Moses A.

Ajemigbitse
Curriculum Vitae
246 Gerald St. mosesajemigbitse@gmail.com
State College, PA 16801, USA Cell: +1 (814) 321-4632

EDUCATION

Pennsylvania State University, State College PA Expected: May 2019, GPA: 3.95
PhD, Environmental Engineering
Advisors: Fred S. Cannon & Nathaniel R. Warner; Committee: Li Li, and Sridhar Komarneni
Dissertation: Treatment Technologies for Hydraulic Fracturing Wastes using Na-4-mica and Advanced Oxidation

West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown WV 2014, GPA: 3.92

BSc, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering; Minor in Economics

EXPERIENCE

Research Assistant Aug 2014 – Present

Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Designed and performed experiments investigating i) reclamation of marketable raw materials from hydraulic
fracturing wastes, and ii) a novel process for radium removal from hydraulic fracturing produced water. In addition,
managed and mentored several undergraduate research projects.
Radiation Safety Officer May 2018 – Present
SALTS Lab, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Ensured radiation compliance of the research lab with the Environmental Health & Safety. Performed regular
contamination surveys and safety assessments to ensure safe operations involving radioactive materials.
Undergraduate Research Assistant May 2013- August 2013
Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Performed research experiments and provided laboratory assistance on two NSF research projects. One project
designed a treatment to reclaim Anthracite coal from coal waste and the other project designed and tested a low
polluting core for casting and molding in iron foundries.

Residential Assistant August 2011 – May 2014

West Virginia University, Braxton Tower
Facilitated the social, academic, and personal adjustment of students to the residence hall and University by
developing a sense of community among residents as residents of a hall and active participants in the residence life
system. I also mentored add tutored engineering students as part of the engineering retention program.

Tutor & Mentor August 2013 – May 2014

West Virginia University, Freshman Engineering Learning Center
I tutored first year engineering students in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering classes.

Office Assistant May 2012- August 2012

West Virginia University, Office of the Dean of Freshman Engineering
Assisted the Dean of Freshman Engineering in developing and organizing new programs for the academic year by
planning, reviewing and implementing the orientation schedule for 924 incoming students. Created assessments for
the Introduction to Engineering course, while serving as communications liaison between the Freshman
Engineering department and the engineering library.
 RESEARCH INTERESTS

1. Reclaiming marketable materials from wastes, e.g. proppant (sand) and clay from hydraulic fracturing waste.
2. Developing advanced and specific treatment technologies for radium from produced and flowback.
3. Developing time-saving analytical methods for radioactivity measurement e.g. Rapid 226Ra measurement using
Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC).
4. Thermodynamic comparison of ion exchange, complexation and precipitation for metal fate in saline waters.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Accepted: Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, and Warner NR. 2018. “Raw Material
Recovery from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste
Disposal.” Environ Sci.: Processes Impacts, DOI: 10.1039/c8em00248g.

2. Zhang XYS, Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Hooper AE, Allara DL, Paulsen PD, and Furness JC. 2018.
“Hydrogen Peroxide-Generated Gases at Asphalt-Glass Interface: Effect on Surface Cleaning and Analysis by
Nanoscale Surface Imaging Spectroscopy”. Environ Eng Sci., https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2017.0113.

3. Submitted: Ouyang B, Renock DJ, Ajemigbitse MA, Van Sice K, Warner NR, Landis JD, and Feng X. 2018.
“Extraction of radium from suspended solids and sulfates associated with hydraulic fracturing wastewater
fluids”. Environ Sci.: Processes Impacts.

4. Submitted: Tasker TL, Burgos WD, Ajemigbitse MA, Lauer NE, Gusa A, Kuatbek M, May D, Landis JD,
Alessi DS, Johnsen AM, Kaste J, Headrick K, Wilke FDH, McNeal M, Engle M, Jubb A, Vidic R, Vengosh A,
and Warner NR. 2018. “Accuracy of methods for reporting inorganic element concentrations and radioactivity
in oil and gas wastewaters from the Appalachian Basin, U.S based on an inter-lab comparison.” Environ Sci.:
Processes Impacts.

5. Submitted: McDevitt B, McLauglin M, Cravotta III C, Ajemigbitse MA, Van Sice KL, Blotevogel J, Borch T,
Warner NR. 2018 “Radium Accumulation in Carbonate River Sediments at Oil and Gas Produced Water
Discharges: Implications for Beneficial Use as Disposal Management.”Environ Sci.: Processes Impacts.

6. In Progress: Ajemigbitse MA, Cheng Y, Warner NR. 2018. “A method to account for sample attenuation in
well-detector gamma spectroscopy”. 2018.

7. In Progress: Ajemigbitse MA, Warner NR, Cannon FS. 2018. “Rapid Radium-226 measurements using Liquid
Scintillation Counting and Spectrum Deconvolution.”

8. In Progress: Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, Komarneni S. 2019. “Radium Removal from Highly
Saline Water Using a Synthetic Clay.”

9. In Progress: Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, Komarneni S. 2019. “A Novel Treatment Design for
Radium Removal from Hydraulic Fracturing Produced Water.”

PRESENTATIONS and POSTERS*

Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, Wunz C, and Warner NR (2018). Raw Material Recovery
from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste Disposal. National
Society of Black Engineers National Convention. Pittsburgh, PA. March 22, 2018.

Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2018). Radium Removal from Marcellus Shale
Produced Water Using a Synthetic Clay. Pan African Professional Alliance Student Symposium. State College, PA.
April 21, 2018.
 PRESENTATIONS and POSTERS* (continued)
b
Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2018). Radium Removal from Marcellus Shale
Produced Water Using a Synthetic Clay. College of Engineering Research Symposium. State College, PA. April
10, 2018.
a
Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2018). Radium Removal from Marcellus Shale
Produced Water Using a Synthetic Clay. Penn State Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper Contest. State College,
PA. January 19, 2018.

Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2017). Reducing the Environmental Impact of the
Petroleum Industry by Waste to Resource Recovery. Shale Network Workshop. State College, PA. May 19, 2017.
c
Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2017). Reducing the Environmental Impact of the
Petroleum Industry by Waste to Resource Recovery. Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student
Symposium. State College, PA. April 22, 2017.

Ajemigbitse MA (2017). Reducing the Environmental Impact of the Petroleum Industry by Waste to Resource
Recovery. Pan African Professional Alliance Student Symposium. State College, PA. April 1, 2017.

Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR, and Komarneni S (2017). Tailored Clay and Advanced Oxidation
Processes for the Treatment of Hydraulic Fracturing Waste. Penn State Environmental Engineering Seminar. State
College, PA. October 4, 2017.

*Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, Wunz C, and Warner NR (2018). Raw Material Recovery
from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste Disposal. Shale
Insight. Pittsburgh, PA. September 24, 2018.

*Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, Wunz C, and Warner NR (2018). Raw Material Recovery
from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste Disposal. Penn State
Energy Days. State College, PA. May 31, 2018.

*Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, Wunz C, and Warner NR (2018). Raw Material Recovery
from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste Disposal. Shale
Network Workshop. State College, PA. May 18, 2018.

*Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Klima M, Furness JC, Wunz C, and Warner NR (2018). Raw Material Recovery
from Oil and Gas Residual Waste with Implications for Sustainability and Radioactive Waste Disposal.
Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student Symposium. State College, PA. April 13, 2018.

*Ajemigbitse MA, and Cannon FS (2016). A Novel Process for Reclaiming Marketable Raw Materials from
Hydraulic Fracturing Wastes. Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student Symposium. State College, PA.
April 8, 2016.

AWARDS
Chevron Corporation Scholarship in Environmental Engineering, Chevron 2018
a
Student Paper Contest-2nd Place PhD division, Penn State Society of Petroleum Engineers 2018
b
Best Presentation-2nd Place Environmental division, College of Engineering Research Symposium 2018
c
Best Graduate Presenter-2nd Place, Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student Symposium 2017
Graduate Excellence Fellowship, Penn State College of Engineering 2014
Tuition Merit Scholarship, WVU Office of Intl Students 2013
Academic Excellence Scholarship, WVU Dept. of Petroleum Engineering 2013
Fulfilling the Legacy Scholarship, National Society of Black Engineers 2012
 SERVICE

Sound tech, Unity Christian Church of God, State College PA 2016-Present

Founding member of the Penn State Pan-African Professional Alliance 2014
Web Master of the Penn State Pan-African Professional Alliance 2017-2018
Conference Planning Committee Member for Penn State Student Association of Environmental Science and
Engineering 2016-2018
Small group leader, Unity Christian Church of God, State College PA 2017-2018
Founding member of the Penn State Pan-African Professional Alliance 2014
National Society of Black Engineers WVU Chapter President 2013-2014
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering Ambassador, WVU 2013-2014
Sunday school teacher, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Morgantown 2011-2014
Bible Study Leader, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Morgantown 2013-2014
National Society of Black Engineers WVU Chapter Treasurer 2012-2013
National Society of Black Engineers WVU Chapter 2011-2012

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

PANalytical Empyrean – X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystallinity, mineral identification and analyses
Thermo Fisher (FEI) Q250 Environmental SEM/EDS – Particle size, morphology, and elemental analyses
PerkinElmer Tricarb 3100TR – Liquid Scintillation Counting for radioactivity measurements
Canberra Small Anode Germanium SAGe – Gamma spectroscopy for radioactivity measurements
MATLAB – Proficient in writing scripts and functions
Minitab – Proficient in statistical analyses

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Ajemigbitse MA (2018). Sustainable Energy Development. St. Francis University Environmental Engineering
Seminar. Loretto, PA. November 9, 2018

CERTIFICATES

Engineer-In-Training – NCEES PA Board 2018

Graduate School Teaching Certificate – Penn State Schreyer Institute of Teaching Excellence 2018

AFFILIATIONS

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Pan-African Professional Alliance (Pan-APA)
Student Association of Environmental Science and Engineering (SAESE)

COURSES TAUGHT

CE 370* Penn State University – Spring 2017 Introduction to Environmental Engineering

CE 571* Penn State University – Spring 2017 Physical and Chemical Treatment Processes
*Prepared and presented two lectures in each class.
 GRANT INVOLVMENT

Hydroacoustic cavitation for reclaiming clay and sand from hydrofracturing fluids and solids
Awarded by NSF-AIR-TT #1640634 4/1/16 Award: $251,799
PI- NR Warner Co-PIs Fred Cannon & Mark Klima PSU
Role: Provided important preliminary results and wrote sections of the grant application.

Removing Radium from Hydrofracturing Fluids with Tailored Clays

Awarded by PSIEE 11/2/16 Award: $25,000
PI- NR Warner Co-PIs S Komarneni, FS Cannon, M Flaska, & A Johnsen PSU
Role: Provided important preliminary results and wrote sections of the grant application.

OUTREACH

Guest Speaker at Bellefonte High School during 10th grade English class discussion on Things Fall Apart 2015
Guest Speaker at Region II Fall Regional Conference, National Society of Black Engineers 2014
Active involvement with the WVU Engineering Outreach Center hosting visits and giving tours 2010-2014