Nathan Roberts

Ripple Therapeutics

• Pioneered a rapid implant stability protocol by linking instability to water-induced plasticization, engineering a saturation method that predicts 30-day morphology at 95% accuracy within 2 days and saving 30 hours of testing weekly
• Engineered and tested a CO₂ laser implant cutting protocol for a Class 10,000 cleanroom by drawing on femtosecond IR and pulsed green laser trial data to define cutting parameters and benchmarking results against industry-standard cutting specifications
• Supported development of 50 novel implant chemistries across characterization, micro extrusion and experimental testing, advancing 3 candidates to in vivo animal studies
• Designed a GMP-compliant micro-extrusion die for novel 200 μm implant geometry, projecting a 1.7x drug release improvement
• Evaluated interactions between amorphous drug materials and gamma sterilization by reviewing literature and developing experiments to test suspected mechanism of action using DSC, HPLC, FTIR, and synchrotron XRPD (PDF analysis, CLS)

Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Lab  ·  Voestalpine AM

• Engineered and implemented an Excel macro automation for process monitoring data, saving ~260 hours annually
• Performed material testing on additively manufactured steel parts, verifying mechanical properties, internal microstructure, and chemical composition, including SEM (with EDS and EBSD analysis)

Silicon Hall  ·  Micro/Nano Fabrication Laboratory

• Co-authored a literature review to analyze existing research into carbon-based tribological additives, with a focus on graphene as a nano-additive in grease; Published with Results in Engineering (2nd Author)
• Created graphene-enhanced greases and performed profilometry, SEM imaging, and EDS analysis to optimize for a reduction of wear scar diameter of 35%; Published with Next Materials (2nd Author)
• Completed electrochemical tests (CV, LSV, GCD), on laser-ablated titanium and copper oxide samples used in water-splitting research

Enhancing Tribological Performance: A Comprehensive Review of Graphene-Based Additives in Lubricating Greases

Abstract

The integration of carbon-based additives, such as graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), into lubricating greases has attracted significant interest in the field of tribology. These materials exhibit unique properties such as exceptional mechanical strength, low interlayer shear resistance, and high thermal conductivity, which act to enhance the performance of lubricating greases. This review paper explores grease formation, types, and performance, focusing on the potential advantages and limitations of graphene derivatives as lubricant additives. Graphene has been shown to reduce friction and wear, improve load-carrying capacity, and enhance thermal stability through various research projects. Despite the promising results, challenges such as effective dispersion, scalability of synthesis, and grease structure compatibility remain. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current research, highlighting the benefits, limitations, and future directions for graphene-based additives in lubricating greases.

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Graphene as an Additive in Complex Lithium Grease: A Comprehensive Analysis of Friction, Wear, and Thermal Behaviour

Abstract

This study investigates the tribological performance of graphene-enhanced complex lithium greases, focusing on friction reduction, wear resistance, and thermal stability. Various weight percentages of graphene (0.5 wt%, 0.75 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%) were added into the grease matrix, and their effects were evaluated through multiple experimental tests, including the four-ball wear test, thermal stability assessments and water resistance tests. The results demonstrated that lower graphene concentrations, particularly 0.5 wt%, offered the best balance of performance, providing significant reductions in friction and wear while improving thermal stability and water resistance. Higher concentrations, while improving thermal stability, exhibited diminishing returns in tribological performance due to agglomeration. This research highlights the potential of graphene as a lubricant additive for industrial applications, especially in environments requiring high thermal resistance and mechanical stability. Future work should focus on optimizing dispersion techniques and exploring the synergy between graphene and other nanomaterials to further enhance grease performance.

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University of Waterloo

• Cumulative Average: 92.7% (Term Distinction, Fall 2023–Present)
• Relevant courses: Microfabrication and Thin-Film Technologies, Properties of Nanomaterials, Semiconductor Devices
• Hands-on lab experience in a Class 10,000 cleanroom performing device fabrication steps, including PECVD, lithography, RIE, and device characterization