On Pomeroy's NIST List: 'an iPhone on Steroids'

Joshua Pomeroy is a federal employee who spends part of his time soldering, shaping metal, and dealing with wiring and plumbing.

This may sound like a blue collar job, but Pomeroy is actually a highly-skilled physicist working in a government laboratory in Gaithersburg, Md., on cutting--edge nanotechnology that could give U.S. industry a leg -- up in the global marketplace.

His innovative research, using sophisticated instruments and lab equipment created at an in-house machine shop, could represent a major breakthrough in the development of ever-smaller computer data storage devices that have larger capacity, higher speeds and use less power -- in other words, an iPhone on steroids.

"This is part of a class of fundamental problems that are limiting our technological innovation and potentially our national economic security,'' said Pomeroy. "By helping resolve these problems, we can enable our private sector to remain competitive in the international economy."

Pomeroy, 34, is employed at the atomic physics division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a non-regulatory federal agency that promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness.

The technology, measurements and standards provided by NIST impact innumerable everyday products and services from automated teller machines and atomic clocks to mammograms and semiconductors.

Pomeroy said his research is considered too high-risk and costly for any single private sector firm to undertake on its own. He said his government laboratory is positioned to test out his theories in hopes of advancing the frontiers of science and then making this technology available to American companies for possible commercial development.

Pomeroy, who earned his Ph.D. in physics at Cornell University in 2002, could easily work in the private sector and earn far more money. But the young physicist relishes his government laboratory environment where he has "the freedom to think broadly and be creative in identifying solutions applicable to real world problems."

"I know a lot of scientists and don't know anybody motivated by money. There are bigger things,'' said Pomeroy.

Katharine Gebbie, the director of the NIST physics laboratory, said many people tend to think of physicists as "geeks and nerds who go into their lab and do their thing."

She said Pomeroy is different, "combining intellect, commitment, resilience, innovation and creativity with an ability to inspire others."

"Josh is good at working with other people and motivating them -- giving credit to others," said Gebbie. "That is as important as having a brain."

Garnett Bryant, Pomeroy's direct supervisor, said the scientist puts in long hours including weekends developing this "next generation" computer technology while also spending time as a mentor for research fellows and for high school students in Montgomery County.

"This is a serious and ongoing effort," said Bryant. "He is really dedicated to working with the local community and reaching out to high school students."

Pomeroy said the interest and competitiveness of American students in the basic sciences has been waning for decades, making it imperative to attract a new generation to the craft. He said that has become part of his personal mission, having gotten his own "first real start in science by working in a physics lab at Boston University as a sophomore."

"If it had not been for getting my 'hands on the toys,' which is the way I saw it at the time, I may not have ended up in science at all," he said.

Pomeroy's latest "toy" project, the creation of advanced nano--scale magnetic sensors, could lead to further miniaturization in computer data storage and have a wide range of applications for electronics devices not yet imagined.

"I feel very strongly that for my children and grandchildren to enjoy the lifestyle that my parents and I have enjoyed, the U.S. must remain competitive through innovation and technological advancement," said Pomeroy. "This demands scientific endeavors and long-term harvesting of basic knowledge to lay the foundation for products, whether tangible or intellectual, which will be saleable in the world marketplace.''

(This article was jointly prepared by the Partnership for Public Service, a group seeking to enhance the performance of the federal government, and washingtonpost.com. Visit www.ourpublicservice.org for more about the organization's work to recognize the men and women who serve our nation.)