Laura Rackley · Fuel Cell Engineer
I design and test the electrochemical systems that turn clean hydrogen into reliable power — from single-cell diagnostics to megawatt stacks.
About
I'm Laura Rackley, a fuel cell engineer with over a decade of hands-on experience taking electrochemical hardware from a benchtop idea to field-ready power systems. My work sits at the junction of materials science, thermal design, and control software — the three places where most fuel cells either succeed or quietly fail.
My focus is proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems: stack design, membrane-electrode assembly development, and the electrochemical diagnostics that reveal what a cell is really doing — polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and accelerated stress testing.
I believe the hydrogen economy will be built by people who can both read a Nyquist plot and hold a torque wrench. That combination has shaped every project I've taken on, and it's the lens I bring to consulting, reviews, and speaking engagements.
Expertise
Stack selection, balance-of-plant design, and degradation analysis for stationary and mobile PEM applications — from backup power to heavy-duty transport.
High-temperature SOFC design and testing, including thermal cycling strategy, sealant and interconnect materials, and system integration for distributed generation.
PEM and alkaline electrolyzer performance mapping, efficiency optimization, and the interface between renewable input and hydrogen output.
Polarization characterization, EIS, CV, and cyclic durability protocols that turn raw cell behavior into engineering decisions you can defend.
Experience
Lead engineer for a 250 kW stationary PEM demonstrator; own stack integration, test protocols, and the degradation model used across the program. Mentor a team of five engineers and technicians.
Designed SOFC hot-zone hardware for distributed generation units; introduced impedance-based health monitoring that cut warranty diagnostics time by 60%. Two patents in thermal management.
Ran single-cell and short-stack testing for automotive PEM programs; built the lab's first automated cyclic durability rig and standard test procedures still in use today.
Graduate research focused on electrode aging mechanisms and accelerated stress protocols for automotive duty cycles.
In the lab
Selected publications
Journal of Power Sources, with M. Okafor and T. Lindqvist
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
ECS Meeting Transactions (invited)
Fuel Cells Bulletin, with R. Haddad
Master's thesis
Contact
I'm open to consulting engagements, design reviews, speaking invitations, and thoughtful collaboration. Tell me a little about your project and I'll get back to you within a few working days.