Corissa Lee

Trained as a material scientist with a specialization in polymer science, Dr. Lee's research and experience provide a deep understanding of the chemistry, physical properties, and mechanical behavior of polymeric materials, including rubbers, elastomers, adhesives, and rigid plastics. Her areas of expertise encompass structure-property relationships, mechanics of materials, adhesion science, chemical and physical compatibility, and fractography.

Dr. Lee applies her knowledge of polymer science across a wide variety of industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, construction, medical, and industrial piping. She has worked with clients on challenges such as durability assessments, material selection and specifications, formulation development, end-use testing, product safety evaluations, and failure analysis. Her expertise in common polymer failure modes — including wear, tearing, environmental stress cracking (ESC), fatigue, creep, and weathering — is complemented by her proficiency in material characterization techniques. These include analytical and molecular-level analysis as well as bulk physical properties testing, which she has applied to commodity and engineering thermoplastics, rigid and rubber thermosets, and other industrially relevant compositions. Additionally, Dr. Lee is experienced in standardized mechanical testing, long-term durability studies, and accelerated aging evaluations.

Specializing in leading failure analysis investigations of complex material systems, Dr. Lee has addressed issues such as tire failures — including blowouts and belt tread separations — as well as failures in automotive, industrial, and construction rubber sealing components and sealants. She also has a strong background in polymer conversion processes, including injection molding, compression molding, blow molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.

Dr. Lee is an active member of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and The Tire Society. She is also certified as an Automotive Tire Service Advanced Instructor through the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

Before joining Exponent, Dr. Lee was a research assistant in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and held research assignments at Xerox and Dow Corning. At Xerox, she studied the flow properties of toners, while at Dow Corning, she investigated novel block copolymer synthesis techniques. As part of the Autonomous Materials Systems group at the Beckman Institute, her research focused on mechanochemistry, incorporating force-sensitive chemical groups (mechanophores) into polyurethane elastomeric formulations. These efforts enabled the development of "smart" polymers with self-sensing (e.g., color change) and self-repairing capabilities, allowing materials to autonomically respond to environmental conditions and detect mechanical damage.