Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), 2021
  • B.S., Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2016
Professional Honors
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-2021
  • President’s Fellowship, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-2020
  • Carolina Research Scholar, University of North Carolina, 2016
  • Gillian T Call Senior Thesis Research Grant, University of North Carolina, 2015
  • Taylor Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, University of North Carolina, 2014

Dr. Brightbill specializes in materials characterization and surface analysis for biomedical devices and diagnostics. With training that spans chemistry, nanoscience, and materials engineering, she supports clients with mechanical and chemical device challenges. She has expertise in protein-surface interactions and thin film analysis.

Dr. Brightbill has experience with microelectronic fabrication, including cleanroom use, high vacuum technology, and semiconductor processing. She is proficient in electrical measurements and modeling (cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), conductance, sensor response delay), electron microscopies (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)) and thin film/surface characterization techniques (atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/Auger), Raman, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-d)). Dr. Brightbill has additional experience with nanomaterials, finite element modeling, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and rat model studies.

Prior to joining exponent, Dr. Brightbill obtained her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Her dissertation work focused on improving the reliability and stability of potentiometric biosensors, specifically through studying the interactions between solid state sensor functional surfaces and biological solutions. She is proficient in the fabrication and testing of microelectronics, the development of in vitro assays, and protein adhesion studies.