Dr. Michael D. Kempe is a senior scientist and studies the factors that affect the longevity of PV cells and modules. His work concerns primarily modeling and measuring moisture ingress into PV modules and studying the effect of moisture on polymer adhesion, device performance, and component corrosion. His work also includes the development of a technique for measuring the moisture permeation rates in films at levels around 10^-6 g/m²/day and the evaluation of edge seal materials. He is also studying the effects of ultraviolet radiation and heat on the mechanical, chemical, and electrical stability of PV packaging components. This effort is tied into creating qualification tests that accurately assess safety and are predict long-term durability.