CURRICULUM

VITAE

Eladio Mendez
Doctoral Candidate
Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Florida International University
Miami, FL
http://www.MendezPhD.com

Main Research Interests: Drug delivery, bio-conjugation, conjugated polymers,

polymer aggregation, fluorescence microscopy, biological labeling, subcellular
trafficking, forensic/analytical chemistry, method development
EDUCATION
2009Present
2003-2009
2003-2009

Ph.D. Florida International University (In Progress)

Chemistry (Forensic Science Track)
B.A. Florida International University
Chemistry (Biochemistry concentration), Biology minor, cum laude
B.A. Florida International University
Political Science, History minor, cum laude

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Aug 2009-present: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida
International University, Dr. Joong Ho Moons lab, Miami, FL
Graduate Student, (2010-2015 supported by NIH Minorities in Biomedical
Research fellowship)
Dissertation: Conjugated polymer nanoparticles for biological labeling and drug
delivery.
Aug 2008- Aug 2009: International Forensic Research Institute, Florida
International University, Joint lab of Dr. Kenneth Furton and Dr. Stefan Rose,
Miami, FL.
Research fellow
Project: Analysis and evaluation of conventional spectroscopic techniques for
determination of blood alcohol content.
May 2008-July 2008: Department of Chemistry, Georgia Southern University, Dr.
David Krellers lab, Statesboro, GA.
REU student (funded by National Science Foundation)
Project: Development of novel high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)
method for the investigation of dissolved organic matter adsorptive fractionation
and competitive displacement on minerals.

Jan 2007- Aug 2009: International Forensic Research Institute, Florida

International University, Dr. Kenneth Furtons lab, supervised by Dr. Maiko
Kusano, Miami, FL.
Undergraduate researcher
Project: Collection and analysis of population samples of various biological
matrices for the development of gas chromatography mass spectrometric (GCMS) method for volatile organic compounds.
Aug 2007- May 2008: Honors College, Florida International University,
supervised under Dr. Suman Kakar, Miami, FL.
Project: The effect of educator ideology on the scientific moral development of
high school students.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
2013-Present: Aikido, Wee-wow Dumlao Sensei, Gold Coast Aikikai, Miami, FL
2012-Present
Archery, Miami Springs Optimist, Miami Springs, FL
2010-2014:
Wing Chun, sifu Robert Smith, Miami, FL
2010-2014:
Rock climbing, X-treme rock climbing, Miami, FL
2004-2006:
Judo, Nestor Bustillo sensei, Florida International University,
Miami, FL
2003-2009:
Aikido, Wee-wow Dumlao Sensei, Gold Coast Aikikai, Miami, FL
1999-2003:
Southwest Sr. Highschool soccer team
1999-2002:
Southwest Sr. Highschool cross-country team
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2009-2011:
Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Florida
International University, Miami, FL
2007-2009:
Temporary Instructor (K-12), Miami-Dade Public Schools,
Miami, FL
2008
Honors mentor, Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and
Citizenship Studies, Florida International University
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2013
Materials Research Society's Young Scientist- Poster Awardrunner-up
2010-Present Minorities in Biomedical Research Sciences-RISE fellow
2008-2009
Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Fellow
2006-2009
Florida International University Deans List
2003-2009
Florida International University Honors fellow
2009
Bachelors Degree, graduated cum laude.
2008
MBRS-RISE & MARC-U*STAR Research Symposium- Best poster
presentation
2003
Southwest Senior High School- Top 3% graduating class

PUBLICATIONS
(8) Twomey M; Na Y; Roche Z; Mendez E; Panday N; He J; Moon JH.
Fabrication of Core-Shell Nanoparticles via Controlled Aggregation of Semiflexible
Conjugated Polymer and Hyaluronic Acid
Macromolecules (2013), 46(15), 6374-6378.
(7) Mendez E; Moon JH.
Side chain and backbone structure-dependent subcellular localization and toxicity
of conjugated polymer nanoparticles
Chemical Communications (2013), 49(54), 6048-6050.
(6) Kusano M; Mendez E; Furton KG.
Comparison of the volatile organic compounds from different biological
specimens for profiling potential.
Journal of Forensic Sciences (2013), 58(1), 29-39.
(5) Kreller DI; McGunigale SL; Mendez EA; Wolfe LG.
Approach to Investigation of Dissolved Organic Matter Adsorptive Fractionation
and Competitive Displacement on Minerals.
Colloids and Surfaces A (2013), 422, 24-32.
(4) Kreller DI; Young SP; Mendez EA; McGunigale SL.
Chromatogram Handler: A Unique Computer Program That Efficiently Processes
Data Generated in Liquid Chromatographic Investigations of Organic Ligand
Adsorption on Mineral Surfaces
Computers & Geosciences (2012), 46, 129-137.
(3) Moon JH; Mendez E; Kim Y; Kaur A.
Conjugated polymer nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery.
Chemical Communications (2011), 47(29), 8370-8372.
(2) Ko YJ; Mendez E; Moon JH.
Controlled Aggregation in Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles via Organic Acid
Treatments.
Macromolecules (2011), 44(13), 5527-5530..

(1) Kusano M; Mendez E; Furton KG.

Development of headspace SPME method for analysis of volatile organic
compounds present in human biological specimens.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2011), 400(7), 1817-1826.

INVITED TALKS
2013
Side-chain dependent subcellular localization and toxicity of
conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Biomolecular Sciences
Institute. Florida International University. Miami, FL
GIVEN TALKS
2014

Aggregation and photoluminescent tuning of conjugated polymer

nanoparticles for biological applications. Scholarly Forum. Florida
International University. Miami, FL.

2014

One-pot control of homo-coupled benzothiadiazole segments

onto conjugated polymer nanoparticles. MARC U*STAR & MBRS
RISE Biomedical Mini-Symposium. Florida International
University. Miami, FL.

2013

Side-chain dependent subcellular localization and toxicity of

conjugated polymer nanoparticles.. MARC U*STAR & MBRS RISE
Biomedical Mini-Symposium. Florida International University.
Miami, FL.

2012

Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for biological labeling. MARC

U*STAR & MBRS RISE Biomedical Mini-Symposium. Florida
International University. Miami, FL

2011

Controlled aggregation of conjugated polymer nanoparticles

using organic acid treatments. Scholarly Forum. Florida
International University. Miami, FL.

2009

The effect of educator ideology on the scientific moral

development of high school students. Honors College
Symposium. Miami, FL.

2008

A Liquid Chromatographic Technique for Studying Humic

Substance Adsorption to Minerals. Ronald E. McNair Research
Symposium. Florida International University. Miami, FL

POSTERS
(12) Mendez E., Moon JH.
Side-chain dependent subcellular localization and toxicity of conjugated polymer
nanoparticles
MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 2013.
Award: Best Young Scientist (HH), Runner-up
(11) Mendez E., Ko YJ, Moon JH.
Controlled aggregation of conjugated polymer nanoparticles to organic acid
treatments
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Student visitation day, Miami, FL.
2010.
Award: Best poster, Runner-up
(10) Mendez E., Ko YJ, Moon JH.
Controlled aggregation of conjugated polymer nanoparticles to organic acid
treatments
Scholarly Forum, Miami, FL. 2010.
(9) Mendez E., Rose S., Holness H., Furton K.
The Response of the Intoxilyzer 8000 to Volatile Organic Compounds Found in the
Human Breath at Physiologic Concentrations
FAME, Orlando, FL. 2009.
(9) Mendez E., Rose S., Holness H., Furton K.
The Response of the Intoxilyzer 8000 to Volatile Organic Compounds Found in the
Human Breath at Physiologic Concentrations
FAME, Orlando, FL. 2009.
(8) Mendez E., Kusano M., Furton K.
Preliminary Study of Volatile Organic Compounds in Blood using FTA cards and
SPME-GC/MS,
23rd National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Lacrosse, WA. 2009
(7) Mendez E, Furton K.
Potential for Identical Twin Differentiation using Volatile Organic Compounds
found in Blood.
Honors College Research Conference, Miami, Florida. 2009.

(6) Mendez E., Rose S., Holness H., Furton K.

The Response of the Intoxilyzer 8000 to Volatile Organic Compounds Found in the
Human Breath at Physiologic Concentrations
Life Sciences Research Symposium, Miami Florida. 2009.
Award: Best Poster Presentation
(5) Mascaritolo K., Mendez E., Kreller D.
A Liquid Chromatographic Technique for Studying Humic Substance Adsorption to
Minerals. 1) Method Development
American Chemical Society Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 2009.
(4) Mendez, E., Mascaritolo, K, Kreller, D.
A Liquid Chromatographic Technique for Studying Humic Substance Adsorption to
Minerals. 2) Method Application
American Chemical Society Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 2009.
(3) Kusano M., Mendez E., Furton K.
HS-SPME/GC Analysis of Various Biological Specimens Using VOCs.
American Academy of Forensic Science Conference, Seattle, WA. 2009.
(2) Mendez E., Kakar, S.
Teacher Bias on Moral Development of Adolescents
Honors College Research Conference, Miami, Florida, 2008.
(1) Kusano M., Mendez E., Furton K.
Pilot Study of the Potential for Using Different Biological Specimens as Human
Scent Sources
Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) Conference, 2008.