This award is presented at each IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. The recipient is selected by the William R. Cherry Committee, which is composed of past PVSC conference chairpersons and past recipients of the award. Those nominated for the award do not participate in the process.

To be eligible for the award, the nominee must currently be active in the science and technology of PV conversion. He/she must have been active in the field for an extended period with the expectation of continued activity. Short-term activities in the field, and/or single outstanding contributions are not sufficient to make a person eligible for the award.

Dr. Jerry Olson is currently a Principal Scientist in the III-V Materials and Devices Group of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He has contributed to the invention of several GaInP/GaAs single and multijunction photovoltaic devices. These devices are now being produced by numerous companies for space power and terrestrial photovoltaic systems. He has also invented several novel processes for purifying silicon.

Jerry Olson received his PhD in physics from the University of Utah in 1977 and spent a year as a post doc at the Materials Research Center, Northwestern University. He then moved to the Solar Energy Research Institute (now NREL) in Golden, Colorado in 1978. From 1978 to 1983 he was the leader of the Silicon Materials Group where he invented several efficient, low-cost processes for purifying metallurgical-grade Si, one of which has recently been implemented on a large scale by a silicon solar cell company. In 1983 he became the leader of the III-V Materials and Devices Group and in 1984 invented the GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell. The further development and refinement of this solar cell was the main project for the NREL III-V team for the next 20 years.  During that time, the team patented several other single and multijunction solar cells, transferred the technology to industry, set several world record efficiencies and garnered numerous awards, including two R&D 100 Awards in 1990 and 2001, a Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Technology Transfer in 1997, the IEEE Electrotechnology Transfer Award in 1998 and the Dan David Prize in 2007. Devices based on the original GaInP/GaAs solar cell are now being produced by companies around the world for space power and concentrator photovoltaic systems.

Nominations are due to the Cherry Award Chair by January 10 of each year.  A nomination will remain active for 3 award cycles, after which a new nomination may be submitted.

To make a nomination, please submit a completed electronic nomination form and accompanying materials at: (http://www.ieee-pvsc.org/ePVSC/cherry/form.php).  The information required on the electronic form is listed below:

1.     The name of your nominee, and his/her current affiliation and contact information.
2.     A rationale (less than 150 words) of the nominee's contributions to the advancement of the PV field. 
3.     A citation (less that 40 words) listing the nominee's specific contributions to make them deserving of the award.
4.     A list of the nominee's activities in the field.
5.     A current CV for the nominee.
6.     Nominator's name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

The deadline for Cherry Award nominations to be considered for the 37th IEEE PVSC is January 10, 2011.

WILLIAM R. CHERRY COMMITTEE