Scott Retterer has officially taken the helm as the new director of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He succeeded the previous director, Karren More, on July 1. More is planning to retire after a 37-year career at ORNL, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the CNMS and advancing nanoscience research.
The CNMS at ORNL is one of the five Nanoscale Science Research Centers supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. These centers were established to drive interdisciplinary research of materials at the nanoscale, which ranges between one and 100 nanometers, according to an explanatory article published by the DOE. To put this in perspective, objects of this size are 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. At that level, materials exhibit unique properties that can be harnessed to develop new technologies. Nanoscience has applications across a broad spectrum of the sciences, including biology, physics, and chemistry.
In addition to conducting their own research, the CNMS and its cohorts are user facilities, collaborative hubs that attract outside scientists from academia, private industry and other organizations from around the world.
Retterer has been with CNMS since 2005, when he began as a postdoctoral fellow. Since then, he has risen through the ranks, holding various key research and leadership positions within the organization. In the five years immediately prior to his new appointment, he led the Nanofabrication Research Laboratory Group and served as head of the Nanomaterial Synthesis and Nanofabrication Section.
Retterer is a distinguished staff scientist with a robust background in interdisciplinary research. His work at the CNMS has focused on the intersection of nanomaterials and biological systems, particularly in developing materials and fluidic interfaces tailored to biological applications. His research investigates how nanoscale structures and molecular transport actively influence biological processes.
Retterer is not only known for his technical expertise but also for his commitment to leadership development. He is part of the inaugural class of the Lab Director’s Leadership Academy at ORNL, a program designed to provide mentorship and training from ORNL leaders and executive coaches from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Haslam School of Business.
In his new position, Retterer is expected to enhance the CNMS's national and international influence in nanoscience and further the impact of the user program.
“I look forward to Scott’s continued leadership in advancing the mission of CNMS and strengthening its impact across the nation,” says Cynthia Jenks, associate laboratory director of the Physical Sciences Directorate. “I also want to express my deep appreciation for Karren More's many contributions and guidance. Her vision has left an indelible mark on the CNMS and the broader scientific community.”
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science. As the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. — Scott Gibson
