AzRISE Core Team
Dr. Simmons, Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor of Optical sciences at the University of Arizona, received his PhD in Physics from the Catholic University of America in 1969. His research interests run from quantum size effects in the optical properties of semiconductor clusters to nonlinear optical behavior of materials and glasses to optical properties and carrier dynamics in wide-Semiconductors. In his current role as director of AzRISE, he is involved in building teams to bring about innovations in science and technology required for widespread adoption of Solar Energy.
Ardeth M. Barnhart, Co-Director
Ardeth Barnhart serves as Co-Director of AzRISE, evaluating solar energy programs worldwide, assessing economic and policy characteristics, and conducting economic and technical analysis of the available and commercial methods for converting solar energy to heat and electricity. She joined the Institute in 2007, after working in the renewable energy and policy sector from Columbia University. Prior to earning her Master's degree, she spent 15 years in the software and information technology sector developing new technologies for commercial use.
Kelly S. Potter, Director of Education
Kelly Potter is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona. She received her PhD in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona in 1994. Prior to returning to the University, she spent 10 years conducting research at Sandia National Laboratories as a Principal Member of Technical Staff and Program Manager. Her current research interests focus on understanding and manipulating band-structure dynamics in optical materials for space/ionizing-radiation environments, for solar photovoltaic materials, and for linear and non-linear optical devices. In 2008 she joined AzRISE to promote and support solar energy education and to develop innovative educational initiatives.
Joey Pouliot, Outreach Program Manager
Joey Pouliot manages the affiliates program, internship program and all special projects and events for AzRISE. She previously contracted to lead meeting planning efforts for the Arizona Leadership Summit on Solar Energy and Economics, the first Summit of its kind by AzRISE. As past Business Development Manager for ADI Meetings & Incentives and Director of Operations for Virgo Publishing, Joey handled a wide range of responsibilities in program development, organization, relationship-building and strategic creative development.
Associated Faculty
Ben K. Sternberg, Geology for Energy Storage
Ben Sternberg is a Professor of Mining and Geological Engineering and Director of the Laboratory for Advanced Subsurface Imaging at the University of Arizona. His research interests include Electrical & Electromagnetic Geophysics Data Acquisition and Processing; Integration of Geological and Geophysical Data for Mining, Petroleum, Environmental, Water Resource, and Geotechnical applications; Development of New Instrumentation and Novel Techniques for High-Accuracy Measurements, and Imaging/Sensing Applications.
K. Larry Head, Systems Analysis
Larry Head is currently the Department Head and an Associate Professor of Systems and Industrial Engineering at The University of Arizona. His research areas include application of Systems Engineering and Operations Research to the design an operation of dynamic systems including transportation, energy, and health care systems. He is the Chair of the National Academies - Transportation Research Board’s Traffic Signal Systems Committee and a member of INCOSE, INFORMS, IEEE, IIE and ITE.
Neal R. Armstrong, Organic and Hybrid Nanostructured Photovoltaics
Neal Armstrong is Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona. His research interests include from the creation and characterization of new materials for energy conversion, light emission and sensing, and characterization of the critical interfaces in these technologies. He has twice been the recipient of an NSF Award for Special Creativity and was a 2002 recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Prize at the Technical University of Dresden and at the Max Planck Institut für Polymerforschung (MPIP-Mainz). He is the Director of the newly funded DOE Energy Frontier Research Center for Interface Science: Hybrid Solar Electric Materials.
Barrett G. Potter, Jrr.InorganicNanostructured Photovoltaics Barrett Potter received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida in 1991 in the area of quantum dot-based nanocomposite thin films. After working on a dual post-doctoral appointment between the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida’s Center for Electro-optics and Lasers, he joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1992, beginning his tenure there with a 6 month visiting appointment to AT&T Bell Laboratories at Murray Hill, NJ where he worked on rare-earth doped nonoxide glass matrices for optical fiber amplifiers. A Principal Member of the Technical Staff and Manager of the Chemical Synthesis and Nanomaterials Department in the Materials and Process Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories, his interests range from optical materials and ceramics to photovoltaic thin films. He joined the faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona in 2003.
Alexander Cronin, Measurements and PV Characteristics Alex Cronin is an Associate Professor of Physics and Optical Sciences. His research includes atom interferometry, laser spectroscopy, and solar energy. In collaboration with Tucson Electric Power, Cronin is measuring how 25 different grid-tied solar electric (PV) systems perform in Tucson.
Stan Reynolds, Eller Economist