PNNL

Oliva Primera-Pedrozo is a scientist in the Spectroscopic and Analysis team within the Physical Sciences Division. She is actively involved in the Separation Science program, where her contributions focus on the functionalization of material, such as graphene oxide, to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of critical mineral ion separations. Her work seeks to improve the understanding of (de)solvation, adsorption/desorption, reactivity, and transport of cations in confined environments. In addition, Primera-Pedrozo bring her expertise to the Microelectronics Science Research Center project, where she synthesizes polyoxometalates and performs detailed infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterizations to support cutting-edge microelectronics research.

With over 12 years of experience in vibrational spectroscopic research and nanoparticle synthesis, she specializes in Raman, infrared, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy techniques for chemical detection and materials analysis. She has contributed to several detection applications and her expertise spans spectroscopic techniques for the detection, identification, and data analysis of various chemicals in solid, liquid, and gas phases. She plays a key role to develop high-quality reference solid and liquids spectral libraries. She was a key contributor to the SAVER program, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she used Raman spectrometers to identify hazardous materials, illicit drugs, and suspicious powders that could pose biothreats. She was part of the team working on the synthesis and characterization of molecular qubits. She co-authored a brand new Recommended Operating Procedures for Analysis in the Verification of Chemical Disarmament BlueBook 2023 Chapter: "Analysis of CW agents and related chemicals from vegetation." The BlueBook is a collection of procedures and reference information related to the analysis of chemicals scheduled under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons proficiency testing, and analysis of other chemicals. 

She earned her PhD in applied chemistry with an emphasis on materials chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. During her doctoral studies, she was affiliated with the Center for Chemical Sensors and Chemical Imaging and the Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT) program at the University of Puerto Rico at the Mayaguez campus. Her work focused on the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, such as gold nanorods and their functionalization for chemical and biological detection using multiple spectroscopic techniques. She later completed a postdoctoral research associate position at Jackson State University, where she made notable contributions to the synthesis of lead selenide quantum dots in aqueous environments.

• Raman spectroscopy and Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy 
• Infrared
• Separations
• Interfaces/surfaces
• Critical minerals
• Nanoparticles synthesis and characterization 
• Detection of explosives, chemical warfare simulant agents, and toxic industrial compounds 
• STEM education

• PhD in applied chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
• MS in chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
• BS in chemistry, Universidad de Cartagena

• SACNAS, 2023 – present
• American Chemical Society, 2020 – present

• Safety Superstar, Voluntary Protection Program, PNNL, 2025 
• Outstanding Performance Award (OPA), E, H, S & Security Division, PNNL 2025
• Noche De Leonas, Tri-Cities League of Latin American Citizens Council, 2024
• OPA, Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, PNNL, 2021, 2022, 2022, 2025

• Hernández-Rivera S. P., O. M. Primera-Pedrozo, A. M. Chamoun-Emanuelli, and W. Medina-Ramos. 2015. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Gold Nanorods substrates for detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoulene and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid explosives. US8932384B1.

2024

• Lockwood S., T.J. Baker, O.M. Primera-Pedrozo, B.E. Bernacki, T.J. Johnson, and T.L. Myers. 2024. "Optical constants measurements of liquids for modeling aerosolized threats." In Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XXV, April 21-26, 2024, National Harbor, MD. Proceedings of the SPIE, edited by J.A. Guicheteau, C.R. Howle, and T.L. Myers, 13056, Paper No. 130560L. Bellingham, Massachusetts:SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering). PNNL-SA-197173. doi:10.1117/12.3013104
• Primera-Pedrozo O.M., A.B. Mantilla, T.L. Myers, Y. Gu, and P.Z. El-Khoury. 2024. "Controlling the Fluctuating Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectra of Chloramben on Silver Nanocubes." Analytical Chemistry 96, no. 7:2737-2741. PNNL-SA-193334. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05542

2023

• Jankovic J., K. Decker, K. Dooley, M. Monetti, R.M. Ozanich, and O.M. Primera-Pedrozo. 2023. Handheld Raman Spectrometers: Assessment Report. PNNL-35485. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Handheld Raman Spectrometers: Assessment Report
• Lonergan C.E., J.D. Erickson, M.K. Kelly-Gorham, O.M. Primera-Pedrozo, M.J. Wilhelm, B.M. Forland, and K.D. Hughey, et al. 2023. "Using synthetic infrared spectra derived from n/k optical constants for standoff detection of chemical deposits." In Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XXIV; SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, April 30-May 5, 2023, Orlando, FL. Proceedings of the SPIE, edited by J.A. Guicheteau and C.R. Howle, 12541, Paper No. 1254109. PNNL-SA-184155. doi:10.1117/12.2663579
• Primera-Pedrozo O.M., J.D. Erickson, C.E. Lonergan, S.D. Burton, B.E. Bernacki, T.L. Myers, and T.J. Johnson. 2023. "Preparation and Characterization Methods of Thin Layer Samples for Standoff Detection." In Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XXIV; SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, April 30-May 5, 2023, Orlando, FL. Proceedings of the SPIE, edited by J.A. Guicheteau and C.R. Howle, 12541, Paper No. 125410Q. Bellingham, Washington:SPIE. PNNL-SA-184156. doi:10.1117/12.2663444
• Forman, J., R. Aranzazu, O. Primera-Pedrozo, C. Timperley. Section 3. Analytical methods. Chapter XIII. Part F. Other analyses. Analysis of CW agents and related chemicals from vegetation. Page 981 - Page 1005. Design and layout: Martin Söderström (Based on 2017 Edition). Layout editor: Melina Vuorinen. ISBN 978-951-51-9958-4 (paperback). ISBN 978-951-51-9959-1 (PDF). Publisher: University of Helsinki. Helsinki 2023. https://www.helsinki.fi/en/verifin/about-verifin/blue-book

2022

• Myers T.L., B.E. Bernacki, M.J. Wilhelm, K.L. Jensen, T.J. Johnson, O.M. Primera-Pedrozo, and R.G. Tonkyn, et al. 2022. "Influence of Intermolecular Interactions on the Infrared Complex Index of Refraction for Binary Liquid Mixtures." Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24, no. 36:22206-22221. PNNL-SA-173808. doi:10.1039/D2CP02920K

2021

• Bradley A.M., B.E. Bernacki, S.C. Smith, O.M. Primera-Pedrozo, R.G. Tonkyn, T.J. Johnson, and T.L. Myers. 2021. "Experimental and modeling investigation of binary liquid mixtures." In Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XXII, April-12-16, 2021, Virtual, Online. Proceedings of the SPIE, 1749, 117490R. Bellingham, Washington:SPIE. PNNL-SA-160761. doi:10.1117/12.2588558

2020

• Primera-Pedrozo O.M., C.G. Fraga, A.S. Breton-Vega, M.M. Zumbach, B.P. Wilkins, N.S. Mirjankar, and Z.C. Kennedy. 2020. "Sorption and Desorption Study of a Nerve-Agent Simulant from Office Materials for Forensic Applications." Forensic Chemistry 20. PNNL-SA-152545. doi:10.1016/j.forc.2020.100260