Dawn Wellman to join SRNL as Senior Research Fellow in Critical Mineral and Materials
Savannah River National Laboratory is pleased to announce Dawn Wellman, Ph.D., will be joining the SRNL Environmental and Legacy Management (ELM) Directorate on March 23, 2026, as a Senior Research Fellow in Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM). In this new role, Wellman’s leadership and expertise will directly support our mission to address critical national challenges related to critical minerals and materials.
The demand for critical minerals and materials continues to grow as they are essential for advanced manufacturing, electronics, energy systems, defense applications, and more. However, with many of these materials sourced primarily from outside the United States, there is increasing urgency to strengthen domestic capabilities for recovery, sustainable processing, and responsible stewardship. At SRNL, we are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact, thanks to our deep expertise in nuclear materials processing, environmental systems, and chemical engineering—foundations that also align with the critical minerals challenges ahead. Wellman’s extensive experience in this field makes her a key addition to our team, helping to ensure that SRNL continues driving innovation and delivering solutions in this priority area.
Wellman brings over two decades of experience across government, academia, and industry, including her time at Rio Tinto as Strategic Programs Manager in their Copper Research and Development organization. She led efforts in critical mineral recovery, advanced tailings and water management, and innovations for sustainable copper production—skills that align perfectly with our goals here at SRNL. Prior to that, she made significant contributions at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in various leadership and scientific roles, including Program Manager, Division Director. She also previously served as Chief Scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management in the Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation.
At SRNL, Wellman will report to me as the Associate Laboratory Director for Environmental and Legacy Management and will also collaborate closely with Applied Energy portfolio leadership. She’ll be instrumental in helping us expand programs that align with DOE’s Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation priorities while furthering CMM-related initiatives that involve cross-team engagement.
Wellman holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed publications, with an h-index of 17, underscoring her lasting impact in environmental chemistry and materials science. She is widely respected for her ability to translate scientific discoveries into operational results. Additionally, her proven talent for fostering collaboration across government, industry, and academia will be a valuable asset as we continue driving impactful initiatives at SRNL.
This is an exciting moment for all of us. Wellman’s expertise and leadership will complement the outstanding work being done across the ELM directorate and beyond. Together, we are poised to continue making a meaningful impact on critical national challenges.