Bio
Michael J. Zachman is a Senior Staff Scientist and Group Leader of the electron Microscopy and MicroÅnalysis (e-MMÅ) Group in the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Michael received his B.S. in Physics from Purdue University in 2012 and his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Cornell University in 2018. He came to ORNL in 2018 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and transitioned to a Staff Scientist position in 2019.
Michael's research interests lie in advancing and applying electron microscopy techniques to study the structure and properties of quantum and energy materials across a wide range of length scales. In particular, Michael has developed cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) and low-dose cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy (cryo-STEM) and spectroscopy techniques for studying intact sensitive solid-liquid and hard-soft interfaces from within devices at high resolution. Michael has also worked to develop four-dimensional (4D)-STEM techniques to reveal new information about quantum, battery, and catalyst materials down to the atomic scale, automation techniques to provide statistically relevant high-resolution information about systems such as hydrogen fuel cell/electrolyzer catalysts, and custom data analysis routines for a wide array of data.
As part of his current research through ORNL's Early Career Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) program, Michael is continuing to develop and utilize cryogenic techniques to better understand processes at solid polymer electrolyte-electrode interfaces in Li-metal batteries. Michael is also a principal investigator in the Center for Ionomer-based Water Electrolysis (CIWE), an Energy Earthshot Research Center, where he is developing low-dose, high-contrast cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) imaging methods and AI-based data analysis methods to provide high-resolution structural information about hard-soft ionomer interfaces in hydrogen electrolyzers. Michael is also member of the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT), Hydrogen from Next Generation Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW), and Electrocatalysis (ElectroCat) consortia through the DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, where he utilizes a variety of electron microscopy techniques to advance hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer materials and devices.
Professional Experience
- 2026–present - Senior R&D Staff and Group Leader (e-MMÅ Group), CNMS, ORNL
- 2023–2025 - R&D Staff, CNMS, ORNL
- 2019–2023 - R&D Associate, CNMS, ORNL
- 2018–2019 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, CNMS, ORNL
Awards
- Mentor of the Year (Second Place), Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Association (ORPA) Annual Awards, 2025
- Albert Crewe Award, Microscopy Society of America, 2024
- Outstanding CNMS Staff Member Award, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ORNL, 2023
- Distinguished Scientific Paper Award, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ORNL, 2023
- Special Team Accomplishment Award ("For establishing first cryo-EM laboratory at ORNL/CNMS"), Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ORNL, 2023
- William Nichols Findley Award for Outstanding Research Paper, Cornell University School of Applied & Engineering Physics, 2019
- Early Career Representative and Scholarship for EMAS 2019, Microanalysis Society, 2019
- Best Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal Paper of 2016 Award, Microscopy Society of America, 2017
- Materials Handling Prize, Silent Hoist and Crane, 2017
- Meeting Scholarship, Enhanced Data Generated by Electrons, 2017
- Eric Samuel Scholarship Award, Microscopy Society of America, 2015
- Watt W. Webb Graduate Fellowship in Nanoscience, Kavli Institute at Cornell, 2014
Education
- 2018 - Cornell University, Ph.D., Applied Physics
- 2015 - Cornell University, M.S., Applied Physics
- 2012 - Purdue University, B.S., Physics