Present
- Design and synthesize dynamic polymer blends (HDPE/iPP, acrylate-based systems) to improve compatibility, sustainability, and thermomechanical performance, under Prof. Zhibin Guan. Conduct advanced characterization (DSC, TGA, tensile, rheology, AFM, SEM) analysis to correlate phase morphology with material properties.
- Teach and mentor undergraduate students in organic chemistry and advanced materials, developing leadership and communication skills.
Merck & Co. – Rahway, NJ
Associate Scientist (Summer Intern) June 2021 – Aug. 2021
- Developed Headspace Gas Chromatography method for solvent activity; benchmarked against near-IR lighthouse and computational models for polymorph screening, demonstrating problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration.
University of Denver – Denver, CO
Undergraduate Student Researcher Oct. 2018 – June 2022
- Designed an arsenic-selective probe to quantify arsenic concentrations in groundwater under the supervision of Prof. Balasingam Murugavel.
- Optimized synthesis of ruthenium-based probe to facilitate accurate ppm-level ethylene detection. Built a foundation in synthetic organic chemistry and analytical techniques under Prof. Brian Michel.
Chemistry Lab Assistant & Stockroom Leader Oct. 2018 – June 2022
- Managed inventories and prepared chemical solutions for general and organic chemistry courses.
- Supervised a team of 10 undergraduate students.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) Sept. 2019 – June 2022
- Assisted undergraduate students with important laboratory techniques.
- Ensured the minimization of chemical waste and their proper disposal.
Research Article
Efficient and Robust Dynamic Crosslinking for Compatibilizing Immiscible Mixed Plastics through In Situ Generated Singlet Nitrenes
Jordan Castro, Xavier Westworth, Roman Shrestha, Kosuke Yokoyama, and Zhibin Guan*
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202406203
Tunable polyethylene–polypropylene blends via compatibilization through nitrene insertion-enabled dynamic covalent crosslinking
Roman Shrestha, and Zhibin Guan*
On-Campus Involvement at university of California, irvine
Graduate International Connection Peer Mentor
April 2023 - April 2025
Guided incoming international graduate students through transition to UC Irvine; facilitated orientation and support programs.
ChemUNITY Mentor - Department of Chemistry
September 2023 - March 2024
Mentored first-year Ph.D. students in navigating coursework, research, and departmental integration.
On-Campus Involvement at university of denver
Chairperson of Internationalization Committee
Chairperson of Internationalization Committee
Sep 2019 - June 2020
Collaborated with the Office of Internationalization to address key challenges faced by international students and supported initiatives to improve their campus experience.
Board Member - CultureFest 2019
Chairperson of Internationalization Committee
Oct 2019 - June 2020
Served on the planning committee for CultureFest, a long-standing University of Denver tradition celebrating global cultures, contributing to event coordination and execution.
Marketing Director -International Student Organization
Sep 2019 - June 2020
Developed promotional materials, including event flyers, to effectively engage the student community. Managed social media platforms and conducted outreach to increase participation and visibility of organizational events.
Senator of College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Senator of College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Apr 2019 - May 2020
Worked closely with the Dean and Associate Dean to advocate for student needs and address academic and administrative concerns within the college.
Discoveries Leader - Discoveries Orientation 2019
Senator of College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Discoveries Leader - Discoveries Orientation 2019
Aug 2019 - Sep 2019
Guided and mentored a group of 18 incoming first-year students, facilitating their transition to university life during orientation week.