Erick Ruoff

Dr. Ruoff is trained in materials science and engineering, specializing in solid-state, sodium-ion, and lithium-ion battery systems. He has extensive experience in advanced battery materials and electrochemical characterization, as well as next-generation cell design for commercial, automotive, and grid-scale applications. At Exponent, he leverages his wide skillset to perform root-cause analyses, evaluate performance, and conduct quality assessments of batteries for a wide range of applications and industries.

Dr. Ruoff possesses a broad technical background in battery materials synthesis, electrochemical testing, and cell engineering. He is experienced in applying characterization methods, including SEM/EDS, XRD, and spectroscopic techniques like XPS and NMR, to establish structure — property relationships, assess performance, and investigate battery failure modes. Dr. Ruoff also specializes in electrochemical diagnostics such as EIS, GITT, and cyclic voltammetry, along with electrode formulation, coating, and cell assembly for both conventional and solid-state batteries. His strong foundation in materials processing, testing, and analysis supports efficient experimentation and reliable problem-solving for performance evaluation for commercial batteries.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Ruoff conducted graduate research at The University of Texas at Austin, where he led projects to advance low-cost, scalable battery chemistries. His research resulted in high-impact findings for advancing solid electrolyte ionic conductivity and high-voltage stability through novel material design as well as cathode — solid electrolyte interfacial phenomena in sodium solid-state batteries. Prior to his doctoral work, Dr. Ruoff gained hands-on experience through manufacturing engineering and R&D internship roles at Tesla, Form Energy, and Tokyo Electron, where he optimized battery fabrication techniques, evaluated battery electrode performance, and scaled electrochemical deposition processes.