Lessa Grunenfelder, Ph.D.

Prof. Grunenfelder’s expertise is in materials science, with an emphasis in structural composites. She is an associate professor of materials science practice in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses on material properties, processing, selection, and design. Professor Grunenfelder’s research background is in the processing science of fiber reinforced plastics for aerospace applications. She has experience in thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and materials characterization. She joined ESi as a part time staff consultant in February of 2023.