Volunteer State News

Governor Bill Lee has awarded Chris Lam, Ph.D., of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture with the Governor’s Excellence in Service Award. Lam is among 23 state employees chosen by their department’s leadership to receive this recognition. These employees are noted for improving state government services and offering high-quality, cost-effective service to Tennessee taxpayers.

Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. commented on Lam's expertise, stating, "Dr. Lam excels at performing laboratory functions as well as interpreting chemical analysis for colleagues who serve the public." He further emphasized Lam's contributions to improving turnaround times and cost savings through his technical analyses and efforts to eliminate unnecessary testing. Hatcher also acknowledged Lam's commitment to professional development and employee training.

Lam is nationally recognized as an expert in environmental and chemical monitoring. Last year, he spoke on effective communication strategies for lab results at the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program meeting in Colorado. Reflecting on his recognition, Lam said, "To be acknowledged for work I enjoy brings a sense of fulfillment. It’s rewarding anytime I can share about science and its connections to human food, animal feed, pesticides, and plants." He expressed his dedication to equipping those around him and seeking collaboration for continuous improvement.

Lam's career at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture began in 2010 as the Food Residue section supervisor. His tasks involved testing food and beverages for harmful chemicals. He later moved to the Environmental Monitoring section, handling analyses of water, plant, and soil samples for pesticides. Currently, he serves as the Agricultural Scientist Manager for various sections within the Technical Services Division, including Feed and Fertilizer, Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, Hemp, and Environmental Monitoring.

Before joining the TDA, Lam worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Bayer Crop Science for 13 years. Originally from Hong Kong, he holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In his free time, Lam enjoys reading, jogging, and traveling.