Photovoltaics Pioneer and NREL Alumna Sarah Kurtz Honored by National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Kurtz spent more than 30 years at NREL helping to build and further bolster the laboratory’s reputation as a leader in photovoltaics. Starting her career as a postdoc in 1985 at the Solar Energy Research Institute, which became NREL six years later, Dr. Kurtz’s research focused largely on the fields of multijunction photovoltaics, concentrator PV, and PV reliability.
While at NREL, Dr. Kurtz played an integral role in spearheading research on how to grow high-quality solar cells, measuring multijunction cells, and evaluating how their performance is affected under various wavelengths of light. Multijunction solar cells convert sunlight to electricity at the highest efficiencies of any type of solar cell and have proven critical for space- and weight-limited applications, such as powering satellites.
Dr. Kurtz also mentored hundreds of students and researchers, helping to share her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of solar innovators. Dr. Kurtz moved from NREL in 2017 to join the faculty of University of California, Merced.
“Few have made as large a global impact on solar energy R&D as Sarah,” said Bill Tumas, NREL Associate Laboratory Director for Materials and Chemical Science and Technology. “Her contributions span a very wide range including developing high-efficiency multijunction photovoltaics, creating the science and standards for PV reliability, and providing thought leadership on all almost every aspect of solar energy from fundamental photovoltaics to broad-scale deployment and integration.”
While Dr. Kurtz now resides in California, she remains a part time NREL employee and continues to support NREL through participation in multiple projects including the development of international standards. She is very pleased to make connections between work at NREL and in California—both leading toward a world run on renewable energy.
“I very much appreciate the privilege to work at NREL for so many years,” Dr. Kurtz said. “NREL, with funding from the Department of Energy, provided me critical resources and the opportunity to work with many gifted people. Together, we can build a better world.”
The NAE is part of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions that can be accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature and to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.
Election of new NAE members is the culmination of a yearlong process. The ballot is set in December and the final vote for membership occurs during January.
Dr. Kurtz also holds six patents and has authored or co-authored more than 300 publications and conference proceedings.
For more information about Dr. Kurtz, visit https://www.nrel.gov/research/sarah-kurtz.html. To learn more about National Academy of Engineering, visit https://www.nae.edu/.