I was a Humboldt Senior Research Awardee and spent time at the Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin in 2018 and 2019. Collaborations have been central to my work and that of NREL. We collaborate with the Helmholtz Center and joint appointments among the three institutions are common.
In a speech I gave at the Humboldt University a few years ago, I proposed a formalized four-way collaborative enterprise on next-generation solar cells, which could serve as a template for other areas. This idea took shape in November 2023 in the form of a workshop attended by about 10-12 people from Colorado and twice as many from HU and the Helmholtz Center (HZB). Following the workshop, a German government official—who had previously met with HZB’s Scientific Director—requested a white paper summarizing our discussions. As a result, HZB was invited to submit a full proposal for 4M euros, including $360K for research exchanges, which began on March 1, 2024. Additionally, I submitted an NSF International Research Experience for Students proposal, funded at $450K, to send 5-7 students each summer to these institutions over three years. Numerous research exchanges have since occurred, and a second workshop at CU-Boulder last November attracted about 20 people from Germany.
I believe these events would not have happened without my time at HU as a Humboldt Senior Research Awardee. I am grateful to the AvH Foundation for enabling me to develop the deep ties that helped facilitate this high-performing network.
