DOE
Capabilities

19 Areas of
PNNL Excellence

Carl Imhoff showcases PNNL's talent in Systems Engineering and Integration, one of the Lab's DOE-recognized core capabilities, to Secretary Granholm during a virtual tour of PNNL in 2021.

(Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, PNNL is the steward of 19 designated DOE core science and technology capabilities. Collectively, these core capabilities define PNNL’s recognized portfolio of expertise. The Office of Science uses three criteria to define the core capabilities resident at each of its 10 national laboratories. A laboratory is designated as possessing a core capability in those areas in which it (1) encompasses a substantial combination of facilities and/or teams of people and/or equipment; (2) has unique and/or world-leading programmatic elements; and (3) its research program and related capabilities are directly applicable to the missions of the DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security.

PNNL’s core capability areas are the foundation of its research performance and provide flexibility and agility in its ability to anticipate and respond to emerging needs and opportunities. This array of missions and wide assortment of distinctive capabilities distinguish PNNL and make it unique within the national laboratory system. Learn more about PNNL’s Office of Science designated core capabilities by clicking on the photos below. For PNNL’s full scope of work, visit the scientific discovery, sustainable energy, and national security mission pages.

Chemical and Materials Science

  • Chemical & Molecular Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Materials Science
  • Applied Materials Science & Engineering
  • Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Engineering

  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Systems Engineering & Integration
  • Power Systems & Electrical Engineering
  • Biological & Bioprocess Engineering

Biological and Earth Sciences

  • Biological Systems Science
  • Environmental Subsurface Science
  • Earth Systems Science & Engineering
  • Climate Change Science & Atmospheric Science

Computational and Mathematical Sciences

  • Decision Science & Analysis
  • Cyber & Information Sciences
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computational Science
  • Advanced Computer Science, Visualization, & Data

DOE User Facilities