Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2015
  • M.S., Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2012
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Chemical, California, #6930
Professional Honors
  • MIT Energy Initiative Fellow
  • Valedictorian, NC State, class of 2008
  • Eagle Scout
Professional Affiliations
  • The Electrochemical Society—ECS
  • The American Chemical Society—ACS
Languages
  • German

Dr. Harding is trained as a chemical engineer and has experience investigating advanced electrochemical storage systems, identifying polymer degradation mechanisms, and designing quantitative laboratory equipment. He uses his technical training and expertise to characterize the performance, materials, and construction of batteries and other electrochemical systems and identify the root cause of their failure. 

To complete his analysis of such systems, Dr. Harding uses techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), reference electrode testing, analysis of cycling performance, X-ray analysis [X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and computed tomography (CT)], cross-sectioning, and device teardowns. Dr. Harding is experienced with MATLAB and Python to perform programmatic analysis and presentation of large data sets, and uses CAD software for rapid prototyping of test equipment.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Harding was a graduate research assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked in the Electrochemical Energy Lab and the Hammond Lab to develop a polymer electrolyte-based lithium — oxygen battery, and additionally investigated the efficacy of catalysts for the oxygen-evolution reaction in nonaqueous lithium — oxygen batteries. Over the course of this work, Dr. Harding designed and constructed a differential electrochemical mass spectrometer to characterize the consumption and production of gases in these devices. Dr. Harding obtained his Masters in Chemical Engineering Practice in 2012 based on engineering consulting work performed at Novartis in Basel, Switzerland and at SGC Energia in Güssing, Austria.