Cassondra Brayfield, PhD, is a pioneering force in material science and engineering. She currently serves as a senior research and development engineer at GKN Hoeganaes, optimizing battery materials to meet industry standards and positioning the company as a supplier in the battery sector. In this capacity, she plays a key role in laboratory research, problem-solving, and design, contributing to the development of a pilot plant and scaling up production. Her previous experience at the Intel Corporation, where she worked in a large-scale cleanroom factory environment, has been instrumental in her current work.
Dr. Brayfield’s career journey includes significant milestones across academia and industry. From 2019 to 2023, she was a researcher and PhD student at the University of California, Davis, where she completed her dissertation combining material science and chemistry. Before that, she worked at Intel Corporation as a research and development yield engineer and material scientist from 2017 to 2019, after initially joining the company in 2016 as a metrology tool owner and yield engineer. Her early experience includes a fractography internship at Corning Incorporated in 2015 and various research positions during her undergraduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Laying a strong academic foundation, Dr. Brayfield earned a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2015 and a Master of Science from Arizona State University in 2019. She went on to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in material science and engineering at the University of California Davis in 2023. In order to stay engaged with advancements in her field, she is an active member of the American Chemical Society.
Moreover, Dr. Brayfield is dedicated to volunteer work, particularly her annual holiday fundraiser for Feed My Starving Children, which provides highly nutritious meals at just 25 cents per serving. She is also deeply involved in mentoring through Skype with Scientists, Project Lead the Way, and Coaches, supporting students, especially former foster children, who lack traditional support systems. Additionally, she assists elementary school teachers in developing materials science curricula to introduce young students to the field early on.
Reflecting on her path, Dr. Brayfield has gained diverse research experience across academia and industry. After earning her degree from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and interning at Corning Incorporated, she began her professional journey at Intel Corporation in Arizona. Finding her initial role unchallenging, she took the initiative to develop a step-by-step troubleshooting manual that reduced on-call responsibilities by 80%. She later transitioned into a yield engineering role, gaining broad experience while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree at Arizona State University. After being accepted into the PhD program at the University of California Davis, she shifted her focus to advanced research, ultimately pursuing opportunities in the battery industry. Passionate about sustainable and recyclable energy storage, she now specializes in lithium-ion technologies while remaining open to exploring other energy solutions.
Dr. Brayfield’s most notable achievements span both academia and mentorship. Completing her PhD dissertation in 2023, despite challenges, was a defining moment that allowed her to secure her dream job in a field where she had no prior expertise. Equally passionate about mentorship, she actively engages in educational outreach and regularly mentors young professionals, maintaining two to three mentees at a time. Committed to “sending the elevator back down,” she ensures future scientists and engineers benefit from her guidance and experience.
As the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, Dr. Brayfield deeply values the importance of education and representation. As a female, Hispanic, and bisexual professional in STEM, she mentors individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, offering support and encouragement to those pursuing similar paths.
Recognized for her contributions to material science, Dr. Brayfield has been featured in industry publications and was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award from the University of California Davis. She attributes her success to persistence and the belief that with dedication and resilience, anyone can achieve their goals. She encourages her students, regardless of age or discipline, to recognize that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
Looking to the future, Dr. Brayfield aims to transition into a larger company, such as Duracell or Panasonic, where she can contribute to large-scale factory operations and advance her career. Her long-term goal is to drive innovation and sustainability in battery technology, recognizing its crucial role in addressing global energy challenges. She aspires to climb the corporate ladder to gain the influence needed to make a meaningful impact in the industry. Passionate about advancing energy storage, she approaches her work with determination and humor, often saying her goal is to “save the world or get rich trying.”