Marla Lorraine Dowell (born 1965) is an American physicist who is Director of the CHIPS Metrology Program and NIST Boulder Laboratory.

At the start, the group focused on calibration, but under her leadership, Dowell developed a research program in laser metrology for industrial applications.

[8] She has leveraged partnerships with other federal agencies to expand NIST research activities in wireless communication networks.

[11] The National Academies have cited the strength and breadth of the NIST Communication Technology Laboratory programs under Dowell's leadership.

[14] In 2023, Dowell was recognized by the President of the United States as a Distinguished Executive for her extraordinary and lasting contributions to scientific research and achievements as a leader in the NIST Community.