Laura Bruckman

Laura Bruckman is a Climo Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University's Case School of Engineering. Her research focuses on predictive lifetime modeling for materials degradation, quantitative spectroscopic characterization of materials, and applying statistical analytics and data science to solve challenges in photovoltaic systems and long-lived engineering materials.

Her work emphasizes understanding degradation mechanisms in photovoltaic materials (e.g., backsheets, encapsulants, and silicon cells) under environmental stressors, with applications in improving reliability and service life through advanced data-driven approaches. Dr. Bruckman has contributed to the development of machine learning methods for material characterization (e.g., ToF-SIMS analysis) and spatiotemporal models for predicting degradation patterns in field-deployed PV systems.

Her research also extends to curriculum design for applied data science, emphasizing industry-relevant training in statistical modeling and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Her expertise bridges materials science, data science, and energy systems, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and a patent in classification using multivariate optical computing.

Key technical contributions include analyzing environmental impacts on solar module performance, quantifying crack propagation in polymers, and developing predictive frameworks for material aging. Her work has been supported by collaborations with industry partners and federal research initiatives.