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Marla Dowell

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Marla Lorraine Dowell
Dowell, NIST photograph, 2022
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Colorado Boulder
Scientific career
InstitutionsCommunications Technology Laboratory
JILA
NIST
ThesisPion single charge exchange in three body nuclei at intermediate energies (2005)

Marla Lorraine Dowell (born 1965) is an American physicist who is Director of the CHIPS Metrology Program and NIST Boulder Laboratory.

Early life and education

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Dowell became interested in science and mathematics as a child.[1] Her father is an engineer[1] and her step-father was a physicist.[2] Dowell was an undergraduate in physics at the University of Michigan.[3] She was encouraged by her physics professors to pursue a career in research.[1] She moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for doctoral research, where she worked under the supervision of June Lorraine Matthews.[4] Her doctoral research considered pion single charge exchange.[5] After earning her doctorate, Dowell joined JILA, where she worked as a postdoctoral research associate in atomic physics. Dowell has been a long-time advocate for STEM education.[6] She earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Colorado Boulder.[1]

Research and career

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At National Institute of Standards and Technology, Dowell was responsible for the NIST laser metrology program. At the start, the group focused on calibration, but under her leadership, Dowell developed a research program in laser metrology for industrial applications.[7] Connecting fundamental research to industry needs has been a unifying theme of Dowell's career – from optical metrology for semiconductor manufacturing to solving today's challenges with 5G deployment with new electromagnetic metrology.[8] She has leveraged partnerships with other federal agencies to expand NIST research activities in wireless communication networks.[9]

Dowell has written about job hunting strategies for navigating transitions between different STEM disciplines.[10] She has been a long-time supporter of educational and career development opportunities, serving on both the APS Committee on Careers & Professional Development as well as SPIE Education and Outreach Committee.

In 2017, Dowell became director of the Communications Technology Laboratory and the NIST Boulder Laboratory.[11] The National Academies have cited the strength and breadth of the NIST Communication Technology Laboratory programs under Dowell's leadership.[12][13] In June 2023, Dowell joined CHIPS for America as director of the CHIPS Metrology Program, where she will expand and advance NIST's efforts to deliver a robust measurement science foundation for the semiconductor industry.[14]

In 2023, Dowell was recognized by the President of the United States as a Distinguished Executive for her extraordinary and lasting contributions to scientific research and achievements as a leader in the NIST Community.[15] Dowell is a Fellow of SPIE.[16]

Awards and honors

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  • 2000 Judson C. French Award[17]* 2000 Judson C. French Award[17]
  • 2005 Department of Commerce Silver Medal[18]
  • 2005 NIST Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Award[19]
  • 2010 Arthur S. Flemming Award[20][21]
  • 2012 Allen V. Astin Award[7]
  • 2016 SPIE Women in Optics[22]
  • 2019 OSA Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Recognition[23]
  • 2023 SPIE Fellow[24]
  • 2023 Presidential Rank Award as Distinguished Executive[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Marla Dowell | Women in Optics | SPIE". spie.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  2. ^ Marilyn Marks (2002-09-06). "Physicist David Wilkinson, explorer of Big Bang afterglow, dies". Princeton University. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  3. ^ [email protected] (2019-07-30). "Marla L. Dowell". NIST. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  4. ^ "June Matthews PhD '67 » MIT Physics". MIT Physics. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  5. ^ Dowell, Marla L. (Marla Lorraine) (1994). Pion single charge exchange in three body nuclei at intermediate energies (Thesis thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. hdl:1721.1/26856.
  6. ^ [email protected] (2021-03-18). "NIST Builds 'Sisters in STEM' With YWCA Code Jam". NIST. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  7. ^ a b [email protected] (2013-10-29). "Marla Dowell Receives 2012 Allen V. Astin Award". NIST. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  8. ^ "NIST Unscripted - Marla Dowell". NIST. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  9. ^ Martin, Nichols (2021-04-28). "NIST Takes Part in Multi-Agency Effort to Support Communications Tech Research; Marla Dowell Quoted". executivegov.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  10. ^ Dowell, Marla (1995-10-01). "Switching Fields in Physics: Job Hunting Strategies" (PDF). American Physical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  11. ^ "Marla Dowell". NIST. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  12. ^ An Assessment of the Communications Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology: Fiscal Year 2019. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. doi:10.17226/25602. ISBN 978-0-309-49895-1. S2CID 243022258. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  13. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering (2023-01-30). 2022 Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Communications Technology Laboratory. ISBN 978-0-309-69593-0.
  14. ^ "U.S. Department of Commerce Announces CHIPS for America R&D Leadership". chips.org. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. ^ "Marla Dowell Recognized as a Distinguished Executive with 2023 Presidential Rank Award". nist.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  16. ^ "SPIE Fellows". spie.org. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  17. ^ a b "Front Range Awards". BizWest. 2001-01-12. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  18. ^ "U.S. Department of Commerce 2005 Honour Awards" (PDF).
  19. ^ Zhi, Su (2021-10-13). "SRC-SIA WebinarDecadal Plan for Semiconductors: New Trajectories for Communication". Semiconductor Industry Association. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  20. ^ "NIST Scientists Win Flemming Awards".
  21. ^ "UD Library: Senator Ted Kaufman — Senator for Delaware: Newsroom - Great Feds - Dr. Marla Dowell". green.lib.udel.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  22. ^ "Women in Optics Calendar". spie.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  23. ^ "NIST's Steering Group for Equity in Career Advancement (SGECA) Receives OSA Award". nist.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  24. ^ "SPIE Fellows". spie.org. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  25. ^ "Presidential Rank Award". nist.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
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