Teamwork Pays Off For Nine NIST Researchers

The William P. Slichter Award, presented for the second year, recognizes outstanding achievements by staff members of the National Institute of Standards and Technology staff in building or strengthening ties between NIST and industry. This year, a team of nine NIST researchers won the honor. They are:

• Stephen A. Osella, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Research Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory;
• Theodore V. Vorburger, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Leader, Surface and Particle Metrology Group, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory;
• Pedro I. Espina, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Mechanical Engineer, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory;
• George E. Mattingly, BETHESDA, Md., Leader, Fluid Flow Group, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory;
• Francis S. Biancaniello, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Metallurgist, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory;
• Paul A. Boyer, SHARPSBURG, Md., Physical Science Technician, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory;
• Robert L. Parke, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Physical Science Technician, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory;
• Stephen D. Ridder, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Metallurgist, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory; and
• H. Thomas Yolken, POOLESVILLE, Md., Chief, Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory.

These researchers were honored with this award for outstanding achievements as part of the industry/NIST SIGMA (supersonic inert-gas metal atomization) consortium. This collaborative effort involved three NIST laboratories, four NIST divisions, five companies and the U.S. Department of Energy. The team applied intelligent processing methodologies to the production of metal powders by atomization. This effort led to significant improvements in process efficiency and product quality for the industrial partners through a better understanding of the metal atomization process, knowledge-based equipment design strategies, and process measurement and control techniques.

Established in 1992, the Slichter Award recognizes the growing need to promote cooperative partnerships between government and industrial researchers. It was proposed by the NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology, the agency's external review body, as a memorial to William P. Slichter, a former member of the committee and chairman of the NIST Board on Assessment, for his services to NIST.

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.