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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a government member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has appointed Laurie E. Locascio as director of the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). Richard Cavanagh, who had served as acting director of the lab for the past eight months, has become director of the agency's Office of Special Programs.
A 26-year veteran of the NIST laboratories, Ms. Locascio will oversee MML activities ranging from fundamental research in the composition, structure, and properties of industrial, biological, and environmental materials and processes, to the development and dissemination of certified reference materials and other measurement quality assurance programs. The MML provides a broad range of industry sectors with research, measurement services, and quality assurance tools in areas such as climate change, renewable energy, advanced materials, and medical diagnostics and therapies.
Ms. Locascio previously served at NIST as a researcher, team leader, group leader, and most recently, as chief of the MML's biochemical science division. She has published more than 100 scientific papers, holds eight patents, and has received numerous honors and awards, including the NIST Applied Research Award and the Department of Commerce Bronze and Silver Medals. She was recently selected as a fellow of the American Chemical Society.
In his new position, Mr. Cavanagh will support the NIST director and the associate director for laboratory programs by coordinating and providing oversight of programs that span the mission and expertise of two or more NIST laboratories. Mr. Cavanagh joined NIST in 1979 and has served as a research chemist, group leader, division chief, deputy director, and acting director of two former NIST labs as well as MML. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers, and a fellow of the American Vacuum Society and the American Physical Society. He has received the Samuel Wesley Stratton Award from NIST and the Silver and Gold Medals from the Department of Commerce.
