2014 PVSC Young Professional Award Winner
 Dr. Oliver Schultz-Wittmann, Recipient of the 2014 PVSC Young Professional Award |
On behalf of the organizing and program committees of the 40th IEEE PVSC, I am delighted to announce the recipient of this year's award-Dr. Oliver Schultz-Wittmann. He is recognized for his outstanding achievements in the development of silicon solar cells, including the current world-record multicrystalline cell (20.4%) and high-efficiency, low-cost crystalline cells developed for commercialization by a recently-acquired start-up company.
Dr. Oliver Schultz-Wittmann started his work in the PV field in 1998 helping with rooftop installations while studying Physics at the University of Hamburg, Germany, where he received his diploma in Physics in 2001. His graduate thesis topic was the manufacturing and characterization of selective emitter structures on crystalline silicon solar cells in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany. In 2002, he began his doctoral thesis on high-efficiency multicrystalline silicon solar cells at Fraunhofer ISE. The highlight of his work was demonstrating cells made from this material with conversion efficiencies greater than 20%, a record that still stands today. Oliver worked with industrial partners on several high-efficiency concepts, including laser-grooved buried contact cells and interdigitated back contact structures, before leading the high-efficiency cell group from 2007-2008. In 2009, Oliver co-founded the Silicon Valley start-up company TetraSun which was acquired by First Solar in 2013 for their launch of crystalline silicon solar cell production. He has five issued patents and is an active peer-reviewer for several journal publications and the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Oliver received the Solar World Junior Einstein Award in 2006 and is a co-awardee of the R&D 100 award of 2013.
Congratulations, Dr. Schultz-Wittmann!
Kyle Montgomery
Awards Chair, PVSC-40
University of California, Davis
Nomination Deadline: January 31, 2014 (nominations are closed)
About the Award
The PVSC Young Professional Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the science and technology of photovoltaic energy conversion, including work on PV materials, devices, modules, and/or systems. The award recipient must also show significant promise as a leader in the field. An award is given annually at the PVSC (not World Conferences). The inaugural award will be presented at PVSC 40 in 2014!
Award Package
The award consists of a $1000 monetary award, plaque, and recognition at the PVSC Opening Ceremony. In addition, the awardee will give an honorary 30-minute talk during a regular session of the conference, in conjunction with his/her respective technical area.
Rules & Eligibility
- Nominee must be a young scientist or engineer who has made significant contributions to photovoltaic energy conversion, including work on PV materials, devices, modules, and/or systems.
- Nominee must have received their first post-secondary degree (Bachelor’s level) within the past 15 years, relative to the nomination deadline (January 31).
- Nominees are not required to be members of IEEE or EDS.
- Nominees from any country and institution are eligible.
- Nominees are expected to have prior contributions to the PVSC.
- Previous recipients of the Young Professional Award are not eligible.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
- Nominations will not automatically roll over to subsequent years, but nominators are allowed to resubmit nominations, provided the nominee is still eligible. Supplements to the original nomination are allowed, and should reflect the nominee’s latest work.
- Members of the awards subcommittee in charge of selection are eligible to be nominated, but would recuse themselves of subcommittee duties if they are nominated.
- The award must be received by the winner in person at the PVSC; no award will be made in absentia, except under extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the conference chair.
Nomination Package Requirements
- Completed and Signed Nomination Summary Form (2 pages)
- Nominator Statement (2 page limit) supporting the nominee’s suitability for the award with respect to:
- innovative and creative nature of the nominee’s work
- significance of the nominee’s work with respect to the broader PV community
- previous contributions to the PVSC
- potential shown as a future leader in the PV community
- Nominee Curriculum vitae (2 page limit)
- List of nominee’s key publications and patents (1 page limit)
- Up to 3 letters of endorsement from individuals familiar with the nominee’s qualifications and area of research. Each letter may be up to 1 page long and should make reference to specific qualifications that make the nominee best-suited for the award. Each letter should be on letterhead and include the signature of the endorser.
- Entire nomination package should be assembled as a single PDF document (10 pages, maximum) in the following order:
- Nomination Summary Form (2 pages)
- Nominator Statement (2 page limit)
- Curriculum Vitae (2 page limit)
- List of nominee’s key publications, patents, and/or other technical literature (1 page limit)
- Letters of support (up to 3, each letter 1 page limit)
Questions? Contact the Awards Chair [email protected]