SynMatter Executive Team

Jun Zhang, Ph.d.

CEO & Chief Scientist

In the capacity of CEO and Chief Scientist at SynMatter LLC, Dr. Zhang directs the research vision and its successful development in multiple fields of application.


Dr. Zhang holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, a Master of Materials Physical Chemistry as well as a Master of Materials Science and Engineering and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry.

During her extensive career as a materials scientist, Dr. Zhang has developed numerous new technologies which have resulted in 8 patents and over 30 peer-reviewed publications, including the cover article for the prestigious Advanced Materials journal. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Dr. Zhang was awarded a NASA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where she developed a patent pending method for encapsulating a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds into controlled release microparticles. This led to the founding of SynMatter, LLC which is focused on the commercialization of next-generation corrosion-inhibiting, antifouling and absorbent additives for coatings based on the encapsulation technology.

 

Benny Pearman, Ph.d.

COO & Lead Scientist

In the capacity of Chief Operations Officer and Lead Scientist, Dr. Pearman leads the formation and execution of business and government research partnerships.


Dr. Pearman holds a Master of Chemistry with First-Class Honors and a Ph.D. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Materials Science.

He has published three peer-reviewed papers and presented at numerous national & international conferences. In 2013, Dr. Pearman was awarded a NASA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center where he spent three years analyzing and modifying materials produced from the patent pending encapsulation method. In 2016, he joined SynMatter LLC to push forward the commercialization of next-generation corrosion-inhibiting, antifouling and absorbent additives for coatings based on the encapsulation technology.

 

Dillon CAmpbell, BS

Chemical Engineer

In the capacity of Chemical Engineer, Mr. Campbell heads up coatings formulation and manufacturing scale-up.


Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of FL, Gainesville, FL.

Prior to joining SynMatter, he worked on the development, production and testing of high-performance, military-grade coatings for heavy industrial, oil & gas and consumer applications, focused on improvements to chemical and corrosion resistance. He introduced additives into the coatings to improve performance in the harsh conditions of these environments. In addition, he performed testing for prospective customers to determine the effectiveness for the needs of prospective customers.

 

Facilities

SynMatter is headquartered in Orlando and currently maintains a laboratory at the Space Life Science Lab, located next to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Space Life Sciences Lab is a facility run by Space Florida, a special district of the State of Florida focused on promoting high-tech research and development in Eastern Florida. This laboratory complex provides all the amenities required to perform SynMatter’s chemical research and development, such as fume hoods, chemical receiving, storage and shipping, appropriate hazardous and toxic materials storage and waste disposal, centrifuges, ovens and basic analytical equipment. This involves appropriate facilities, equipment and practices to ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations, including airborne emissions, waterborne effluents, outdoor noise and solid and bulk waste disposal practices. Given its location in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, special precautions have been made to ensure the safety and well-being, not only of the personnel within the building, but also the flora and fauna outside.

 

Space Life Sciences Lab

Further, SynMatter owns standard laboratory equipment and supplies necessary for Smart Particle synthesis, processing and basic analysis, and coating formulation, such as laboratory grade glassware, hot plates, overhead and grinding stirrers, a spray dryer, a cyclic corrosion test chamber and accelerated weather tester for for accelerated corrosion and coatings testing, and other required standard laboratory supplies. SynMatter also has access to advanced analytical characterization, such scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy, at the University of Central Florida’s Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) located in Orlando, FL.

 

SynMatter’s laboratory at the SLSL

 

Cyclic corrosion test chamber