Leah Heist

Leah Heist has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Currently, they serve as a Senior Product Development Manager and a Technical Program Lead at Carbon, starting in January 2021 and September 2019 respectively. Prior to this, they worked as a Materials Program Manager at Carbon from June 2017 to September 2019 and as a Research Scientist from January 2016 to June 2017.

Leah's academic background includes a PhD candidacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from July 2011 to November 2015, focusing on the study of curing chemistry in liquid crystal thermosets and utilizing NMR as an analytical tool for structure and dynamics research. During this time, they also held positions as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and later as the Head Teaching Assistant, managing undergraduates and directing other teaching assistants.

Leah gained industry experience as a Materials Scientist Intern at Carbon in the summer of 2015. Additionally, they worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Virginia Tech from June 2009 to July 2011, conducting research in the field of NMR diffusometry and synthetic and biological chemistry. Leah also served as a Teaching Assistant during this time.

Leah's earliest work experience includes a role as a Resident Assistant at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University in the summer of 2008, where they were responsible for participants and assisted instructors in organizing activities.

Leah Heist completed their high school education at James W. Robinson Secondary School from 2000 to 2007. Leah then pursued their Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Virginia Tech, where they studied from 2007 to 2011. Afterward, they attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2011 to 2015, where they earned their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry.