The Career of an Applied Chemist
by Jaime de la Zerda, PhD
The vision of the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry of the HUJI includes being “a focus of strategic and applied scientific research directed towards developing Israeli industry”. Indeed, its alumni directly partake in the advancement of chemical and chemical-related industries. The conference summarizes the road travelled to-date by one of the Sasson Group graduates, who shares his experiences and challenges in a journey that leads him to industries as diverse as fertilizers, surfactants, aerosols, batteries, drugs, medical devices and other, in contexts where chemistry, physics, biology, engineering and other disciplines meet, where he encounters both mature commodities factories and smart, incipient start-ups. Accumulated experience acquired through a variety of professional activities involving scientific research, technology transfer, compliance with quality systems like ISO and cGMP, establishment of quality laboratories, tackling with safety issues, advancing intellectual property and regulatory matters, administrative tasks and capital raising prove essential to the development of a mature, holistic approach to tackle challenges encountered in the road. Lecturing in the academy is a real refreshment for the soul and a way to share. Advancing collaborative research with medical and academic institutions including the Casali Institute and others in Israel and abroad reinforces scientific rigor in industrial research activities. The multidisciplinary experience that grows and matures better serves the purpose of contributing to the progress of chemistry-based industry as a whole.
Dr. Jaime de la Zerda
- PhD student under Prof Yoel Sasson at the Casali Institute – Dissertation work: “Etherification Reactions by Phase-Transfer Catalysis”.
- Senior Chemist – Haifa Chemicals Ltd, Haifa – Main research project: Controlled release fertilizers.
- Senior Chemist – Zohar Dalia – Main line of activity: Establishment of a plant for the production of fine chemicals.
- Chief Chemist, Quality Assurance Director and Member of the Board – Sasa-Tech, Kibbutz Sasa – Implementation of formulation processes and of the ISO Quality System in a brand-new plant; development of new applications in the aerosol industry.
- Quality Assurance Director – Taro Pharmaceuticals Ltd – Management of quality assurance in all of production operations under cGMP in an FDA-regulated pharma industry.
- CEO – BacterioScan – Management of a diagnostic start-up company under the Technological Incubators program of the Office of the Chief Scientist, Ministry of Industry and Labor. Development and validation of an electro-optical system for the detection of bacteria in human fluids.
- Consultant – TheraCoat Ltd – Development of a medical device and drug carrier for the treatment of bladder cancer and other conditions in body cavities.
- Consultant – OxEnergy Ltd – Development of a new type of electric battery.
- Consultant – ShenPaz Ltd – Feasibility studies on development of novel system for dental application of ceramics.
- President – BacterioScan – Return to the diagnostic company after successful capital raise in the US and reverse merger with the newly founded BacterioScan Inc. in the US – Director of R&D, clinical and administrative activities in Israel.