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Material Measurement Laboratory

MML conducts measurement science across the chemical, biological and material sciences. Activities range from fundamental and applied research to the development and dissemination of certified reference materials and data to industry, academia, and other government agencies to assure the quality of measurement results.

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The NIST Bioeconomy Lexicon Aids Measurement of a Vital Industry Sector
Circular economy at NIST no text
NIST Supports Transition to a Circular Economy
Standard Reference Material for Cigarette Tobacco Filler (SRM 3222)
What is a Standard Reference Material?

About the Material Measurement Laboratory

The NIST Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) conducts measurement science research to benefit industries based in the chemical, biological, and material sciences, and contributes technical expertise to the development of standards. MML researchers perform fundamental and applied research, evaluate data, and create other programs and tools to assure the quality of measurement results. 

Learn more about MML's work: 
Projects & Programs | News & Updates | Events | Publications | Awards | Press Coverage | Blogs | Patents

Our work supports areas of national importance:

Projects & Programs

Advanced Materials Design: Electronic and Functional Applications

Ongoing
Accelerating Materials Discovery using Machine Learning and AI Using machine learning and AI techniques along with high-throughput DFT calculations materials with specific properties are identified to accelerate the the discovery process for a variety of applications. Some of the specific materials
Chain orientation of polyethylene by polarization BCARS

3D Molecular Orientation Imaging

Ongoing
We have developed 3D orientation measurement techniques by analyzing polarization-dependent molecular vibrational signals based on infrared (IR) absorption [1,2] and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) [3]. The two imaging modalities are complementary to each other: IR imaging broadly

News & Updates

Events

Publications

NIST 2025 Rapid Microbial Testing Methods Workshop Report

Author(s)
Jason Kralj, Kirsten Parratt, Tyler Laird, Stephanie Servetas, Nancy Lin, Dawn Henke, Scott Jackson
In 2020, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-led Rapid Microbial Testing Methods (RMTM) Consortium was established to develop standards

NIST 2024 Rapid Microbial Testing Methods Workshop Report

Author(s)
Jason Kralj, Nancy Lin, Kirsten Parratt, Stephanie Servetas, Dawn Henke, Scott Jackson
The NIST-led Rapid Microbial Testing Methods (RMTM) Consortium launched in 2020 to develop standards and measurement-based solutions to advance the use of RMTMs

Awards

Headshot photo for Dr. Lili Wang

2025 - Resolve Award---Lili Wang

The Resolve Award celebrates individuals who uplift the world through science. Lili Wang of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory was

Press Coverage

Blog Posts

(a) Without an aptamer’s protein ligand, dARTs are transcribed to produce RNA outputs (left), while protein binding represses transcription (middle). The input and output domains are decoupled (right), enabling modular design of dARTs by swapping out the aptamer domain or customizing the output sequences. (b) dARTs serve as the protein sensing layer (left) whose outputs can be coupled with downstream circuits (middle). RNA outputs are measured via fluorescence (right).

Aptamer Regulated Transcription For In-Vitro Sensing And Transduction

NIST Inventors
Samuel Schaffter
It relates to nucleic acid transcription templates, systems, and methods for detection and measurement of molecules and biomolecules (e.g., biomarkers). Particularly, systems and methods utilize a transcription template with an aptamer domain configured to bind a molecule of interest to regulate
Schematic of double-beam modulation spectrometry using a single detector

Single-Detector Double-Path Intensity-Modulation Spectrometer

NIST Inventors
Young Jong Lee
This invention is an optical method that can minimize the noise due to system fluctuations and maximize the signal-to-noise ratio by modulating the analyte beam and the reference beam and detecting the alternating intensity difference by a signal light detector. This invention is based on a double

Patents

(a) Without an aptamer’s protein ligand, dARTs are transcribed to produce RNA outputs (left), while protein binding represses transcription (middle). The input and output domains are decoupled (right), enabling modular design of dARTs by swapping out the aptamer domain or customizing the output sequences. (b) dARTs serve as the protein sensing layer (left) whose outputs can be coupled with downstream circuits (middle). RNA outputs are measured via fluorescence (right).

Aptamer Regulated Transcription For In-Vitro Sensing And Transduction

NIST Inventors
Samuel Schaffter
It relates to nucleic acid transcription templates, systems, and methods for detection and measurement of molecules and biomolecules (e.g., biomarkers). Particularly, systems and methods utilize a transcription template with an aptamer domain configured to bind a molecule of interest to regulate
Schematic of double-beam modulation spectrometry using a single detector

Single-Detector Double-Path Intensity-Modulation Spectrometer

NIST Inventors
Young Jong Lee
This invention is an optical method that can minimize the noise due to system fluctuations and maximize the signal-to-noise ratio by modulating the analyte beam and the reference beam and detecting the alternating intensity difference by a signal light detector. This invention is based on a double

Contacts

GENERAL INFORMATION: 301-975-8300 (PHONE); [email protected]; 100 BUREAU DRIVE, M/S 8300, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20899-8300

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