Center for Next Generation Photovoltaics

Sirish Kamarajugadda, Lockheed Martin

Education:

• B.S., Aerospace Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2015

Research interests:

• Fabricating efficient low cost processed thin film photovoltaics

• Applications of solar technology for in-space propulsion systems

Jason Kephart, First Solar

Education:

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering and Business Economics & Management, California Institute of Technology, 2008

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2011

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2015

Research Interests:

• Measurement and optimization of the front contact in CdTe thin film solar cells

Pavel (Paul) Kobyakov, Broadcom, Inc.

Education:

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Syracuse University, 2006

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2009

• Ph.D., Mechnical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2014

Research Interests:

• Processing and characterization of semiconductor devices

• Thin-film photovoltaics   

Amit H. Munshi, Colorado State University (Research Scientist)

Education:

• B.S., Automobile Engineering, S. P. University (India), 2009

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2013

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2016

Research Interests:

• Microscopic Characterization of Materials

• Studying relationship between thin film structure and device performance

Doug Pernik, Samsara

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2012

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2016

Research interests:

• Improvements in thin film photovoltaics with an aim towards commercialization.

Tushar Shimpi, Colorado State University (Postdoctoral Researcher)

Education:

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2005

• PhD., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2018

Research Interests:

• Application of graphene electrodes in solar cells

Drew Swanson, Arizona State University (Postdoctoral Fellow)

Education:

• M.S., Colorado State University, 2012

• Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2016

Research Interests:

• CdTe photovoltaic cell research, specifically the development of an electron reflector to improve cell efficiency.

Cherrelle Thomas, Sandia National Laboratories

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Howard University, 2013

• Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, 2018

Research interests:

• Understanding CuInSe2 and CuInGaSe2 nanocrystals for improvements in thin film photovoltaic devices.

Chet Steinhagen, First Solar

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, High Distinction, University of Minnesota, 2006

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2013

Research interests:

• Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystals, nanowires, and nanorods

• Alternative absorber materials for solar cells

Vahid Akhavan, Novacentrix

Education:

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, 2011

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, 2005

Research interests:

• Synthesis and characterization of optically active films through solution processable techniques

• Fabrication and analysis of optical devices that are produced through such low cost methods

Taylor Harvey, Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, 2006

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014

Research interests:

• Development and commercialization of nanocrystal solar devices.

Jackson Stolle, Southwest Research Institute

Education:

• B.S., Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, 2010

• M.S., Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2013

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2015

Research interests:

• A focus on using semiconductor nanocrystal "solar inks" and low-temperature processing to fabricate inexpensive, highly-efficient solar cells.

Russell Geisthardt, Keysight Technologies

Education:

• B.A., Lawrence University, 2008

• M.S., Colorado State University, 2011

• Ph.D., Physics, Colorado State University, 2014

Research Interests:

• Thin-film photovoltaics: device and uniformity characterization, efficiency and loss analysis

Tim Siegler, The University of Texas at Austin (Research Engineering/Scientist Associate)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2014

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2019

Research Interests:

• CIGS Solar Cells

• Optical Properties of Absorbing Semiconductors

Jen Drayton, Colorado State University (Research Associate)

Education:

• Ph.D., Physics, University of Toledo, 2005

Research interests:

• Developing and characterizing back contacts for CdTe devices

Students and Research Associates

Research Team

Alumni

Ty Updegrave, Plant Process Equipment, Inc.

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2017

Research interests:

• Photovoltaic design and improvement

Andrew Heilman, Panasonic Energy of North America

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2018

Research interests:

• Supercritical fluid-liquid-solid synthesis method of germanium nanowires

Carey Reich, Colorado State University (Graduate Researcher) 

Education:

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2017

Research Interests:

• Development of a CdTe based wide bandgap topcell for application in tandem photovoltaics

Robert Barron, Western New England University

Education:

• B.S., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2006

• M.S., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2013

• Ph.D., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2015

Research interests:

• Technological Change: Mechanisms and modeling of technological change, effect of technological change on optimal climate policy.

Leslie Fillip, BASF

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2017

Research interests:

• Development and commercialization of inexpensive, nanocrystal solar devices

Abbas Ghandi, IHS Markit

Education:

• M.A., Economics, UC Davis, 2006

• Ph.D., Transportation Technology & Policy, UC Davis, 2013

Research interests:

• Geopolitics of energy, risk and rate of return analysis

Michael Abney, The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2011

Research interests:

• Properties and Applications of Perovskite Nanomaterials

Yangning Zhang, The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, 2016

Research interests:

• Synthesis, self-assembly and applications of perovskite nanocrystals

Aida Torabi, Texas A&M University Central Texas (Postdoctoral Research Associate)

Education:

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2016

Research interests:

• Perovskite solar cells, enhancing efficiency, reducing cost and reproducibility.

Bobi Simonsen, ExxonMobil Chemical Company

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2018

Research Interests:

• Improving inexpensive, nanocrystal photovoltaics for commercialization

Vikas Reddy Voggu, Intel Corporation

Education:

• B.Tech, Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, 2013

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2017

Research Interests:

• Development of Highly Inexpensive Nanocrystal Solar cells

• Self assembly of nanocrystals

Simmi Nandu, Capital One

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, UT Austin, 2018

Research interests:

• Synthesis of CISe nanocrystal inks for photovoltaic devices

Omar Aly, The University of Texas at Austin (Undergraduate Researcher)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2020 (anticipated)

Research interests:

• ​

Randalynn Greene, The University of Texas at Austin (Undergraduate Researcher)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2019 (anticipated)

Research interests:

• ​

Christina Moffett, First Solar

Education:

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2018

Research Interests:

• Development and material characterization of the back contact in CdTe thin film solar cells. 

Wen Liu, The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2017

Research interests:

• Development of Flexible Nanocrystal Solar Cells

Davis Hemenway, Harris Corporation

Education:

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2011

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2013

Research interests:

• Using CFD to analyze and optimize the manufacturing of CdTe solar cells

• Understanding the growth mechanisms of thin films

John Raguse, Broadcom, Inc.

Education:

• B.S. Physics, 2009 from Michigan State University

• M.S. Physics, 2011 from Colorado State University

• Ph.D. Physics, 2015 from Colorado State University

Research Interests:

• Characterization of thin-film solar cells

• Electroluminescence imaging of solar cells and modules

Claudia Beck, Texas A&M University Central Texas (Postdoctoral Research Associate)

Education:

• ​

Research interests:

• ​

Dan Houck, UbiQD

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2014

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2019

Research interests:

• Developing high efficiency photovoltaic devices using CIS nanocrystal inks

Mokshin Suri, Cornell University (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2019

Research Interests:

• Fabrication and analysis of perovskite solar cells

Gabriel Cossio, The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.S., Physics, University of Texas at Austin, 2014

Research interests:

• Light management for optoelectronic devices

Phillip Boltan, The University of Texas at Austin (Undergraduate Researcher)

Education:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2022 (anticipated)

Research interests:

• ​

Pascal Jundt, Colorado State University (Ph.D. Candidate)

Education:

• B.A., Physics, Clark University, 2013

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University, 2015

• M.S., Physics, Colorado State University, 2017

Research interests:

• Spectroscopy of thin-film photovoltaic devices

• Enhancements of thin CdTe solar cell device structure