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Derek Hopkins
Computer Scientist

Derek Hopkins is a senior computer scientist with the Instrument Development and Automation Laboratory at the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory (EMSL). As an accomplished software developer, Hopkins’ software is widely used by EMSL users.

Hopkins’s modular software design has enabled widespread adoption of software based on a common, robust backplane to interface hardware and automate scientific experiments. His software has been used to integrate systems as diverse as specialized surface science instruments, automated liquid chromatography systems, mass spectrometers, an R&D 100 award-winning combined confocal and magnetic resonance microscope, a micro-pulse light detection and ranging system, and an automation for a custom solar spectrometer used in atmospheric chemistry research.

Research Interests

  • Laboratory automation and process control
  • STORM microscope
  • Identification friend or foe
  • Waste tank mixing project

Education

  • BS in Computer Science, Arkansas State University, 1991
  • BS in Engineering Physics-Computer Applications, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 1987

Awards and Recognition

  • Key Contributor Award, PNNL (2002, 2005, 2011)
  • Software Creator Award, PNNL (1996, 2002, 2011)
  • Outstanding Performance Award, PNNL (2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008)
  • Cover Feature, Scientific Computing and Instrumentation Journal, (2004, 2005)
  • Finalist, National Instruments Paper Contest, NIWeek (2003)

Publications

2013

Denslow K.M., J.R. Bontha, H.E. Adkins, J.W. Jenks, D.F. Hopkins, M.G. Thien, and S.E. Kelly, et al. 2013. "System Performance Testing of the Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Instrument for Critical Velocity Determination during Hanford Tank Waste Transfer Operations - 13584." In Annual Waste Management Symposium (WM2013): International Collaboration and Continuous Improvement, February 24-28, 2013, Phoenix, Arizona, 7, 5916-5938. Tempe, Arizona: WM Symposia. PNNL-SA-92964.

2012

Denslow K.M., J.R. Bontha, H.E. Adkins, J.W. Jenks, and D.F. Hopkins. 2012. Hanford Tank Farms Waste Feed Flow Loop Phase VI: PulseEcho System Performance Evaluation. PNNL-22029. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hanford Tank Farms Waste Feed Flow Loop Phase VI: PulseEcho System Performance Evaluation

Denslow K.M., J.R. Bontha, H.E. Adkins, J.W. Jenks, C.A. Burns, P.P. Schonewill, and D.F. Hopkins, et al. 2012. "Continued Evaluation of the Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Instrument for Critical Velocity Determination during Hanford Tank Waste Transfer Operations." In Waste Management Symposium (WM 2012): Improving the Future in Waste Management, February 26-March 1, 2012, Phoenix, Arizona, Paper No. 12518. Tucson, Arizona: Waste Management Symposia Inc. PNNL-SA-85110.

2011

Denslow K.M., J.W. Jenks, J.R. Bontha, H.E. Adkins, C.A. Burns, P.P. Schonewill, and N.N. Bauman, et al. 2011. Hanford Tank Farms Waste Certification Flow Loop Phase IV: PulseEcho Sensor Evaluation. PNNL-20350 FINAL. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hanford Tank Farms Waste Certification Flow Loop Phase IV: PulseEcho Sensor Evaluation

2010

Baker E.S., E.A. Livesay, D.J. Orton, R.J. Moore, W.F. Danielson, D.C. Prior, and Y.M. Ibrahim, et al. 2010. "An LC-IMS-MS Platform Providing Increased Dynamic Range for High-Throughput Proteomic Studies." Journal of Proteome Research 9, no. 2:997-1006. PNNL-SA-67461. doi:10.1021/pr900888b

Bamberger J.A., M.S. Greenwood, B.D. Lawler, S.K. Sundaram, E.B. Baer, B.K. Hatchell, and D.F. Hopkins, et al. 2010. "EVALUATING CONCENTRATION PROFILES DURING UNSTEADY MIXING." In Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition 2009 (IMECE2009), November 13-19, 2009, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 8, 1-10. New York, New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. PNNL-SA-67923.

2009

Meyer P.A., J.A. Bamberger, C.W. Enderlin, J.A. Fort, B.E. Wells, S.K. Sundaram, and P.A. Scott, et al. 2009. Pulse Jet Mixing Tests With Noncohesive Solids. PNNL-18098. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Pulse Jet Mixing Tests With Noncohesive Solids

2008

Livesay E.A., K. Tang, B.K. Taylor, M.A. Buschbach, D.F. Hopkins, B.L. Lamarche, and R. Zhao, et al. 2008. "Fully automated four-column capillary LC-MS system for maximizing throughput in proteomic analyses." Analytical Chemistry 80, no. 1:294-302. PNNL-SA-56532. doi:10.1021/ac701727r

2007

Lamarche B.L., D.F. Hopkins, C.O. Hughes, T.P. McKenna, and E.W. Fulp. 2007. "A Network Layer for Teleoperations in High Speed Environments." In IEEE High-Speed Networks Workshop, 11-15. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-54021. doi:10.1109/HSNW.2007.4290537

Perrine K.A., B.L. Lamarche, D.F. Hopkins, S.E. Budge, L. Opresko, H.S. Wiley, and M.B. Sowa. 2007. "High Speed Method for in Situ Multispectral Image Registration." Microscopy Research and Technique 70, no. 4:382-389. PNNL-SA-52092. doi:10.1002/jemt.20423

2005

Perrine K.A., D.F. Hopkins, B.L. Lamarche, and M.B. Sowa. 2005. "Pixel Perfect." Scientific Computing & Instrumentation 22, no. 10:16-20. PNNL-SA-45704.

Perrine K.A., D.F. Hopkins, B.L. Lamarche, S.E. Budge, and M.B. Sowa. 2005. "Pixel Perfect: a real-time image processing system for biology." Scientific Computing & Instrumentation 22, no. 10:16-20. PNNL-SA-46035.

2004

Hopkins D.F., M.L. Alexander, K.R. Swanson, and M.A. Buschbach. 2004. "Control System for an Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer." Scientific Computing & Instrumentation. PNNL-SA-40943.

2002

Majors P.D., K.R. Minard, E.J. Ackerman, G.R. Holtom, D.F. Hopkins, C.I. Parkinson, and T.J. Weber, et al. 2002. "A combined confocal and magnetic resonance microscope for biological studies." Review of Scientific Instruments 73, no. 12:4329-4338. PNNL-SA-37808.

2001

Autrey T., N.S. Foster, D.F. Hopkins, and J.M. Price. 2001. "Tunable Ultraviolet Visible Photoacoustic Detection - Analysis of the Sensitivity and Selectivity Provided by a Xenon Flash Lamp." Analytica Chimica Acta 434, no. 2:217-222. PNNL-SA-33807.

Holtom, G., B. Thrall, T. Weber, L. Zhu, D. Hopkins, C. Parkinson, S. Colson, J. Price, B. Y. Chin, A. Choi, and T. Risby. 2001. “Application of Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) to Imaging Mammalian Cells: A Means for Gaining Molecular Selectivity in Multiphoton Imaging.” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 4262: 319-328. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424571.

1992

Bass, M. B., D. F. Hopkins, W. A. N. Jaquysh, and R. L. Ornstein. 1992. “A Method for Determining the Positions of Polar Hydrogens Added to a Protein Structure That Maximizes Protein Hydrogen Bonding.” Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics 12 (3): 266-277. https://doi.org/10.1002/prot.340120305.