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Pamela M. Chu (Fed)

Group Leader – Chemical Process and Nuclear Measurements

Dr. Chu is currently on a detail assignment in the Materials Measurement Laboratory office coordinating projects related to direct air capture and carbonate building materials.  As leader of the Chemical Process and Nuclear Measurements Group, Dr. Chu oversaw a research portfolio focused on developing and applying state-of-the-art chemical and physical measurements to provide reference data, standards, and models for complex chemical systems and time-dependent phenomena.  Group activities include measurement of rate constants, transport properties, and the transformation of complex chemical systems by investigating electronic and structural properties as it relates to chemical and physical function.  Additionally, the group maintains facilities and expertise in nuclear methods for elemental analysis in collaboration with the NIST Center for Neutron Research and external partners.  Dr. Chu’s NIST laboratory research focused on the development and application of analytical spectroscopic techniques with an emphasis on quality-assured measurements to help underpin the Nation’s traceability hierarchy for quantitative gas measurements for regulatory, environmental, industrial, homeland security, and medical applications. Additional research experience includes laser-based quantum state detection to study photo-induced reaction mechanisms on semiconductor and metal surfaces, crossed molecular beams coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry to investigate primary combustion processes, and laser photoacoustic methods for characterizing adsorbate changes at liquid-metal interfaces during electrochemical cycling.

Awards

  • Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award, 2017
  • Science Spectrum Trailblazer BEYA STEM, 2012
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers, 2000
  • Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award, 1998
  • NIST Measurement Science Award, 1998
  • National Partnership for Reinventing Government Hammer Award, 1998
  • National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1991–1993
  • American Association of University Women Graduate Fellowship, 1990–1991
  • Graduate Student Instructor Teaching Award (Spring and Fall Semesters), 1988
  • General Electric Foundation Katharine Blodgett Graduate Fellowship, 1985–1986

Publications

Created October 9, 2019, Updated December 8, 2022