In this episode, podcast co-hosts Dr. Dwight Stoll and Dr. James Grinias talk with Dr. Alix Rodowa, Research Chemist within the Organic Chemical Metrology Group at the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. At NIST, she is the Environmental Sector Task Lead for the Organic Analysis Working Group for the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (or CCQM).

After discussing some of the events that sparked Dr. Rodowa’s interest in science, and analytical chemistry in particular, we discuss her path to a career as a NIST scientist, including cold-emailing potential research advisors, and an experience as a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral fellow. We then discuss her work on polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including the development of the PFAS Interference List - affectionately known as the “PIL” - and the development of a Standard Reference Material (SRM) for that research area. We also touch on emerging uses of machine learning in workflows for analytical target and suspect screening. Finally, Alix provides some insight into a day in the life of a NIST scientist, why she enjoys working in a government laboratory, and how aspiring scientists can explore this environment as a potential career option.


Ep. 36: A Day in the Life of a NIST Scientist

Analytically Speaking, the podcast from LCGC and Spectroscopy magazines, addresses important issues in separation science and analytical spectroscopy. Topics include new analytical techniques, methods, and approaches; the latest trends; advances in instrument and software technology; practical solutions for specific applications; recent papers in the scientific literature and their applicability; challenges and solutions for data analysis and interpretation; analytical chemistry theory and fundamentals (from advanced research to tutorials and troubleshooting); and more. Our regular hosts are Dwight Stoll, PhD, a professor of chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and Jerry Workman, PhD, a spectroscopist, noted author, and currently the Senior Technical Editor of Spectroscopy and LCGC. Dwight covers separation science and Jerry addresses spectroscopy related topics.