Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Chemistry, Stanford University, 2016
  • B.S., Professional Chemistry, California State University, Chico, 2009
Professional Honors
  • Chair, Society of Plastics Engineers Medical Plastics Division, 2026
  • Myer Ezrin Best Paper Award for the Failure Analysis & Prevention Special Interest Group, ANTEC, 2017.
  • Stanford University Center for Molecular Analysis and Design Fellow, 2013-2015
  • Outstanding Graduating Senior, Department of Chemistry California State University, Chico, May 2009
Professional Affiliations
  • American Chemical Society (member)
  • Society of Plastics Engineers

 Dr. Lyons' expertise lies at the intersection of chemistry and polymer science, including materials characterization, polymer failure analysis and fractography, and analysis of polymer formulations. He assists clients across a variety of industries, including healthcare, medical devices, construction materials and plumbing systems, consumer products and electronics, and automotive, in both proactive and reactive settings, including navigating product recalls, risk assessments, and materials characterization and selection during the product development process. Dr. Lyons specializes in chemical analysis and characterization of molecular systems and polymeric materials, including adhesives, elastomers, and rigid plastics, with emphasis on how material incompatibility can influence device failure.

Dr. Lyons is well versed in a variety of characterization methods including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, liquid and gas chromatography, (LC-MS, GC-MS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), as well as numerous thermal and spectroscopic characterization methods. He also assists clients with polymer mechanical testing and failure recreation, accelerated aging studies, and extractables and leachables (E&L) analysis.

Dr. Lyons is an active member of the Society of Plastics Engineers and is serving as the current Chair of the Medical Plastics Division. Before joining Exponent, Dr. Lyons received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University where he was a fellow in the Center for Molecular Analysis and Design.