Dan Sisk
Technical Group Leader, WR Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Instrument Development LaboratoryCurrent Activities and Projects
Dan Sisk currently manages the Instrument Development Laboratory, a team of software and hardware engineers developing novel, cutting-edge software and hardware tools and systems supporting EMSL and PNNL research. Current activities also include developing process monitoring and diagnostic systems for thermal energy generation and distribution systems and evaluating radiation detection technology for homeland security applications. Dan is presently developing systems to monitor the effectiveness of high-performance computer cooling methodolgies and acquire data on pulse jet mixing experiments.
Research Interests
- Process monitoring and diagnostics
- Radiation detection for homeland security
- Hardware and software test engineering
Past Experience
Dan began his career as a physicist automating experiments that measured the performance of radiation detectors. Subsequent efforts focused on optimizing detector design and developing methods to correct detector response. Later, his studies branched into two paths: evaluation of the environmental performance of current radiation detection instruments and exploration into the properties of various radiation detection materials. Dan then migrated into electrical and software engineering and began developing systems and software for device communications and data acquisition. For several years, Dan also served as system administrator for a UNIX cluster. Eventually, Dan's diverse expertise spanned an array of domains including process monitoring and diagnostics, radiation detection for homeland security, and hardware and software test engineering. Dan has supported efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and extend facility life at power generation facilities at U.S. Department of Defense installations and a large public housing complex. In addition, Dan has directed testing of portable radiation detectors for the Department of Homeland Security and radiation portal monitors for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's radioactive material interdiction program.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Washington State University, Physics Major, Math Minor, Cum Laude, 1984.
- Master of Science, Washington State University, Electrical Engineering, 1993.
Awards, Honors, & Appointments
- U.S. Patent 5,645,072, Real Time Chemical Exposure and Risk Monitor
- U.S. Patent 6,853,951, Methods and systems for analyzing the degradation and failure of mechanical systems
- U.S. Patent 7,016,742, Decision Support for Operations and Maintenance (DSOM) System
- R&D Magazine R&D 100 Award for Decision Support for Operations and Maintenance (DSOM) software
- Battelle Key Contributor Award for Commercialization of Radiofrequency Tags for Heavy Vehicle Monitoring
