[2] Pollock was elected a member of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2005 for contributions to our understanding of the processing and performance of advanced metallic materials.

[6] For her doctoral studies, she worked with Ali S. Argon at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed her PhD in Materials Science in 1989.

[2][7] In 2010, Pollock moved to University of California, Santa Barbara where she presently works as a Distinguished Professor of Materials and the Alcoa Chair.

[7] At the University of California at Santa Barbara, Pollock Directs the Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility.

[6][9] Pollock also acts as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for MAPP (a UK consortium for advanced materials processing).