Advisor
Advisor

Biography

Matthew (Matt) Douglas has filled several roles in his tenure at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), including project manager, technical team lead, principal investigator, and research chemist. He has led research and development efforts in nuclear forensics analysis, chemical separation optimization and trace nuclear material measurements by radiometric and mass spectrometric detection methods. He has also contributed to efforts in basic actinide chemistry, nuclear archeology of actinides in environmental matrices, development of a gamma counting system for pre-concentration and measurement of radionuclides in natural waters, chemical process automation, and safeguards technology development for the nuclear fuel cycle.

From 2014 to 2016, Douglas served as the deputy leader for the Nuclear Process Science initiative, an internally funded research effort to enhance molecular scale understanding of nuclear materials processing for optimizing high-level radioactive waste treatment and signature development. During the period from 2013 to 2015, he was the Environmental Radioisotopes thrust area leader on the Ultra-Sensitive Nuclear Measurements initiative. From 2011 to 2013, Douglas served as a technical advisor to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development.

Research Interest

  • Nuclear forensics laboratory analysis improvements
  • Radiochemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Nuclear treaty monitoring
  • Environmental sample analysis

Education

  • PhD in chemistry, Washington State University
  • BS in chemistry, University of Iowa

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Member, American Chemical Society, 1998–Present
    • Richland Local Section, 2004–present
    • Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, 2000–present
  • Invited Lecturer:
    • Chemical Separations for Nuclear Forensics Analysis, University of Utah Nuclear Forensics Summer School, 2017
    • Florida Institute of Technology, 2018
    • Washington State University, 2018
  • Moderator, U.S. Department of Energy Regional Science Bowl, 2005–2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020–2023
  • Judge, Columbia Basin Regional Science Fair, 2008, 2010–2011, 2014–2015

Awards and Recognitions

  • Exceptional Contribution Performance Award, PNNL, December 2023
  • Outstanding Performance Award, PNNL, October 2023

Publications

2017

  • Erchinger J., J.L. Orrell, C.E. Aalseth, B.E. Bernacki, M. Douglas, E.S. Fuller, and M.E. Keillor, et al. 2017. "Background Characterization of an Ultra-Low Background Liquid Scintillation Counter." Applied Radiation and Isotopes 126. PNNL-SA-120443. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.01.032

2016

  • Douglas M, BE Bernacki, JL Erchinger, EC Finn, ES Fuller, EW Hoppe, ME Keillor, SM Morley, CA Mullen, JL Orrell, ME Panisko, GA Warren, and ME Wright (2016). Liquid Scintillation Counting of environmental radionuclides: A Review of the Impact of Background Reduction, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 307:2495–2504. DOI 10.1007/s10967-015-4512-8 

2015

  • Morley, SM, Seiner, B, Finn, E, Greenwood, L, Smith, SC, Gregory, S, Haney, M, Lucas, D, Arrigo, L, Beacham, T, Swearingen, K, Friese, J, Douglas, M, Metz, L (2015). Integrated Separation Scheme for Measuring a Suite of Fission and Activation Products from a Fresh Mixed Fission and Activation Product Sample, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 304:509–515. DOI 10.1007/s10967-014-3826-2
  • Erchinger JL, CE Aalseth, TA Beacham, BE Bernacki, M Douglas, ES Fuller, ME Keillor, SM Morley, CA Mullen, JL Orrell, ME Panisko, SM Miley, GA Warren, RM Williams, and ME Wright (2015). Development of a Low Background Liquid Scintillation Counter for a Shallow Underground Laboratory, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 105:209–218. DOI 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.08.027
  • Bernacki BE, M Douglas, JL Erchinger, ES Fuller, ME Keillor, SM Morley, CA Mullen, JL Orrell, ME Panisko, GA Warren, and ME Wright. 2015. "Optical Design Considerations for Efficient Light Collection from Liquid Scintillation Counters." Applied Optics, 54(9):2413–2423. DOI 10.1364/AO.54.002413

2012

  • Harvey, SD, Lucke, RB, Douglas, M (2012). Rapid Separation of Beryllium and Lanthanide Derivatives by Capillary Gas Chromatography, Journal of Separation Science, 35(20), 2750–2755.
  • Johnson, BE, Santschi, PH, Chuang, CY, Otosaka, S, Addleman, RS, Douglas, M, Rutledge, RD, Chouyyok, W, Davidson, JD, Fryxell, GE, Schwantes, JM (2012). Collection of Lanthanides and Actinides from Natural Waters with Conventional and Nanoporous Sorbents, Environmental Science and Technology, 46(20), 11251–11258.

2011

  •  Grate, JW, O’Hara, MJ, Farawila, AF, Douglas, M, Haney, MM, Petersen, SL, Maiti, TC, Aardahl, CL (2011). Extraction Chromatographic Methods in the Sample Preparation Sequence for Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Plutonium Isotopes, Analytical Chemistry 83(23): 9086–9091. DOI 10.1021/ac202150v
  • Payne RF, SM Schulte, M Douglas, JI Friese, OT Farmer, III, and EC Finn (2011). Investigation of Gravity Lanthanide Separation Chemistry, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 287(3):863–867.
  • Johnson, B.E., Santschi, P.H., Addleman, R.S., Douglas, M., Davidson, J.D., Fryxell, G.E., Schwantes, J.M (2011). Collection of Fission and Activation Product Elements from Fresh and Ocean Waters: A Comparison of Traditional and Novel Sorbents, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 69, 205–216.
  • Johnson, B.E., Santschi, P.H., Addleman, R.S., Douglas, M., Davidson, J.D., Fryxell, G.E., Schwantes, J.M. (2011). Optimization and Evaluation of Mixed-Bed Chemisorbents for Extracting Fission and Activation Products from Marine and Fresh Waters, Analytica Chimica Acta 708(1-2), 52-60.

2010

  • Buck E.C., Douglas, M., Wittman, R.S (2010).  Verifying the Presence of Low Levels of Neptunium in a Uranium Matrix with Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy, Micron 41(1):65–70.

2009

  • Smith, S.C., Douglas, M., Moore, D.A., Kukkadapu, R.K., Arey, B.W (2009). Uranium Extraction from Laboratory Synthesized, Uranium-Doped Hydrous Ferric Oxides (HFOs), Environmental Science & Technology, 43(7), 2341–2347.
  • Schwantes, J.M., Douglas, M., Bonde, S.E., Briggs, J.D., Farmer, O.T. III, Greenwood, L.R., Lepel, E.A., Orton, C.R., Wacker, J.F., Luksic, A.T (2009). Nuclear Archeology in a Bottle: Evidence of Pre-Trinity U.S. Weapons Activities from a Waste Burial Site, Analytical Chemistry, 81(4), 1297–1306. DOI 10.1021/ac802286a
  • Douglas, M.; Friese, J.I.; Greenwood, L.R.; Farmer, O.T. III; Thomas, M.L.; Maiti, T.C.; Finn, E.C.; Garofoli, S.J.; Gassman, P.L.; Huff, M.M.; Schulte, S.M.; Smith, S.C.; Thomas, K.K.; Bachelor, P.P. (2009). Separation and Quantification of Chemically Diverse Analytes in Neutron Irradiated Fissile Materials, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282 (1), 63–68.
  • Schwantes, J.M.; Addleman, R.S.; Davidson, J.D.; Douglas, M.; Meier, D.E.; Mullen, O.D.; Myjak, M.J.; Jones, M.E.; Woodring, M.L.; Johnson, B.; Santschi, P.H. (2009).Medium Resolution Autonomous In-Situ Gamma Detection System for Marine and Coastal Waters, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282 (3), 889-895.
  • Smith, S.C.; Peper, S.M.; Douglas, M.; Ziegelgruber, K.L.; Finn, E.C. (2009).  Dissolution of Uranium Oxides under Alkaline Oxidizing Conditions, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282 (2), 617-621.
  • Smith, S.C.; Peper, S.M.; Douglas, M.; Ziegelgruber, K.L.; Finn, E.C. (2009). Dissolution of Uranium(IV) Oxide in Solutions of Ammonium Carbonate and Hydrogen Peroxide, Proceedings of Global 2009.
  • Green, M.A.; Arrigo, L.M.; Liezers, M.; Orton, C.; Douglas, M.; Peper, S.M.; Schwantes, J.M.; Duckworth, D.C. (2009).  lectrochemically-Modulated Separations for Destructive and Nondestructive Analysis for Process Monitoring and Safeguards Measurements, Proceedings of INMM 50th Annual Meeting.
  • Schwantes, J.M.; Orton, C.; Fraga, C.G., Douglas, M.; Christensen, R. (2009). The Multi-Isotope Process (MIP) Monitor: A Near-Real-Time, Non-Destructive, Indicator of Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Conditions, Proceedings of INMM 50th Annual Meeting.
  • Schwantes, J.M.; Orton, C.; Fraga, C.G., Douglas, M.; Christensen, R. (2009). Experimental Validation of the Multi-Isotope Process Monitor Concept, Proceedings of Global 2009.

2008

  • Friese, J.I., Douglas, M., Hanson, B.D., Payne. R.F., Edwards, M.K., Bachelor, P.P., Bernot, P. (2008). Neptunium Thermodynamics in a Geological Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Conference Proceedings of the 2008 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, Las Vegas, NV, September 7–11.
  • Orton, C., Schwantes, J.M., Bryan, S.A., Levitskaia, T.G., Duckworth, D.C., Douglas, M., Farmer, O.T., Fraga, C.G., Lehn, S.A., Liezers, M., Peper, S.M., Christensen, R. (2008).Advanced Safeguards Technology Demonstration at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Conference Proceedings of INMM 49th Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, July 13–17.
  • Schwantes, J.M., Douglas, M., Orton, C., Fraga, C.G., Christensen, C. (2008). Multi-Isotope Process (MIP) Monitor: A Near Real-Time Monitor for Reprocessing Facilities, Conference Proceedings of the American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, June 8–12.
  • Peper, S.M., McNamara, B.K., O’Hara, M.J., Douglas, M. (2008). A Green Approach to SNF Reprocessing: Are Common Household Reagents the Answer?, Conference Proceedings of INMM 8th International Conference on Facilitiy Operations – Safeguards Interface, Portland, OR, March 30–April 4.
  • Duckworth, D.C., Liezers, M., Lehn, S.A., Douglas, M. (2008). Electrochemically-Modulated Separation and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Actinides in Difficult Matrices, Conference Proceedings of INMM 8th International Conference on Facility Operations – Safeguards Interface, Portland, OR, March 30–April 4.
  • Douglas, M., Friese, J. I., Warren, G. A., Bachelor, P. P., Farmer, O. T. III, Choiniere, A. D., Schulte, S. M., Aalseth C. E. (2008). Modeling of gamma-ray spectra to direct efficient chemical separations, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 276, 3, 583-588 (2008). DOI 10.1007/s10967-008-0603-0
  • Brodzinski, R. L., Ashbaker, E. D., Douglas, M., Hartman, J. S., Jordan, D. V., McCormick, K. R.,  Runkle, R. C., Sliger, W. A., Todd L. C. (2008). A Cerenkov Counter for In Situ Monitoring of 90Sr in Groundwater, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 277, 1, 235–239.

2007

  • Smith, L.E., Schwantes, J.M., Ressler, J.J., Douglas, M., Anderson, K.A., Fraga, C.G., Durst, P.C., Orton, C., Christensen, R. (2007). Next Generation Online MC&A Technologies for Reprocessing Plants, Conference Proceedings of Global 2007.

2006

  • Friese, J.I., Douglas, M., Jerden, J.L. Jr. (2006). Neptunium Association with Uranyl Solids Anticipated in the Yucca Mountain Repository, In: Separations for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle in the 21st Century, Gregg J. Lumetta, Kenneth L. Nash, Sue B. Clark, and Judah I. Friese, eds., ACS Publications.

2005

  • Douglas, M., Clark, S.B., Friese, J.I., Arey, B. W., Buck, E.C., Hanson, B.D. (2005). Neptunium(V) Partitioning to Uranium(VI) Oxide and Peroxide Solids, Environmental Science and Technology 39(11), 4117–4124.
  • Douglas, M., Clark, S.B., Friese, J.I., Arey, B.W., Utsunomiya, S., Ewing, R.C., Buck, E.C., Hanson, B.D. (2005) Microscale Characterization of Uranium(VI) Silicate Solids and Associated Neptunium(V), Radiochimica Acta 93, 265–272 (2005).
  • Lee, M.H., Douglas, M., Clark S.B. (2005). Development of In-Situ Fission Track Analysis for Detecting Fissile Actinides in Contaminated Solid Particles, Radiation Measurements, 40, 37–42 .

2004

  • Buck, E. C., Hanson, B. D., Friese, J. I., Douglas, M., McNamra, B. K. (2004). Evidence for Neptunium Incorporation into Uranium(VI) Phases, In: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVIII, edited by John M. Hanchar, Simcha Stroes-Gascoyne, and Lauren Browning (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 824, Warrendale, PA).
  • Friese, J. I., Douglas, M., Buck, E. C., Clark, S. B., Hanson, B. D. (2004). Neptunium(V) Incorporation/Sorption with Uranium(VI) Alteration Products, In: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVIII, edited by John M. Hanchar, Simcha Stroes-Gascoyne, and Lauren Browning (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 824, Warrendale, PA).

2003

  • Utsunomiya, S., Wang, L.M., Douglas, M., Clark, S.B., Ewing, R.C. (2003). The Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Uranophane, American Mineralogist, 88(1), 159–166.

2002

  • Douglas, M., Clark, S.B., Utsunomiya, S., Ewing, R.C. (2002). Cesium and Strontium Incorporation into Uranophane, Ca[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2·5H2O, Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Supplement 3, 504–507.