Meet Our Team

Raja S. Tannous (rtannous@berkeleyanalytical.com)
Co-Founder & Laboratory Director

Since co-founding Berkeley Analytical in 1989, Raja has overseen daily operations in the laboratory, as well as technical, financial, and strategic management—and expansion.

With a background in biochemistry, Raja’s research interests include synthesis and purification of organic chemicals, measuring emissions and inhalation exposures from biomedical devices, and chemical testing of all types of building and consumer products—e.g., textiles, composite woods, insulation, paint, cleaning products, and cosmetics. He is an active participant on numerous product materials and emissions working groups.

Prior to founding BkA, Raja worked as an analytical and synthetic chemist in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and in the organometallic chemistry group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). It was at LBNL where Raja met Al Hodgson.

Raja holds a degree in biochemistry from UCB, and has made the San Francisco Bay Area his home for over 30 years.

Alfred T. Hodgson (ahodgson@berkeleyanalytical.com)
Co-Founder & Research Director

Al Hodgson co-manages day-to-day operations and planning with Raja, while also directing test method development, implementation, and validation within the laboratory and leading its participation in consensus standard activities.

While he founded BkA with Raja in 1989, Al only recently retired from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) where he was a staff scientist in the Indoor Environment Department, one of the first academic indoor air quality research groups. During his tenure at LBNL, Al was a group leader and principal investigator on projects for the U.S. Department of Energy, CA Air Resources Board, CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and others. His projects included evaluation of UVPCO (ultra-violet photocatalytic oxidation) air cleaners, ozone initiated air chemistry of cleaning products, children’s exposure to traffic-related emissions, and VOC source reduction techniques for homes and schools. Al is the current chairman of ASTM Subcommittee D22.05 on Indoor Air.

Al has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications related to VOC source characterization and dynamics in indoor environments. Al grew up in Central California and attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, earning a degree in Zoology. His CV can be downloaded here.

Omar F. Ghaly (oghaly@berkeleyanalytical.com)
IT Manager and Quality Manager

Omar has managed Berkeley Analytical’s laboratory database since he joined the company in 2005. Applying best practices in database management, he ensures that all technical information is handled in accordance with the lab’s quality management system and that all client information is controlled in accordance with privacy guidelines. Omar is also responsible for BkA's Quality Management System and ensures that the QMS is maintaned and functioning in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Prior to BkA, Omar worked at Bechtel Corp. and Nexant, Inc. evaluating chemical and environmental control technologies to produce clean, efficient energy from fossil and renewable resources. A savvy database developer, Omar has also been a database consultant to small- and mid-size companies.

Omar grew up in Egypt. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.

Farid Masri (fmasri@berkeleyanalytical.com)
Engineer, Product Testing Services

Farid participates in the design and construction of the lab's Data Acquisition & Control Systems and maintains the lab's computer infrastructure. Operationally, Farid runs the chamber testing section of the lab including validating the test conditions of the environmental chambers, and receives, logs, and schedules test items. Farid’s education is in electrical engineering.

Lois Switzer (lois.switzer@berkeleyanalytical.com)
Office Manager, Accounts Payable-Receivable Coordinator

Lois handles accounts payable and accounts receivable. She also makes sure the lab’s day-to-day office operations run smoothly and efficiently. Lois is trained in information technology and has extensive experience in customer communications.