Lam, Thomas
Fellowship Advisor Museum Conservation Institute staff
0000-0002-0908-0938
Lam, Thomas
Fellowship Advisor Museum Conservation Institute staffMaterials characterization: specialized in microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and microanalysis
Positions
- Physical Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute 2016 -
Background And Education
Education And Training
- Ph.D. in Ceramics, Alfred University , Glass Formation Boundary Approach to the Sintering of Alumina 2008 - 2011
- M.S. in Ceramic Engineering, Alfred University , Glass Melts as Indicators for Liquid Phase Sintering in Al2O3 2005 - 2007
- B.S. in Ceramic Engineering, Alfred University , Analysis of Copper Red Glazes by Unity Molecular Formula 1999 - 2004
- National Institute of Standards and Technology 2011 - 2014
Professional Biography
- Thomas specializes in materials characterization on materials of cultural value. Specifically, Thomas works on projects revolving around applying scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), cathodoluminescence (CL), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), or microfade testing (MFT).
Awards And Honors
- Outstanding Reviewer Award, conferred by Microscopy & Microanalysis, 2021
- Secretary's Research Prize, 2019
- Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Award, conferred by Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Awards, 2019
- ACerS Spriggs Phase Equilibria Award, conferred by American Ceramic Society, 2012
- SEM-based micro-XRF: A new tool for compositional analysis and imaging of museum specimens, conferred by Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Awards
Public Biography
- During his PhD, Thomas also worked at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (2008-2011). After his PhD, Thomas completed a postdoc at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). At NIST, Thomas worked on projects developing methodologies to visualize and characterize 3D nanostructures. Thomas was a Sr. Research Specialist at the Electron Microscopy Core Facility at the University of Missouri from 2014-2015. At the University of Missouri, he worked with the students and faculty to apply electron microscopy (SEM, SEM EDS, Electron Beam Lithography, TEM, STEM EDS, STEM EELS and EFTEM) research to their projects. Thomas joined the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute (MCI) in 2016.
Research And Grants
Investigator On
Publications
Selected Publications
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Article
- Vicenzi, Edward P., Lam, Thomas, Weaver, Jamie L., Herzing, Andrew A., McCloy, John S., Sjöblom, Rolf, and Pearce, Carolyn I. 2022. "Major to trace element imaging and analysis of iron age glasses using stage scanning in the analytical dual beam microscope (tandem)." Heritage Science, 10, (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00707-4. 2022
- Hiebert, Miriam E., Lam, Thomas, Oakman, Sarah, and Brogdon-Grantham, Shannon. 2022. "Observations from the Analysis of the Gelatin Silver Emulsion Layer of Glass Photographic Inter-Positive Plates from Eadweard Muybridge's Animal Locomotion Series at the National Museum of American History." Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2021.1983710. 2022
- Vicenzi, Edward P., Lam, Thomas, Lowers, Heather A., Carpenter, Paul K., and Adams, David T. 2022. "Quantitative and Qualitative Correlation of CL and X-ray Signals in Cr-bearing Jade from Chichén-Itzá Archaeological Zone, Mexico." Microscopy and Microanalysis, 28 656–660. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622003142. 2022
- Sharps, Meredith C., Martinez, Maria M., Brandl, Michael, Lam, Thomas, and Vicenzi, Edward P. 2021. "A dual beam SEM-based EDS and micro-XRF method for the analysis of large-scale Mesoamerican obsidian tablets." Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 35:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102781 2021
- Teeter, Keara, Mendez, Natalie, Manthey, Gwen, Kerr, Amber, and Lam, Thomas. 2021. "Case Study of SEM-EDS Cross-Sections to Assist in Understanding p-XRF Results from William H. Johnson Paintings." Microscopy and Microanalysis 27:3204-3206. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621011065 2021
- Lam, Thomas. 2021. "Comparison of quantification from field deployable pXRF and laboratory based-micro-XRF within an SEM of Cu-based alloys." Microscopy and Microanalysis, 27, 3200–3202. , https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621011053. 2021
- Lam, Thomas and Vicenzi, Edward. 2021. "Elemental Mapping of Jade by pXRF and SEM-based Micro-XRF: A Comparative Study." Microscopy and Microanalysis 27:2556-2558. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621009090 2021
- Hiebert, Miriam, Lam, Thomas, Vicenzi, Edward, Phaneuf, Raymond, Moser, William, and Hawks, Catherine. 2021. "Microanalysis of Glass Fluid Storage Vials from The Invertebrate Zoology Collection at the National Museum of Natural History." Microscopy and Microanalysis 27:3208-3210. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621011077 2021
- Popowich, Aleksandra, Lam, Thomas, and Vicenzi, Edward P. 2021. "Nondestructive Microanalysis of Thin-Film Coatings on Historic Metal Threads." Analytical Chemistry 93 (38):12906-12913. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02054 2021
- Vicenzi, Edward, Sharps, Meredith, and Lam, Thomas. 2021. "Quantitative Analysis of Obsidian and Determination of Source Provenance Using an Analytical Dual Beam SEM." Microscopy and Microanalysis 27:2560-2563. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621009107 2021
- Romano, Christine, Lam, Thomas, and Tsang, Jia-sun. 2021. "Technical Study and Treatment of Paintings by Clementine Hunter." In Postprint Painting Specialty. 1–11. 32 2021
- Romano, Christine, Lam, Thomas, Newsome, G. Asher, Taillon, Joshua A., Little, Nicole, and Tsang, Jia-sun. 2020. "Characterization of Zinc Carboxylates in an Oil Paint Test Panel." Studies in Conservation 65 (1):14-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2019.1666467 2020
- Romano, Christine, Lam, Thomas, Maines, Christopher A., and Tsang, Jia-sun. 2020. "Preserving the Legacy of an Artist and Conservator: Technical Study of Paintings by Felrath Hines in the Collection of the National Museum of African American History and Culture." Journal of the American Institute for Conservation https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2019.1707416 2020
- Tsang, Jia-sun, Friedberg, Elle, and Lam, Thomas. 2019. "An easy-to-use method for preparing paint cross sections." Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 58 (3):123-131. https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2018.1564198 2019
- Vicenzi, Edward P. and Lam, Thomas. 2019. "Examination of Heritage and Geological Materials Using Correlated Electron- and X-ray-Beam Microanalysis in the SEM." Microscopy and Microanalysis 25:2482-2483. https://doi.org/10.1017/S143192761901314X 2019
- Brogdon-Grantham, Shannon A., Kavich, Gwenaelle, Lam, Thomas, Parker, Annaick, and Doutriaux, Miriam. 2019. "Preserving Photographically Illustrated Quilts." Collections Quarterly 3:23-24. 2019
- Lam, Thomas, Romano, Christine, Newsome, G. Asher, Little, Nicole, and Tsang, Jia-sun. 2018. "Characterization of Zinc Soap from an Accelerated Aged Oil Painting Test Panel." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24:2158-2159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011273 2018
- Vicenzi, Edward P., Pearce, Carolyn I., Weaver, Jamie L., McCloy, John S., Wight, Scott, Lam, Thomas, Whittaker, Scott, Sjoblow, Rolf, Peeler, David K., Schweiger, Michael J., and Kruger, Albert A. 2018. "Compositional Imaging and Analysis of Late Iron Age Glass from the Broborg Vitrified Hillfort, Sweden." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24:2134-2135. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011157 2018
- Baumann, Kate, Vicenzi, Edward P., Lam, Thomas, Douglas, Janet, Arbuckle, Kevin, Cribb, Bronwen, Brady, Seán G., and Fry, Bryan G. 2018. "Correction to: Harden up: metal acquisition in the weaponized ovipositors of aculeate hymenoptera." Zoomorphology, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-018-0413-z. 2018
- Baumann, Kate, Vicenzi, Edward P., Lam, Thomas, Douglas, Janet, Arbuckle, Kevin, Cribb, Bronwen, Brady, Seán G., and Fry, Bryan G. 2018. "Harden up: metal acquisition in the weaponized ovipositors of aculeate hymenoptera." Zoomorphology, (137) 389–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-018-0403-1. 2018
- Brogdon-Grantham, Shannon, Lussier, Stephanie, Maines, Christopher A., McGath, Molly, and Lam, Thomas. 2018. "Microfadeometry of Face-Mounted and Unmounted Chromogenic Photographs." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24 (Supplement S1):2144-2145. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011200 2018
- Young, Pamela, Silence, Patricia, and Lam, Thomas. 2018. "Microfadeometry of Miss Breme Jones Watercolor with Iron-gall Ink Inscriptions." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24:2170-2171. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011339 2018
- Weaver, Jamie L., Pearce, Carolyn I., Arey, Bruce, Conroy, Michele, Vicenzi, Edward P., Sjoblom, Rolf, Koestler, Robert J., DePriest, Paula T., Lam, Thomas F., Peeler, David K., McCloy, John S., and Kruger, Albert A. 2018. "Microscopic Identification of Micro-Organisms on Pre-Viking Swedish Hillfort Glass." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24:2136-2137. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011169 2018
- Beams, Ryan, Vicenzi, Edward P., Wight, Scott, Lam, Thomas, Barnes, Stephanie, Tsang, Jia-sun, and Stranick, Stephan J. 2018. "Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of ZnO and TiCh Pigments." Microscopy and Microanalysis 24:2150-2151. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618011236 2018
- Vicenzi, Edward P. and Lam, Thomas. 2017. "Determination of Major, Minor, and Trace Elements in Jadeite using Scanning micro-X-ray Fluorescence." Microscopy and Microanalysis 23:1008-1009. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927617005700 2017
- Nguyen, Tinh, Petersen, Elijah J., Pellegrin, Bastien, Gorham, Justin M., Lam, Thomas, Zhao, Minhua, and Sung, Lipiin. 2017. "Impact of UV irradiation on multiwall carbon nanotubes in nanocomposites: Formation of entangled surface layer and mechanisms of release resistance." Carbon 116:191-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2017.01.097 2017
- Ashkar, Rana, Hore, Michael J. A., Ye, Xingchen, Natarajan, Bharath, Greybush, Nicholas J., Lam, Thomas, Kagan, Cherie R., and Murray, Christopher B. 2017. "Rapid Large-Scale Assembly and Pattern Transfer of One-Dimensional Gold Nanorod Superstructures." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 9 (30):25513-25521. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b06273 2017
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Chapter
- Martinez, Maria M., Brandl, Michael, Sharps Noyes, Meredith, Lam, Thomas, and Vicenzi, Edward P. 2022. "Reflecting on the History and Use of Rectangular Obsidian "Mirrors" from Mexico: Reinterpreting Old Museum Collections and Indigenous-Colonial Intersections." In Contextualizing Museum Collections at the Smithsonian Institution: The Relevance of Collections-Based Research in the Twenty-First Century. Martinez, Maria M., Sears, Erin L., and Sieg, Lauren E., editors. 137–153. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. In Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, 54. 2022
- Cullen Cobb, Kim, Beekman, Christopher S., Kaplan, Emily, and Lam, Thomas. 2022. "The Craft, Use, and Distribution of Axe-Monies in Mesoamerica." In Waves of Influence: Pacific Maritime Networks Connecting Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America. Beekman, Christopher S. and McEwan, Colin, editors. 347–415. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks. 2022
- Romano, Christine, Lam, Thomas, and Tsang, Jia-sun. 2021. "Conserving a Conservator's paintings: Study and Preventive care of Painting by Felrath Hines." In Postprint Painting Specialty. 125–130. 26 2021
- Parker, Anniack, Brogdon-Grantham, Doutriaux, Miriam, Kavich, Gwénaëlle M., and Lam, Thomas F. 2019. "A Context-Based Approach to Conserving Photographs On Textiles." in Papers presented at the 2019 Photographic Materials Group Session of the American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting in Uncasville, Connecticut, American Institute for Conservation, Photographic Materials Group. 2019
- Steele, Elizabeth, Lam, Thomas, Barnes, Stephanie, Tsang, Jia-sun, and Fiedler, Inge. 2017. "Reevaluation of Luncheon of the Boating Party." in Renoir and Friends: Luncheon of the Boating Party, edited by Rathbone, E. E., 118-131. Giles. 2017
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Report
- Grissom, Carol A., Webb, E. Keats, and Lam, Thomas. 2021. Examination and Treatment Report for a Carpenter & Co. Lock Found at SERC: Museum Conservation Institute #6955. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.16837186. 2021
- Gabler, D. and Lam, Thomas. 2017. "Microfade Testing of Plains Indian Shirts." Conservation Newsletter - ICOM Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures. 2017
Contact
Location
- Museum Conservation Institute Academic Department