Dr. Sherrie Pilkington joined IARPA as a Program Manager in July of 2021. Dr. Pilkington focuses on areas of scientific research that includes chemical and environmental sensing, aerosol science, spectroscopy, and optical diagnostics. She is presently leading IARPA's efforts on the PICARD program that aims to develop a fieldable aerosol sensor for complex environments. She is also leading the Fun GCAT program on threat assessment of DNA sequences, and the MAEGLIN program on ultra-low power gas-phase chemical sensors.
Prior to joining IARPA, Dr. Pilkington worked at the Army Research Laboratory from 2013 to 2017 where she served as a National Research Council fellow studying nonlinear optics for trace chemical detection.
Dr. Pilkington graduated from the Ohio State University in 2013 with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Concord University in 2006.
Dr. Pilkington resides in Maryland and enjoys science fiction, strong coffee, and being outdoors as much as possible.