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Learn more about the expertise and technical skills of NREL's concentrating solar power research team and staff by reading our short biographies:
 Mark Bernardi—Student Intern
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado
Mark joined NREL in the summer of 2007 and immediately began work on the laser target in the optics lab at Joyce Street Facility. Mark primarily works on the design and fabrication of laboratory equipment to facilitate the testing and development of various products from the CSP industry. He has produced parts for the trough-efficiency tests, the Heat Collector Element lab, the high-flux solar furnace, and the ultraviolet concentrator. Currently, he is working on a portable laser target for field testing parabolic trough arrays.
Contact information: mark.bernardi@nrel.gov, 303-384-6144
 Carl Bingham—Staff Engineer
B.A. History of Science, University of Kansas
Carl joined the NREL staff in 1977. He has been the primary operator of the High-Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF) at NREL's Concentrated Solar Radiation User Facility since 1989. His primary areas of expertise are measurement systems, and data acquisition and control. Major current projects include dissociation of methane and Zinc Oxide and testing of concentrated photovoltaic (PV) cells. Since 1998, he has conducted concentrated UV testing on a dish designed and constructed under the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention.
Carl also has worked at NREL as an engineer in the systems analysis and buildings programs. Before joining NREL, he spent three years at the Midwest Research Institute in the Energy Analysis section. Carl has four patents and has written several journal articles and conference papers about renewable energy applications. He is a past chairman of the Solar Energy Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Contact information: carl.bingham@nrel.gov, 303-384-7477
 Nate Blair—Senior Analyst
M.B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Solar Energy Laboratory
B.A. Physics, Gustavus Adolphus College
Read Nate's biography on NREL's Energy Analysis Office Web site.
Contact information: nate.blair@nrel.gov, 303-384-7426
 Dan Blake—Principal Scientist
Ph.D. Chemistry, Washington State University
B.S. Chemistry, Colorado State University
NREL hired Dan in 1986. His areas of expertise include inorganic, photo, environmental, and materials chemistry; process development; and renewable resources and energy. Since 1986, Dan has had projects on destruction of hazardous chemicals and microorganisms, new heat transfer fluids, materials for solar hydrogen production reactors, chemistry in liquid desiccant systems, and development of catalytic processes for renewable energy and environmental applications. He has been awarded two U.S. patents—one for metal oxide production and another on a photocatalytic reactor design—and has two patents pending on air cleaning systems. He has published more than 70 papers and book chapters. And he has made over 100 presentations at conferences, symposia, and professional meetings.
Prior to joining NREL, Dan worked as a senior scientist and chemical process development group manager for ARCO Metals Company. He also was a professor of chemistry at The University of Texas at Arlington.
Contact information: daniel.blake@nrel.gov, 303-384-7882
 Frank Burkholder—Mechanical Engineer II
Ph.D. candidate, University of Colorado-Boulder
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, California
Professional Engineer, California
Frank started working with the CSP group in July of 2006 as part of a research agreement between the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU-Boulder) and NREL. He is presently investigating parabolic trough collector and receiver performance.
Frank had some solar engineering experience before joining NREL. As an engineering team lead at CU-Boulder, he modeled the electric and thermal performance of CU-Boulder's award-winning entry to the 2005 Solar Decathlon. His master's thesis explored the feasibility of a concentrated-sunlight daylighting system using the simulation program TRNSYS. Before that, he helped Namibian families install photovoltaic systems and solar ovens while working as a Peace Corps math and science teacher. He earned his professional engineering license as an accident reconstruction consultant in San Carlos, California.
Contact information: frank.burkholder@nrel.gov, 303-384-7564
 Keith Gawlik—Senior Engineer
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder
B.S. and M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keith joined NREL in 1992, and his work has included the following: experimental and numerical analysis of the fluid-flow and heat-transfer performance of transpired solar air heaters, geothermal binary-cycle power plants, enhanced heat-transfer surfaces, corrosion-barrier polymer coatings, heat sinks for electronics modules, photocatalytic oxidizers, polymer heat exchangers, natural convection cooling towers, solar domestic hot-water systems, building HVAC systems, and hydrogen venting systems. His work in the CSP program is in optical-efficiency testing of parabolic trough systems. He has received R&D100 and Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer awards related to his work on polymer coatings. He is co-inventor on one patent related to the transpired collector, one on an enhanced heat-transfer surface, and two on chemical application systems—the latter two from his experience as a mechanical engineer at a company designing and manufacturing water-analysis equipment.
Contact information: keith.gawlik@nrel.gov, 303-384-7515
 Greg Glatzmaier—Senior Engineer II
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado
B.A. Chemistry, St. Johns University
Greg originally joined NREL in 1987 and worked in the Solar Thermal Program until 1997. During this time, he demonstrated a new concentrating solar technology and initiated a multi-year collaboration with Coors Ceramics Company to develop a high-temperature materials synthesis process. He received three patents for this work.
From 1997 to 2007, Greg operated an R&D small business in which he developed fluid compressor designs and feedback control mechanisms for space applications. This work was funded with several R&D grants from NASA and the U.S. Air Force. He received one patent for this work.
In 2007, Greg rejoined NREL and the CSP team to work on systems analysis, novel heat-transfer fluids, and thermal-storage concepts for concentrating solar power technologies. He currently manages the advanced heat-transfer fluids and thermal-storage work at NREL.
Contact information: greg.glatzmaier@nrel.gov, 303-384-7470
 Allison Gray—Engineer I
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Allison joined NREL in 2008, working as an engineer in the Concentrating Solar Power group. Before working at NREL, Allison worked on concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies for 4 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her work there included investigating system performance and reliability, data acquisition, and solar resource studies. Her Master's thesis focused on improving the passive cooling system of a high concentrating photovoltaic system using a numerical model and experimental data.
Contact information: allison.gray@nrel.gov, 303-384-7405
 Gary Jorgensen—Senior Scientist II
M.S. Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
B.S. Physics, Seton Hall University
Gary joined NREL in 1978, working as a scientist in the Materials Branch. After a short hiatus away from the Lab in the mid-1980s when he developed electro-optical systems in the private sector, Gary returned to NREL, working within the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) program. His primary focus for over a decade was developing and testing optical materials, especially reflector materials. In the late-1990s, Gary shifted from CSP into photovoltaics (PV), concentrating on durability testing of packaging materials for PV modules. In parallel with this work, he also investigated the reliability of polymeric glazings and absorbers for lower-cost solar domestic hot-water systems. In 2008, Gary returned to CSP and focuses on partnering with industry to develop materials and support durability testing; providing optical modeling of advanced CSP systems; and developing new characterization tools to determine optical performance. Gary has published almost 150 papers, reports, and key presentations, and holds seven patents, with two others currently pending.
Contact information: gary.jorgensen@nrel.gov, 303-384-6113
 Cheryl Kennedy—Senior Scientist I
M.S. Material Science, Colorado School of Mines
B.S. Chemistry, Mary Washington
B.A. Physics, University of Colorado at Denver
NREL hired Cheryl in 1987. She has led the Advanced Materials Team at NREL since 2003. The team develops advanced reflector and absorber materials for use in low-cost, high-performance, and high-reliability systems that use concentrated sunlight to generate power, with an emphasis on large multi-megawatt parabolic trough systems and smaller kilowatt-scale concentrating photovoltaic systems. The team collaborates with solar manufacturers and interacts with the coatings industry.
Cheryl's technical skills include testing and analyzing the performance and durability of optical materials, accelerated testing equipment capabilities, thin-film optical modeling, and thin-film deposition of reflective and barrier coatings. She has received two patents: one in 1990 for Durable Metallized Polymer Mirror, and another in 1993 for Organized Molecular Assemblies as Protective Encapsulants and Adhesion Promoting Interlayers for Solar Reflector Applications.
Contact information: cheryl.kennedy@nrel.gov, 303-384-6272
 Chuck Kutscher—Principal Engineer/Group Manager
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado-Boulder
M.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S. Physics, State University of New York at Albany
Chuck joined NREL in 1978 and is a Principal Engineer and Group Manager of the Thermal Systems Group in the Center for Electricity, Resources, and Building Systems Integration. His projects have included the design and construction of a solar cooling test laboratory; production of NREL's solar industrial process heat design handbook; modeling of advanced power cycles and cooling systems for geothermal power plants; and development of transpired solar air collectors, which won an R&D 100 Award and a Popular Science "Best of What's New" award. He currently leads NREL's parabolic trough R&D activities. He served as Chair of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) during 2000–2001 and was General Chair of the SOLAR 2006 national solar energy conference. He is editor of the 200-page ASES report, Tackling Climate Change in the U.S., and writes a monthly column on climate change for SOLAR TODAY magazine. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he recently developed and taught a course entitled, "Climate Change Solutions." He received the 2006 Charles Greeley Abbot Award, the highest honor given by ASES, for "outstanding contributions in the research and development of solar thermal technologies." He recently received the 2008 Colorado Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Individual Award. He has published more than 70 papers and chapters in several books and has served as an Associate Editor for the journal Solar Energy.
Contact information: chuck.kutscher@nrel.gov, 303-384-7521
 Mark Mehos—Principal Program Manager
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado
Mark has been with NREL since 1986. He has led the High Temperature Solar Thermal Team at NREL since 1998 and has managed the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Program since 2001. The emphasis of NREL's High Temperature Solar Thermal Team is the development of low-cost, high-performance, and high-reliability systems that use concentrated sunlight to generate power, with an emphasis on large multi-megawatt parabolic trough systems and kilowatt-scale concentrating photovoltaic systems. He currently is a participating member of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's Concentrating Solar Power Task Force as well as the Solar Task Force for the Western Governors' Association Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative. In addition to managing the CSP program, he has managed and performed technical work within NREL's advanced optical materials, solar photocatalysis, and dish/Stirling research and development activities.
Contact information: mark.mehos@nrel.gov, 303-384-7458
 Luc Moens—Senior Scientist
Ph.D. Organic Synthetic Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara
B.S. Agrochemical Engineering, State University of Gent, Belgium
NREL hired Luc in 1989. His concentrating solar power research currently involves the development of new, extremely stable thermal fluids for use in storage of solar heat in parabolic trough systems for electricity production.
Luc's other work at NREL includes the development of synthetic organic chemistry relating to the chemical conversion of renewable lignocellulosic biomass into new chemical building blocks for the chemical industry. For this work, he became one of the recipients of the Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 1998. Luc was also instrumental in the development of a new purification method for caprolactam from nylon-6 controlled pyrolysis technology developed at NREL. During the last few years, he has been exploring the use of ionic liquids as new reaction media for use in the processing of lignocellulosic biomass, which resulted in the receipt of the Battelle 2001 Science and Technology Challenge Award. His interests expand into the development of advanced and alternative solvent media for chemical processing, with applications in lignocellulosic biorefinery R&D, the synthesis of nanomaterials and nanocatalysts, and in the synthesis of organic building blocks used in organic photovoltaic cells. He is also actively involved in the chemical R&D relating to biodiesel quality and stability.
Contact information: luc.moens@nrel.gov, 303-384-6265
 Judy C. Netter—Mechanical Engineer II
B.S. Engineering Technology, St. Cloud State University
Judy joined the NREL staff in 1994. Her primary work involves the design, fabrication, and modification of prototype experimental equipment and their programs and controls. Over the years, she has conducted countless tests, including those involving solar collectors/concentrators, the condensation of mixed working fluids for geothermal technology, photocatalysis, and building technologies.
Judy also conducts lifetime durability testing of electrochromic windows, thin films, photovoltaic cells, and polymers. This includes the design and fabrication of multiple accelerated weathering chambers for use at NREL's High-Flux Solar Furnace when testing the degradation of polymer coatings. Prior to joining NREL, she was involved with installing and programming building automation, FLS, and security systems.
Contact information: judy.netter@nrel.gov, 303-384-6258
 Marc Oddo—Research Technician
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (expected graduation, 2011)
In 2007, Marc joined NREL, where he has worked on the Advanced Materials team. That team's primary objective has been to develop advanced reflector and absorber materials for low-cost, high-performance, and high-reliability systems using concentrated sunlight to generate power. Particular emphasis is on large multi-megawatt parabolic trough systems and smaller kilowatt-scale concentrating photovoltaic systems. NREL's Advanced Materials team directs the trough collaborative efforts with solar manufacturers and interacts with the coatings industry. Marc's technical skills include testing and analyzing the performance and durability of optical materials and supporting accelerated testing equipment capabilities.
Contact information: marc.oddo@nrel.gov, 303-384-7697
 Teri Spinuzzi—Administrative Assistant
Teri joined the NREL staff in August of 1995. She currently provides administrative support to the Thermal Systems Group within NREL's Center for Buildings and Thermal Systems. Prior to joining the Thermal Systems Group, she provided administrative support to the Employment Team in Human Resources, the Deployment Programs Office and the Technology Transfer Office.
Before coming to NREL, Teri spent many years at the rocky flats plant providing administrative support to various departments, such as Human Resources, Information Services and Industrial Hygiene.
Contact information: teri.spinuzzi@nrel.gov, 303-384-7425
 Kathleen Stynes—Graduate Student
Ph.D. candidate, University of Colorado-Boulder
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana
Kathleen began working at NREL in June of 2007 after moving to Colorado to begin graduate studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. At NREL, Kathleen has been involved in developing the optical-efficiency test loop for parabolic troughs at the Solar Industrial Mesa Test Area (SIMTA). She developed the data acquisition and control system to operate the test loop and has participated in testing parabolic troughs provided by industry. Recently, Kathleen has become involved in the Distant Observer project.
Contact information: Kathleen.Stynes@nrel.gov, 303-384-7442
 Craig S. Turchi—Senior Engineer II
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Craig originally joined NREL in 1990 working in the Solar Industrial Program on the detoxification of hazardous waste with solar ultraviolet light. He returned to NREL in 2008 after spending 10 years as a principal investigator and program leader with ADA Technologies, a technology development company in Littleton, CO. While at ADA, Craig served as a principal investigator for projects with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, DOE, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), as well as several private companies. As part of NREL's CSP team, Craig is assisting with system analysis and the development and assessment of heat-transfer fluids and thermal-storage concepts. Craig is the task leader for the CSP Program's Market Transformation activities, which includes technology-enabling issues such as solar resource assessment, cost estimation, land use, and grid integration/transmission.
Contact information: craig.turchi@nrel.gov, 303-384-7565
 Michael Wagner–Engineer I
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Mike joined the Concentrating Solar Power group at NREL in 2009. His work in the group primarily involves developing simulation capabilities for power-plant modeling. To improve the CSP knowledge base, he is exploring both general technology assessment tools and detailed, plant-specific models. His other activities include active involvement in developing the Solar Advisor Model (SAM) software. Before joining NREL, Mike's research for his Masters degree involved working in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Solar Energy Lab to produce simulation tools for solar power tower technology. He developed an optimization/design tool and detailed, transient system-component models.
Contact information: michael.wagner@nrel.gov, 303-384-7430
 Tim Wendelin—Senior Engineer II
M.S. Physics, Colorado School of Mines
B.S. Physics Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Tim began work at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) as a student intern in 1981. He worked primarily on thermoelectric devices within the Materials Research group. Ultimately he became involved with thin-film research as applied to reflective surfaces. It was in this field that he completed his graduate thesis. Tim accepted a permanent position at SERI in 1984 working in the Thermal Systems group and has become an expert in optical/thermal modeling and testing of concentrating solar power optical systems. He has authored or coauthored numerous papers on various aspects of concentrating solar power (CSP) technology and holds three patents and two software copyrights. He has developed a variety of optical and thermal test instruments that characterize the performance of various solar concentrator designs. In addition to instrumentation design, he also developed an optical modeling code filling a gap in the tool set used by industry to design solar concentrating systems. These instruments and the optical modeling tool have been used extensively both at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL, formerly SERI) and by industry to further the deployment and operation of CSP technology. Currently Tim has responsibility for optical technology development and optical testing of solar concentrating systems at NREL and spends considerable time working with and supporting the CSP industry in these areas.
Contact information: tim.wendelin@nrel.gov, 303-384-7475
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