11/06/2023
By Kristin Bourgault

The Core Research Facilities (CRF) announces the retirement of Earl Ada, Ph.D., from his role as the director of Characterization Labs on December 31, 2023. Dr. Ada joined UMass Lowell in July 2006 as the lab manager of the Campus Materials Characterization Laboratory (the predecessor of the CRF). During his tenure of 17 years at UML, he has played a significant role in the formation of the CRF, and the expansion and development of its research infrastructure, expert manpower and capabilities to support and meet the research requirements of internal faculty, and external industry, governmental and academic collaborators of the university. Ada will be joining his family on the west coast, and will continue his interests in research laboratory management and student learning in either an academic or national laboratory setting in the Nevada/California region. Ada is currently holding office inside the NMR Lab in Olney OG-8, and interested individuals are invited to visit with him at any time prior to his last day at work on December 22, 2023.

Ada’s expertise and passion for research has made an enormous impact on our student success and the broader scientific community. Throughout his tenure, Ada has trained thousands of users, introduced cutting-edge equipment, and played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of the Core Research Facilities. We extend our heartfelt thanks for his outstanding contributions and wish him and his family the very best in their new adventure.

In light of Ada’s retirement, the CRF has completed a reorganization of the Materials Characterization Laboratory into three core labs:

1. A Microscopy Core Laboratory (MCL) now managed by Anna Maria Routsi, Ph.D. (UML Analytical Chemistry, 2021).
2. An expanded Materials and Chemical Characterization Laboratory (MCC, formerly the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory) managed by Wendy Gavin.
3. A Cell Analysis and Imaging Laboratory (CAI) managed by Mingli Hou, Ph.D.

Further information about the equipment in these new labs will be shared in a follow-up announcement and is also available on our reservation site.