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Thomas P. Forbes (Fed)
Research Scientist
Tom Forbes is a research scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He graduated from Case Western Reserve University with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering, before completing his Ph.D. at the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on the development of a mechanically-driven droplet-based ion source for mass spectrometric analysis of biomolecules. Following his graduate work, Tom joined NIST as a National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Associate working on the development of microfluidic platforms for the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). From there, he became a staff scientist and member of the Materials Measurement Science Division.
His professional background and expertise are in the development of novel platforms and systems for mass spectrometry and analytical chemistry. His research has encompassed a range of areas focusing on thermal-fluid and ion transport phenomena, analytical chemistry, and trace chemical detection. Current research directions are investigating technologies and methods related to ambient ionization and surface analysis ion sources, analytical MEMS and microfluidic devices, separation techniques, sampling modalities, and thermal desorption systems. These avenues are leveraged for homeland security, forensic applications, and microplastic and nanoplastic metrology, among others.
National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Program Research Opportunities:
- Micro and Nanoplastics Chemical Characterization and Quantification Measurement Science
- Mass Spectrometry Metrology for Trace Detection and Chemical Imaging
- Mass Spectrometry and Chemometrics for Forensic Science
- Sensor Technology, Measurement Science, and Standards
- Advanced Forensic Toxicology Measurements through Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Associated Sites
Awards
- MML Measurement Science Excellence Accolade, (2021)
- U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award, (2018)
- National Research Council (NRC/NIST) Postdoctoral Research Associateship, (2010-2012)
- NASA Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP) Fellow, (2005-2006)