Faculty and Staff | Institute of Energy Conversion

Faculty, Staff and Students

The Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) is led by Director William Shafarman, professor of materials science and engineering. The institute’s research focuses on making large-scale terrestrial power that is scalable, affordable and more reliable. Toward these goals, IEC is closely aligned with manufacturing companies, and the institute’s research projects have targeted manufacturing approaches. IEC is staffed by experienced professionals dedicated to serving the needs of our users.

Photo Courtesy of NASA

Meet our staff

The Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) is a multi-disciplinary laboratory devoted to research and development of thin film photovoltaic cells and is one of the few laboratories in the world with expertise in Si, CdTe, CuInSe2, and Perovskite based solar cells. Throughout its history, IEC has established collaborative efforts with many industry and university groups, both nationally and internationally, working on the development of thin film photovoltaics. IEC has worked with over 50 companies. Recently, IEC has expanded its research to study integration of photovoltaics into the electrical grid.

Probably one of the most important contributions IEC has made to the photovoltaic community is providing a training ground for people who have made important contributions to the photovoltaic technology. More than 120 students have received advanced degrees while performing their research at IEC, along with numerous post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars.

Over the years, the Institute has had a parade of colorful and extremely talented people, all of whom cared very much about what they were doing and were truly committed to the research in, and improvement of, solar technology.

Faculty, Professional and Support Staff

William N. Shafarman, PhD

Director, Institute of Energy Conversion

Email: wns@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-6215
Education: Ph.D. (Physics) – University of Rochester

William Shafarman is the IEC Director and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Research focus on thin film deposition, the fabrication and analysis of polycrystalline thin film photovoltaics, and their application in thin film solar cells and related optoelectronic applications.

Ujjwal K. Das, PhD

Senior Scientist

Email: ukdas@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-3523
Education: Ph.D. (Physics) – Jadavpur University, India

Ujjwal Das has a Ph.D. from Indian Association for the cultivation of Science, Jadavpur University, India. Current research focus on bulk and surface defect passivation for crystalline Si solar cells, thin film polycrystalline CdTe solar cells, and development of alternative processes for thin film perovskite solar cells.

Kevin Dobson, PhD

Senior Scientist

Email: kdobson@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-6260
Education: Ph.D (Chemistry) – University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Kevin Dobson has worked in photovoltaic research for over 23 years, studying a wide range materials, including cadmium telluride, crystalline silicon, copper indium gallium diselenide, and organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite thin films, with emphasis on chemical process related to material and device processing and stability.

Shannon L. Fields, B.M.E.

Research Engineer & Laboratory Manager

Email: sf@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-6115
Education: B.M.E. (Mechanical Engineering) – University of Delaware

Shannon Fields is a Professional Engineer with degrees in physics and mechanical engineering. He has over 30 years’ experience in the design, engineering, and operation of advanced processes for thin film deposition and solar cell fabrication.

Steve Hegedus, PhD

Senior Scientist

Email: ssh@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-6253
Education: Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer Engineering) – University of Delaware

Steve Hegedus has nearly 40 years of R&D on solar cell materials and devices and is working to promote PV integration onto the nation’s electric grid. To accomplish this, his work is focused on overall grid modernization at the local distribution level using microgrid simulation, power conversion hardware studies, and policy recommendations.

Brian E. McCandless

Scientist Emeritus

Email: bem@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-3523
Education: B.S. (Astronomy) – University of Maryland at College Park

Brian McCandless’s research centers on polycrystalline, thin film and single crystal compound semiconductors for photovoltaics: Synthesis; thermodynamic properties; point and crystallographic defect control; doping; passivation; device integration.

Sherry Stewart

Administrative Assistant III

Email: stewarts@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-6200

Ciris

Postdoc
University: Ömer Halisdemir University
Email: aliciris@udel.edu
Education: Ph.D. (Renewable Energy Sources/Technologies)- Karadeniz Technical University

The institute of energy conversion current Students

Since its inception in 1972, the IEC has always played a major role in research and development of photovoltaic solar cells and photonic devices. As a designated University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education, the IEC supervises graduate students and their work in conjunction with the departments of Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Fernando Bustos

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: luisbm@udel.edu

Pradipta Roy Dip

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Email: prdip@udel.edu

Khalei Dewberry

Student: Undergraduate
College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Email: khaldew@udel.edu

Bin Du

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Email: bdu@udel.edu

Tasha Kaewnukultorn

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: thuncha@udel.edu

Tasnim Kamal Mouri

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Email: tasnim@udel.edu

Gbenga Obikoya

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: obikoya@udel.edu

Chaiwarut Santiwipharat

Student: Graduate
College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Email: chsanti@udel.edu

Abigail Sicher

Student: Undergraduate
College: Engineering
Department: Material Science and Engineering
Email: alsicher@udel.edu

Maggie Zeile

Student: Graduate
College: Arts and Sciences
Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Email: mzeile@udel.edu

Energy Conversion