Gert Patello

Chief Operations Officer

Dr. Gert Patello is EMSL’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and group leader for the EMSL Management and Operations  group. Patello received her PhD in Ceramics from Alfred University under the direction of Associate Professor Gary Fischman. 

Since joining the PNNL in 1993, she has worked as a research scientist, project manager, line manager, sector manager, project management office director, and presently as EMSL’s COO. Prior to becoming EMSL COO Patello managed PNNL’s Isotope Program as part of the DOE’s Office of Science Isotope program providing leadership and strategic direction in alignment with the DOE Isotope program’s mission. She has led or participated in strategic planning efforts related to PNNL’s Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, the Reinventing Chemical Catalysis Laboratory Objective, and the Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory. She is a current member of the Fusion Energy Science Advisory Committee, which provides independent advice to the Director of the Office of Science on complex scientific and technological issues that arise in the fusion energy sciences program.