Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2011
  • M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2008
  • B.A., Chemistry, Hope College, 2005
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Hope College, 2005
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Plastic Engineers

Dr. Moll consults on a wide variety of proactive and reactive projects involving the bulk physical properties of polymers specified for use in the construction and building materials, medical, automotive, fluid handling, electrical, and consumer products industries.

For example, Dr. Moll routinely examines and investigates polymeric pipe, tubing, and fitting failures including components made from polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). Her work often involves investigating the root causes of polymer and plastic failure using her knowledge of structure-property relationships, chemical compatibility, and considering the product end-use environment. In addition to thermoplastic polymers, Dr. Moll also investigates failures in thermosetting materials such as epoxies and acrylics, which are often used as adhesives and in composites. Her areas of expertise and research interests include failure analysis, fractography, materials selection, and mechanical testing of polymers and composite materials.

Dr. Moll has considerable experience with a variety of material characterization techniques such as thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Dr. Moll is familiar with several standard composite manufacturing processes such as vacuum assisted resin infusion molding, compression molding, wet layup, prepreg layup, autoclave curing, and vacuum bagging. She is also well versed in standardized and customized mechanical test methods often employed for polymers and composite materials.

Before joining Exponent, Dr. Moll was a postdoctoral research scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), working with two industrial partners on the development of thin and flexible batteries. Her research activities focused on the development and testing of multifunctional water and oxygen barrier films for flexible battery encapsulation. In addition, Dr. Moll's doctoral research concentrated on the development, integration, and manufacturing of a microencapsulated thermally stable healing chemistry enabling the self-healing of cracks that develop in high-demand composite applications including pressure vessels.