Rosa Award Presented To Two NIST Research Chemists

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has presented the Edward Bennett Rosa Award to Dennis J. Reeder and Kristy L. Richie. Both researchers, who work in the NIST Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, were honored for their work in developing and certifying Standard Reference Material 2390—the DNA Profiling Standard. This SRM was recognized by Research and Development magazine as one of the top 100 new products of the year.

The first biotechnology SRM produced by NIST, the reference material will be applied for quality assurance in forensic and paternity testing as well as in a new program established by the Armed Forces to identify soldiers by their "DNA dog tags."

The critical need for standards in forensic DNA profiling has been documented in several major reports that stress the importance of these standards in facilitating admissibility of DNA evidence in court. This SRM represents a ground-breaking achievement in the development and certification of standards for biotechnology. It will have a major impact in the high visibility area of DNA profiling.

Reeder lives in the Gaithersburg area, and Richie lives in Washington, D.C.

As a non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurement, and standards.