EMSL researcher’s career work recognized through Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy meeting

Daniel Perea, a materials scientist at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), is being recognized through the Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy meeting for his career work. The meeting takes place July 14–17 in Chennai, India. 

Perea was invited to deliver the J.H. Block Lecture, an honor that recognizes mid-career scientists who have brought new and important contributions to their field. Perea’s work focuses on using atom probe tomography (APT) to map the three-dimensional, atomic-scale composition of materials. 

“I can’t lie, it does feel pretty good to be recognized by my peers for this honor,” he said. “It was honestly a huge surprise.” 

Perea began his career in APT as a PhD student, establishing the application of APT to map dopant impurities in low-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures. He helped establish fundamental aspects of dopant incorporation during the vapor-liquid-solid growth of semiconductor nanowires. 

From there, he joined Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow. His work focused on demonstrating semiconductor nanowire heterointerface engineering through in situ catalyst alloying during vapor-liquid-solid growth. 

Now, Perea stewards APT capabilities at both EMSL and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Since joining EMSL and PNNL in 2011, Perea and his colleagues have helped grow the APT team at PNNL to more than 20 staff and students. PNNL now features three APT systems that are dedicated to the analysis of biological and environmental materials, functional and structural materials, and nuclear materials. 

Throughout his time at EMSL and PNNL, Perea has pioneered new APT techniques and customized APT instrumentation for a range of applications outside of typical uses. He pioneered the use of APT to probe the composition and structure of biological organic materials, which is not a typical application of the technique. He also uses APT for projects involving biominerals, geological minerals, catalysis, structural metals, and radiological materials. 

As part of the J.H. Block Lecture, Perea will discuss his work advancing the APT capability for new uses as part of his presentation titled “Advancing APT into new science domains through strategic instrumental modifications and some imagination.” 

Perea encourages up-and-coming scientists to experiment with various techniques and find new ways to use instruments for new uses. 

“Don’t be afraid to tinker with your instruments to push it beyond what it was intended to do and explore new science,” he said. 

Being able to work with up-and-coming scientists and help identify ways to experiment with the APT capability is one of the most rewarding aspects of his career, Perea said. As the first in his family to earn bachelor’s and graduate degrees, he said he recognizes the value of a good mentor and enjoys being able to pass along his experiences and expertise to the next generation. 

“I’m really proud to be a mentor to the wonderful undergrads and grad students who work with me and then go on to do great things, themselves,” he said.  

Perea will deliver his lecture on July 15 at the Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy meeting.