J AMES

P. S MITH

404 Warren Rd #2 Ithaca, NY 14850

jps336 [at] cornell.edu 610-316-0463
www.jamespaulsmith.com

EDUCATION
Cornell University; Ithaca, NY
Expected Fall 2014
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Computational Science Engineering (minor). GPA: 3.57 overall, 3.75 in-major
Dissertation: Biosensor Design Optimization using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Cornell University; Ithaca, NY
M.S., Mechanical Engineering. GPA: 3.57 overall, 3.75 in-major
Clarkson University; Potsdam, NY
B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. GPA: 3.77 overall

August 2013
May 2008

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant; Cornell Micro/Nanofluidics Lab; Ithaca, NY
2009present
Research summary: Used computational fluid dynamics, Monte Carlo simulations, and experiments to
design, optimize, and validate new technologies for microfluidic biosensors and medical diagnostics
Impact: an 8 increase in device performance, 7 publications, 1 intellectual property invention disclosure
Transferable skills
Project management: planned and executed projects from conception through design, analysis, and
prototype fabrication and validation; made technical decisions; worked with minimal direction
Analytic: demonstrated ability to apply multi-disciplinary engineering knowledge to practical
challenges, agilely adapt to new fields, and synthesize data into actionable conclusions
Teamwork: 5 years collaborating with cross-functional R&D teams (including scientists, vendors, IP
and financial staff) to develop, manufacture, and validate novel biomedical devices
Communication: delivered 36+ presentations to diverse audiences, authored 32+ reports & 7 articles
Technical: CFD, FEA, and multi-physics simulations (Abaqus, Ansys, Comsol); 3D CAD (NX/IDEAS,
Pro/E, Solidworks); numerical methods and statistical analysis; LabVIEW; MATLAB
Mechanical Engineer; Lockheed Martin Space Systems; Valley Forge, PA
20082009
Designed and analyzed spacecraft systems for NASA (deep-space power) and DARPA (hypersonics):
optimized components using FEA; managed material testing; synthesized experimental results
Communicated my results to, and influenced, program management in reports and presentations
Gained business acumen in a fast-paced environment; balanced the priorities of multiple programs with
competing deadlines; worked as both an independent engineer and in multidisciplinary teams
Mechanical Engineering Intern; Lockheed Martin Space Systems; Valley Forge, PA

Summers 2006, 2007

ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK EXPERIENCE

Co-Founder; Captura Diagnostics, Inc.; Ithaca, NY
20132014
Founded a company to commercialize university intellectual property into a blood-based cancer test
Planned, led, and executed R&D, proposal, and business development strategies that mitigated risk
Communicated our strategic goals to business and technical leaders, and potential customers; leveraged
that influence to secure pre-seed funding; ceased operations in 2014 due to a weakened patent position
President (2013present); Board of Directors member; East Hill Flying Club; Ithaca, NY
2009present
Manage the operation of a nonprofit with 8 small aircraft, 250 members, and $500k in annual revenue;
review financial statements; listen to conflicting points of view and develop consensus solutions
James P. Smith

www.jamespaulsmith.com

Engineering Student Representative; Cornell Student Library Advisory Council, Ithaca, NY

Advised the University Librarian and her staff on the needs of graduate engineering students

20112013

Teaching Assistant; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY

Spring 2011, Fall 2010
Planned and conducted lectures, recitations, office hours, and exam review sessions for undergraduate
mechanical engineering classes (Heat Transfer: 99 students; Fluid Dynamics: 97 students)
STEM Education Outreach for Pre-K to 2nd grade students; Fassett Elementary School; Elmira, NY 20112012
Organized and led hands-on engineering activities in an after-school program for underprivileged students

SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS

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Centerstate CEO Grants For Growth Award: $25,000 in prototype development funding (2013)
Excell Challenge Pre-Seed Award: $10,000 in business development funding (2013)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, honorable mention (2010)
Olin Endowed Fellowship, Sibley School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University (2009)
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, member (2007present)

PUBLICATIONS
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Huang C, Smith JP, Saha TM, Rhim AD, Kirby BJ. Characterization of microfluidic shear-dependent EpCAM
immunocapture and enrichment of pancreatic cancer cells from blood cells with dielectrophoresis.
Biomicrofluidics, 2014.
Smith JP, Lannin TB, Syed YA, Santana SM, Kirby BJ. Parametric control of collision rates and capture rates
in geometrically enhanced differential immunocapture (GEDI) microfluidic devices for rare cell capture.
Biomedical Microdevices, 2014.
Gleghorn JP, Smith JP, Kirby BJ. Transport and collision dynamics in periodic asymmetric obstacle arrays:
rational design of microfluidic rare cell immunocapture devices. Physical Review E, 2013.
Zhu B, Smith JP, Yarmush ML, Nahmias Y, Kirby BJ, Murthy SK. Microfluidic enrichment of mouse
epidermal stem cells and validation of stem cell proliferation in vitro. Tissue Engineering C, 2013.
Smith JP, Barbati AB, Santana SM, Gleghorn JP, Kirby BJ. Microfluidic Transport in Microdevices for Rare
Cell Capture. Electrophoresis, 2012.
Kirby BJ, Jodari M, Loftus MS, Pratt ED, Chanel-Vos C, Gakhar G; Gleghorn JP, Santana SM, Liu H, Smith JP,
Tagawa ST, Bander NH; Nanus DM, Giannakakou P. Functional Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells
with a Prostate-Cancer-Specific Microfluidic Device. PLoS ONE, 2012.
Smith JP, Gleghorn JP, Kirby BJ. Particle transport in ordered geometric arrays: separation and capture.
Newsletter of the American Electrophoresis Society, 2010.

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (from 16 total)

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Smith JP, et al. Circulating tumor cell (CTC) cancer biomarkers using geometrically enhanced differential
immunocapture (GEDI) microdevices. Society for Lab Automation and Screening 2014, San Diego, CA.
2. Smith JP, et al. Particle collision dynamics in periodic asymmetric microfluidic obstacle arrays for rare cell
capture. APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Fall Meeting 2012, San Diego, CA.
3. Smith JP, et al. Transport and collision dynamics in GEDI cell capture microdevices. Gordon Research
Conference on Physics and Chemistry of Microfluidics 2011, Waterville Valley, NH.
4. Smith JP, et al. Circulating tumor cell collision dynamics in GEDI microdevices. ASME International
Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition 2010, Vancouver, BC.
5. Smith JP, et al. Particle collision dynamics in geometrically enhanced differential immunocapture
Microdevices. 10th New York Complex Matter Workshop, June 2010, Ithaca, NY.

James P. Smith

www.jamespaulsmith.com