Susan Sorini, lead scientist at Western Research Institute in Laramie, Wyo., has received an ASTM International Award of Merit and the accompanying title of fellow, the highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to standards activities.

Sorini was recognized “for dedicated participation in Committee D34 on Waste Management,  including significant technical contributions in the development and maintenance of standards and valued leadership service as a subcommittee and main committee officer.”

A member of ASTM International since 1986, Sorini is chair of Committee D34 and works on several D34 groups.  She has designed and coordinated multiple validation studies for D34 and has received two awards of appreciation and two standards development awards from the committee.  Sorini, who is also a member of Committees D18 on Soil and Rock and E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action, served on the ASTM Committee on Standards (COS) from 2003 to 2006 and was recognized with a COS Service Award in 2005.

After graduating from Montana Tech of the University of Montana (formerly the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology), Butte, Mont., with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Sorini joined Western Research Institute as a technician in 1983 and assumed her current role with the company in 2003. As lead scientist, she works on method and product development and validation as well as environmental consulting.  She has served as a manager of projects for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the American Coal Ash Association, the Electric Power Research Institute, Environment Canada and the American Mining Congress.

In addition to ASTM International, Sorini is a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and has been honored with two ACS Regional Industrial Innovation Awards.  She has authored or co-authored more than 70 technical publications in her field.

Release #8190