Sam Gnaniah joined the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in 1997 and is a senior colleague within the Advanced Engineering Materials Group. The group supports industry across multiple sectors by building confidence in measurement data and developing best practice that enables innovation, economic growth, improved quality of life, and world trade.
Sam’s core expertise is in the measurement of thermal and thermophysical properties to support understanding of material behaviour from sub‑ambient to high temperatures. His work underpins a wide range of industrial applications, including complex and emerging material systems. He established NPL’s core thermal characterisation measurement capability, which now supports multiple NPL research divisions addressing national priority challenges.
He has a strong track record of industrial engagement and has led the creation of several NPL‑managed Industrial Advisory Groups to ensure measurement capability is aligned with industry need. In 2024, he launched the Advanced Materials Thermal Characterisation Industrial Advisory Group, focused on identifying industry measurement challenges, addressing gaps in standardisation, and supporting the development of reference materials, best practice, and demonstrable impact.
Sam is highly active internationally. He has represented the UK on the Steering Committee of VAMAS, the global pre‑normative organisation for advanced materials, since 2008 and has served three terms as International General Secretary. He currently chairs VAMAS Technical Work Area 43 on Thermal Properties, delivering international intercomparison exercises, supporting reference material development, and contributing to future international standards. He also represents the UK on the Technical Committee for Materials Metrology within the Asia Pacific Metrology Programme and has led a collaborative technical project addressing SI traceability for temperature calibration in dynamic mechanical analysis.
Prior to joining NPL, Sam spent nine years in industry within the thermal analysis and fire testing instrumentation sector, working in production and systems test environments. He serves on the committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry Thermal Methods Group and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He has mentored colleagues towards professional registration and currently chairs the IOM3 Local Affairs Committee, coordinating regional materials and mining community activities across the UK.