Everything Material in Material Science

A lot has changed in the past 18 years in the materials testing and technology industries. Just ask Roxanne Skinner, Director of Analytical Lab Operations at NSL Analytical Services, Inc.

During her time at NSL, Roxanne has been witness to many developments in testing methods, advancements in technology and even the materials themselves with the onset of developments like additive manufacturing. 

In this new installment of our NSL Analytical Staff Spotlight Series, we sat down with Roxanne for her insights into the current state of analytical testing and where things are headed in the future. 

Hi Roxanne! Thanks for taking some time today. Tell us a bit about yourself – background, education, early career, etc., before you arrived at your current position at NSL. 

I discovered my love for chemistry in high school. I found it fascinating to learn how different elements interact, and I knew it was what I wanted to pursue in college. I studied chemistry at Ohio University, but wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after graduation. 

Luckily, I stumbled across an ad for an entry-level chemist position at NSL and began working in the wet chemistry lab, digesting materials for ICP testing. Working in the wet chem lab was incredible. I loved learning how and why different acids are needed to digest certain elements.

Once I became familiar with how and why different acids and digestion techniques were chosen, I moved into the ICP lab to learn the instrumentation. I worked for almost a decade analyzing samples on the ICP-OES and ICP-MS instruments. This work made me appreciate the wet chem lab even more. I now saw firsthand how understanding the chemical reactions in prep impacts the final results our customers have come to trust.

In 2016, I was fortunate enough to lead the team of scientists in the ICP lab. I was now in a position to pass on the extensive knowledge I had gained to the next generation. Leading the team was my first experience in leadership, and I knew that helping others grow was the most rewarding job I’d had to date. I wanted to run the entire lab someday, but wasn’t sure how to get there.

I spoke with our CEO, Ron Wesel, about my goals, and he helped me develop a path for success. It was during this time that I led our customer care team, which allowed me to see the business operations from an entirely new perspective. After a few years, we agreed it was time for me to take over as Director of Analytical Laboratory Operations at NSL Analytical.

How and when did you become interested in materials science? Or was it through the progression of your career?

During high school, I discovered that learning chemistry came naturally to me. While many of my classmates had to work much harder, this allowed me to help explain concepts to them, which deepened my own understanding. I quickly realized my passion for the subject and became eager to learn even more!

Being the Director of Analytical Lab Operations entails a significant amount of responsibility. What is the most rewarding or enjoyable part of your job? 

It is difficult to choose the most enjoyable part of my job. One aspect I find enjoyable is helping others grow. I love watching my direct reports develop their leadership styles and see how they lead their teams. I still enjoy that the members of the lab come to me with their chemistry-related questions; it makes me feel connected to my earlier days at NSL. 

Going in an entirely different direction, I love helping customers solve their problems. Learning about the pain points our customers experience and how NSL can help address them is incredibly rewarding. I listen to customers in meetings and suggest testing options that can help. Once we create a plan together, it’s up to the incredible team around me to deliver on the promises I’ve made. Knowing that my team has my back and will care for the customer as if they were the ones making the promises is something I also love.

You’ve no doubt seen a lot at NSL in the past 18 years. With all the changes in technology, testing and materials, where do you see the company headed in the future?

Over the past 18 years, I have witnessed tremendous growth in this company, and I don’t expect it to slow down anytime soon! We have been at the forefront of emerging testing needs, particularly in the area of additive manufacturing testing. Our analytical lab is world-class, and our metallurgical lab continues to expand at exceptional rates.

NSL is agile and can implement changes quickly. As testing needs evolve and new markets emerge, we take pride in our ability to provide accredited testing more quickly and reliably than our competitors. We are always on the lookout for the next big development in analytical, metallurgical, and materials testing.

Given the rapidity of technological advancements and the emergence of AI and other automated tasks, could you envision a future where AI-driven models might be able to accurately predict a material’s performance? Or is it safe to say that traditional/standard testing methods will always be needed? 

I don’t foresee AI or other automated tasks being able to accurately measure the chemical composition of a turbine blade used in commercial jet engine manufacturing. 

To be honest, the thought of that is quite terrifying! 

I believe traditional testing methods will continue to be necessary. I don’t imagine a group of scientists on an ASTM committee would ever vote to accept AI as a valid form of testing. Then again, I never expected to have the internet in my pocket!

Outside of work, what interests or hobbies do you enjoy? Knowing what you know, can you keep the science out of them, or does it still creep in? 

I enjoy craft beer, reading, watching sports, cooking, and playing with my two energetic boys. I tend to leave chemistry out of everyday life, but my family knows that if there’s a chemistry or element category in Jeopardy, they better watch out!

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Looking to explore how third-party testing can support your unique material needs? Check out NSL’s resources below:

Materials Matter: This educational hub page is a trusted resource for material science information.

Webinars and White Papers: Dive into specific topics in this library of educational webinars and white papers. 

Video Library: View these helpful videos about everything from additive manufacturing to spectroscopy and more. 

NSL Analytical Services, Inc. is an independent materials testing lab that specializes in metallurgical, mechanical, chemical, and optical testing for mission-critical industries. 

Contact our experienced, accredited team to discover how we can deliver accurate, repeatable testing results with lightning-fast turnarounds, giving you confidence in your material performance and adherence to quality standards and regulations.