NZ MSA Emerging Metrologist Winners

MSL’s Dr Ellie Molloy takes home the top prize, with Rohan Patel from WIKA Instruments awarded runner-up

Metrology is not a subject that most school or university-leavers will be familiar with. So how then can we engage with and inspire the next generation of metrologists, so that the sector can continue to support New Zealand industry?

That was the question that prompted the New Zealand branch of the Metrology Society of Australasia (MSA) to institute a new prize – the NZ Emerging Metrologist award. It would recognise someone who has been working in a metrology-related industry for less than five years, and who stands out amongst others with respect to their technical knowledge, quality focus, and client focus.

“The goal with this award was to find a way to celebrate individuals who are still early into their metrology career, but who are already demonstrating excellence in various ways,” said Anne Evans who sits on the MSA judging panel. “For me, this prize – and the NZ Metrologist Award which is announced in alternate years – is a good way to promote metrology more broadly, and to acknowledge those people who make New Zealand’s metrology sector what it is,” said MSA NZ Chair, Daryl Petit, who first championed the awards.

The 2024 candidates were incredibly strong, but amongst them, two young metrologists stood out – one to be named winner, and the other, runner-up.

As has become tradition, the announcement was made at the World Metrology Day celebrations at the Measurement Standards Laboratory, which were held on 24^th May 2024. As the sponsor for this year’s award, IANZ Chief Executive Dr Brian Young, led the prizegiving.

• The runner up was Rohan Patel from WIKA Instruments. In just two years of full-time employment at their Auckland laboratory, Rohan has become a Key Technical Person in three areas: Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity.

Rohan started his metrology journey in 2019, when he joined WIKA as a summer student, keen to get some industry experience. Since then, he’s forged his own path, impressing his colleagues along the way. When asked how he feels about the prize, he said, “I was very overwhelmed when my name was announced, and am grateful to receive this award. I am thoroughly enjoying what I do for work as well as the environment I work in. I would like to progress in this line of work and see where it takes me.”

• The winner of the 2024 NZ Emerging Metrologist award was Ellie Molloy from MSL. She works across both the Light and Temperature Standards teams, and has become one of the top experts in uncertainty analysis within the lab.

Like Rohan, Ellie first discovered metrology as a summer student in the lab, and quickly fell in love with the work. She said, “It didn’t take very long for me to decide that this was what I wanted to do. Then, it was just figuring out how to go about getting a job as a metrologist.” Her opportunity came in the shape of a PhD scholarship hosted at MSL with Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka. In 2023, Ellie was awarded her PhD in metrology, with her thesis focused on gonio-spectrophotometry.

Despite being so early in her career, Ellie has already contributed in an international comparison of the ‘triple point of water cells’, and thanks to her input, MSL achieved the lowest uncertainty of all the 15 participating labs from around the world. Her colleagues speak very highly of her impact to date, but for Ellie, it’s all about teamwork, “Nothing you do is an achievement on your own. You succeed because of everybody around you who supports you.”

“What really tipped the decision in my favour was all of the outreach Ellie has been doing”, said Evans. “Alongside her work, she has been going into primary schools, participating in bootcamps for secondary school students, and helping deliver MSL training courses. To be going out and talking about metrology in your own time is something special.”

Both Ellie and Rohan received a certificate and cash prize to mark their achievement. In addition, Ellie took home the coveted WIKA trophy, and gets free registration to the next MSA Conference, which will be held at the Mercure Sydney from Monday 25th August 2025.