Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Fiber Science, Cornell University, 2011
  • M.Sc., Fiber Science, Cornell University, 2008
  • B.Sc., Materials Science and Engineering, Alfred University, 2006
Licenses & Certifications
  • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Professional Honors
  • Robert W. Work Award for Outstanding Graduate Student, Cornell University, 2011
  • Finalist in the Fiber Society Student Paper Competition, 2010
  • American Chemical Society Grant, 2010
  • Featured Image on the Cornell University Life Science Core Laboratory website, 2009
  • Winner in the CCMR Microscopy Image Contest, 2009
  • Tau Beta Bi, 2004
  • Keramos Honor Society, 2004
Professional Affiliations
  • American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
  • Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
  • American Society for Testing and Materials
  • Industrial Fabrics Association International

Dr. Kirkpatrick has extensive experience in the testing and analysis of both traditional and novel fibers, yarns, fabrics, and fiber-reinforced composites.  She routinely conducts failure analysis investigations on textile products, and is skilled and knowledgeable in textile production and characterization techniques.  

Dr. Kirkpatrick advises clients on composition and performance aspects of technical and performance textiles, including architectural fabrics, industrial webs, slings, and ropes, personal protective equipment, performance apparel, and sustainability. She has analyzed the components of fillers, pigments, stabilizers, and resin architecture on the performance of formulated products, including reinforced materials. Dr. Kirkpatrick provides consulting services, including, but not limited to, materials characterization, assessment of structure-property relationships, process improvement, testing, product design and development, and failure analysis. Dr. Kirkpatrick is also a skilled practitioner of Agile project management and Stage-Gate product development.

Dr. Kirkpatrick's research efforts have focused on compression garments, novel functional fibers, and labeling laws and requirements for specialty textiles. She has also done extensive work on the development of stimuli-responsive nanofibers for integration into traditional garments, biomaterials, and microfluidic platforms. She is skilled in a variety of microscopy techniques, including optical and polarized microscopy, confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Kirkpatrick completed her doctorate in Fiber Science from Cornell University.