Brent Nelson

Brent spent most of his career studying second-generation photovoltaic (PV) devices; primarily hydrogenated amorphous silicon and its alloys at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He has worn many hats through his carrier and worked his way up from laboratory technician to staff scientist to leading the amorphous silicon team. Brent has authored 18 publications and numerous internal documents as well as co-authored an additional 77 other scientific publications. Brent referees papers for numerous journals and conferences. With more than 500 citations for his research, and having given dozens of scientific talks, Brent's work is well recognized in the amorphous silicon PV field.

Currently Brent manages a laboratory designed to integrate as many of the PV technologies and material characterization techniques as possible. The ultimate goal is to get the appropriate skill sets, working together with state-of-the-art equipment, to answer the most pressing PV-related questions. The operation of this facility, known as the process development and integration lab (PDIL) requires integrated hardware, software and "peopleware". It is one of NREL's most visible
laboratories.

Brent is also well known within the PV community for his expertise in safety practices in working with hazardous production materials (HPMs) and has chaired the HPM safety panel at NREL for over a decade. He has been on the organizing committee for six international scientific conferences, including a joint conference of the premier United States, Asian and European PV communities. Brent also volunteers with the NREL education office on promoting renewable energy in the classroom and is on the advisory board for the development of a renewable energy class at a local high school. He has given talks on the bigger energy picture to numerous community and industrial groups.

NREL is the premier laboratory dedicated to renewable energy within the Department of Energy's National Laboratory system: http://www.nrel.gov/html