Joshua Whiting

Principal Member of the Technical Staff

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Principal Member of the Technical Staff

jjwhiti@sandia.gov

(505) 845-0712

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
 P.O. Box 5800
 Albuquerque, NM 87185-0892

Biography

Whiting’s work focuses on chemical analysis and sensor development based on MEMS based gas chromatography (GC) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC). Whiting has lead the development of novel portable low-SWaP low-power MEMS GCxGC systems for high sensitivity and ultra-low false alarm rate detection. He co-founded a start-up to commercialize chemical sensor instrumentation for the energy sector before returning to Sandia in 2018. He has led system and sensor development for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency), USAF (United States Air Force), and other commercial customers. His recent work has focused on the development of systems and methods for identifying VOC biomarkers produced by plants and bacteria and has worked to expand Sandia’s capability in this area.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree: Health and Society, University of Rochester (1993-1996)

Master’s Degree: Chemistry, Wright State University (1996-1999)

Doctoral Degree: Chemistry, University of Michigan (1999-2004)

Whiting’s master’s thesis focused on the study of low molecular weight organic acids in understanding the health of natural and man-made wetlands. This work combined his interest in analytical chemistry and biological applications. His Doctoral thesis focused on developing techniques to bring laboratory equipment to the field to facilitate real time analysis and minimize sample degradation from transport.   

Research Interests

Developing and using GC and GCxGC based tools to advance chemical sensing.  Increasing our understanding of the complex VOC mix produced by biological systems.  Development of portable and handheld systems to take powerful analytical instrumentation to the field.  Developing advanced modeling for MEMS GC design to increase the capability of fielded systems including the development of packed, pseudo-packed, and other novel GC concepts.

Relevant Prior Positions

  • Owner and founder, 3 Degrees of Separation (2010-2017)
  • Advanced Research Department, LECO Corp. (2009-2010)
  • SMTS, Sandia (2004-2009)
  • Systems Integrator, Wireless Integrated MicroSystems, Univ. of Mich. (2004-2005)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Professor Richard Sacks, (1999-2004)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Wright State University, Prof. George Hess, (1997-1999)

Publications

  • Whiting, J. (2021). Recent Advances in Microfabricated Gas Chromatography for Process Analysis [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1860458 Publication ID: 77816
  • Whiting, J., Moorman, M., Manginell, R., Simonson, J., Pfeifer, K., & Pfeifer, K. (2020). History of Sandia?s MicroChemLab: a path to reduced false alarms in handheld systems [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1769581 Publication ID: 72939
  • Whiting, J., Moorman, M., Sammon, J., Pfeifer, K., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2020). Microfabrication in GCxGC: a path to reduced false alarms in handheld systems [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1783612 Publication ID: 72881
  • Moorman, M., Whiting, J., Pfeifer, K., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2019). Portable Chemical Detection Technology With Ultra-low False Alarms [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643347 Publication ID: 66419
  • Whiting, J., Appelhans, L., Wheeler, D.R., & Wheeler, D.R. (2019). Novel Chemistry to Support the Detection of Advanced Chemical Agents. https://doi.org/10.2172/1570803 Publication ID: 65602
  • Whiting, J., Myers, E., Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Pfeifer, K., Anderson, J., Fix, C., Washburn, C.M., Staton, A., Porter, D., Graf, D., Wheeler, D.R., Richards, J.A., Achyuthan, K., Roukes, M., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2019). μChemLab? ? Twenty Years of Developing CBRNE Detection Systems with Low False Alarm Rates [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641071 Publication ID: 69597
  • Whiting, J., Read, D., Achyuthan, K., Fix, C., Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Simonson, R., Wheeler, D.R., & Wheeler, D.R. (2019). A Hydrogen Bonded Acidic Polymer (DKAP) as a Gas Chromatography Stationary Phase for Organophosphonates and Organophosphates [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641069 Publication ID: 69595
  • Whiting, J., Moorman, M., Manginell, R., Achyuthan, K., Wheeler, D.R., Simonson, R., Read, D., & Read, D. (2019). ChemLab? ? Twenty Years of Developing Microfabricated gas Analyzer for Chemical Detection [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1890355 Publication ID: 69590
  • Whiting, J., Myers, E., Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Anderson, J., Fix, C.S., Washburn, C.M., Staton, A., Porter, D., Graf, D., Wheeler, D.R., Howell, S., Richards, J.A., Monteith, H., Achyuthan, K., Roukes, M., Simonson, R.J., & Simonson, R.J. (2019). A high-speed, high-performance, microfabricated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatograph. Lab on a Chip, 19(9), pp. 1633-1643. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9LC00027E Publication ID: 67766
  • Whiting, J., Moorman, M., Manginell, R., & Manginell, R. (2019). Portable Chemical Detection Systems for Chemicals and Natural Gas [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1877807 Publication ID: 65720
  • Whiting, J., Myers, E.B., Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Pfeifer, K., Anderson, J., Fix, C.S., Washburn, C.M., Staton, A., Porter, D., Graf, D., Wheeler, D.R., Richards, J.A., Achyuthan, K., Roukes, M., Simonson, R.J., & Simonson, R.J. (2019). μchemLab: Twenty years of developing CBRNE detection systems with low false alarm rates [Conference Poster]. Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85072377495&origin=inward Publication ID: 69596
  • Read, D., Achyuthan, K., Fix, C.S., Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Simonson, R.J., Wheeler, D.R., Whiting, J., & Whiting, J. (2019). Thermodynamic studies on a hydrogen bonded acidic 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenol-functionalized polymer as a gas chromatography stationary phase for selectively speciating chemical warfare agents. Analytical Sciences, 35(6), pp. 671-677. https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.18P537 Publication ID: 59693
  • Manginell, R., Moorman, M., Simonson, R., Anderson, J., Sammon, J., Miller, P., Pfeifer, K., Whiting, J., Manginell, R., & Manginell, R. (2018). Field Portable Micro GC and Micro GCxGC System Development for Chemicals and Biogenic VOCs [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1524266 Publication ID: 61994
  • Whiting, J., Moorman, M., Simonson, R., Manginell, R., & Manginell, R. (2018). Practical Method to Determine the False Alarm Rate of a High‐Surety Chemical Analysis System [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1512558 Publication ID: 61961
  • Miller, P., Sammon, J., Moorman, M., Whiting, J., Simonson, R., Mowry, C., Pimentel, A., Manginell, R., Pfeifer, K., Achyuthan, K., & Achyuthan, K. (2018). Systems for Plant Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Analysis [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1500200 Publication ID: 61078
  • Dirk, S., Howell, S., Sawyer, P., Graf, D., Washburn, C.M., Whiting, J., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2009). Fast vapor sensing using chemiresistors functionalized with metal nanoparticle loaded silicate matrixes [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/950680 Publication ID: 15835
  • Fix, C., Whiting, J., & Whiting, J. (2009). Comprehensive Multidimensional Gas Chromatography and Modulator Development for Portable Instrumentation [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1698306 Publication ID: 15680
  • Whiting, J., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2008). High-speed Valve Modulator Studies [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1706301 Publication ID: 14965
  • Howell, S., Washburn, C.M., Whiting, J., Fan, H., Simonson, R., Dirk, S., & Dirk, S. (2008). Vapor Sensing Using Conjugated Molecule-Linked Au Nanoparticles in a Silica Matrix. Journal of Nanomaterials. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1143070 Publication ID: 14036
  • Whiting, J., Simonson, R., Graf, D., Staton, A., Manginell, R., Washburn, C.M., Peterson, D., Fix, C., & Fix, C. (2008). Pneumatically modulated GCxGC development for handheld instrumentation for military and homeland security applications [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1028956 Publication ID: 13776
  • Whiting, J. (2007). Next generation uChem Lab development at Sandia National Laboratories [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1719057 Publication ID: 11804
  • Scrymgeour, D., Dirk, S., Whiting, J., Simonson, R., & Simonson, R. (2007). Nano-Enabled Smart Chemiresistors for Improved Chemical Sensing [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1147251 Publication ID: 10618
  • Lewis, P., Porter, D., Moorman, M., Simonson, R., Kottenstette, R., Whiting, J., Cernosek, R.W., & Cernosek, R.W. (2007). Microfabricated Preconcentrators for Portable Chemical Analysis Systems [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1267223 Publication ID: 8840
  • Simonson, R., Rahimian, K., Whiting, J., Manginell, R., Galambos, P., Staton, A., Graf, D., Washburn, C.M., Dirk, S., Howell, S., & Howell, S. (2006). Microfabricated Gas Analyzer for Rapid Identification of Chemical Warfare Agents [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1264557 Publication ID: 8526
  • Lewis, P., Cernosek, R.W., Kottenstette, R., Bryan, J., Hietala, V., Moorman, M., Siegal, M., Simonson, R., Robinson, A., Whiting, J., & Whiting, J. (2006). Microfabricated Preconcentrators for Portable Chemical Analysis Systems [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1264561 Publication ID: 8097
  • Whiting, J., Galambos, P., James, C., McClain, J., Rahimian, K., Shul, R., Simonson, R., Staton, A., Howell, S., Dirk, S., Manginell, R., Robinson, A., & Robinson, A. (2006). Development of a High-Speed High-Performance Microfabricated Gas Chromatograph for Military Applications [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1141289 Publication ID: 8021
  • Whiting, J., Simonson, R., Dirk, S., Howell, S., Manginell, R., Staton, A., & Staton, A. (2006). Microfabricated fast GC system for DARPA MGA [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/900013 Publication ID: 6527
  • Romero, L., Whiting, J., Parks, M., & Parks, M. (2005). A reduced order model for the study of asymmetries in linear gas chromatography for homogeneous tubular columns. https://doi.org/10.2172/923173 Publication ID: 5923
Showing 10 of 28 publications.

Selected Publications

  • JJ Whiting, CJ Lu, ET Zellers, RD Sacks “A portable, high-speed, vacuum-outlet GC vapor analyzer employing air as carrier gas and surface acoustic wave detection,” Analytical chemistry, 2001, 73, 4668
  • CJ Lu, J Whiting, RD Sacks, ET Zellers “Portable gas chromatograph with tunable retention and sensor array detection for determination of complex vapor mixtures,” Analytical chemistry, 2003, 75, 1400
  • FL Dorman, EB Overton, JJ Whiting, JW Cochran, JG Torresdey “Gas Chromatography,” Analytical Chemitry, 2008, 80, 4487
  • J Whiting; CS. Fix ; JM. Anderson ; AW. Staton ; RP. Manginell ; DR Wheeler, Edward B. Myers, Michael L. Roukes, R.J. Simonson “High-speed two-dimensional gas chromatography using microfabricated GC columns combined with nanoelectromechanical mass sensors,” Transducers, 2009, Denver
  • J Whiting, R Sacks “Selectivity enhancement for high-speed GC analysis of volatile organic compounds with portable instruments designed for vacuum-outlet and atmospheric-pressure Inlet Operation Using Air as the Carrier Gas,” Anal. Chem., 2002, 74, 246
  • JJ Whiting, RD Sacks “Evaluation of split/splitless operation and rapid heating of a multi‐bed sorption trap used for gas chromatography analysis of large‐volume air samples” Journal of separation science, 2006, 29, 218
  • J Whiting, R Sacks “Programmable selectivity for GC with series-coupled columns using pulsed heating of the second column,” Analytical chemistry, 2003, 75, 2215

Selected Patents

  • RD Sacks, JJM Whiting, “Pulsed carrier gas flow modulation for selectivity enhancements with gas chromatography using series-coupled column ensembles” US Patent 6,702,989, 2004
  • Kazi Zulfiqur, Ali Hassan, William M. Cost, Curtis D. Mowry, Michael P. Siegal, Alex Robinson, Joshua J. Whiting, Stephen W. Howell “Portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water” US Patent 8,302,458, 2007
  • Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet, Laurent Duraffourg, Edward Myers, Mélanie Petitjean, Michael Lee Roukes, Joshua Whiting “System and method for analyzing a gas” US Patent Application: 20150308990A1 2015