Debra Ellisor (Fed)

Deb came to NIST as a graduate student in marine biology and currently serves as a research biologist in the Biospecimen Science Group at the NIST Biorepository in Charleston, SC. She aims to advance cryopreservation sciences by assessing the effects of pre-analytical variables on biospecimen quality using advanced measurement techniques and developing standardized protocols and methods for sample collection and storage to preserve biospecimen integrity. Deb also assists in maintaining the biorepository in accordance with International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) best practices to ensure the integrity and long-term preservation of the archived collections. 

In addition, Deb assists in generating cryogenic reference materials (RMs) and NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) to help address the measurement needs of stakeholders, collaborators, and industry. Her current projects include the development and production of cryogenic food safety RMs and collaborating with global National Metrology Institutes to evaluate the effects of reference material production methods on downstream analyses, particularly with regard to food safety and authentication.

Membership and Professional Activities

• International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) member: 2013 - present
• Chemical Sciences Division Research Advisory Committee Chair: October 2023 - present

Other Publications

• Dynamic Temporal Requirement of Wnt1 in Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Development
• Genetic Dissection of Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Development in vivo
• The Distribution and Stratification of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Fatty Acids in Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Blubber

NIST NEWS

• NIST Releases Reference Material to Aid Gut Microbiome Research
• NIST Researchers Develop Material for Measuring Arsenic in Shellfish
• NIST's Shrimp and Salmon Reference Materials Could Help Combat Seafood Fraud

• MML Accolade in Measurement Services Excellence: 2023
• Outstanding Graduate Award, College of Charleston Graduate Program in Marine Biology: 2007
• Best Oral Presentation Award, College of Charleston Graduate Student Research Colloquium: 2006