Yet-Ming Chiang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Title: Advances in Battery Technology

Biography: Yet-Ming Chiang is Kyocera Professor of Ceramics in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, where he has been a faculty member since 1984. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His research and teaching focuses on advanced materials and their role in technologies for energy storage and generation, medical devices, “smart” structures, and micro/nano electronics. Basic research from his laboratory enabled new battery technology that received in 2006 an R&D 100 Award and the R&D 100 Editor’s Choice Award. He is the founding scientist of A123Systems, a pioneer in high power, long life rechargeable battery technology used in cordless power tools, hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, grid stabilization, and other developing energy storage applications.

Hydrogen

Ned Stetson, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Title: Achievements and Perspectives of the US National Program on Hydrogen Storage

Biography: Dr. Stetson is a Technology Development Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Program with over 18 years of experience in hydrogen storage materials and technology development. Stetson manages hydrogen storage projects, including the Metal Hydride Center of Excellence and the H-Prize. Prior to joining, he researched complex hydrides at the Univ. of Geneva. Stetson also spent over 10 years at ECD-Ovonics, where he was involved with the development of novel hydrogen storage materials and hydride-based hydrogen storage systems. He has also been active with the Compressed Gas Association, Society of Automotive Engineers, International Code Council and the International Standards Organization.

Solar

Ryne Raffaelle, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

Title: Photovoltaics: Past, Present and Future

Biography: Dr. Ryne P. Raffaelle is the Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at NREL. Previously, Raffaelle was the Academic Director for the Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Director of the NanoPower Research Laboratory at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York. While directing the two institutions at RIT, he also served as a professor of physics, microsystems engineering and sustainability and was responsible for $20 million in research grants in photovoltaics, thin-film processing, and nanomaterials research. He co-founded two photovoltaic and power system start-up companies, authored or co-authored over 150 refereed publications, and has served on the organizing committee for the past four IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conferences and the last World Conference.

Wind

Jose R. Zayas, Sandia National Labs (SNL)

Title: Wind: Background, Technology Opportunities, and Material Challenges

Biography: Jose Zayas is the program manager of the Wind and Water Power Technologies Department at Sandia National Laboratories. He joined Sandia in 1996, and has over 13 years of wind energy experience. During his career he’s performed research in a variety of areas which include active aerodynamic flow control, sensors, dynamic modeling, data acquisition systems, and component testing. Jose holds a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico, and a Masters degree in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from the University of California.

Nuclear

Steve Zinkle, Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL)

Title: Materials Challenges in Nuclear Energy

Biography: Steven J. Zinkle, Ph.D. is a Corporate Fellow and director of the Materials Science and Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has written over 230 peer-reviewed publications, is a fellow of the American Ceramic Society, ASM International, and the American Nuclear Society, and received the U.S. Department of Energy 2006 E.O. Lawrence Award.

General

Mark Verbrugge, General Motors Research & Development Center
Title: Material Needs in Alternative & Renewable Energy for the Automotive Industry

Biography: Mark Verbrugge is the Director of Chemical Sciences and Materials System Laboratory, General Motors Research & Development. He began his GM career in 1986 with the GM Research Labs after receiving his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from University of California-Berkeley. Verbrugge has published and patented in areas of electroanalytical methods, polymer electrolytes, advanced batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells, high-temperature air-to-fuel-ratio sensors, surface coatings, compound semiconductors, and automotive applications of structural materials. Verbrugge is a Board Member of the U.S. Automotive Materials Partnership LLC and the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium LLC, and an adjunct professor for the Department of Physics, University of Windsor.

General

Gary Wright, Air Force Research Lab
Title: Air Force Energy Strategy

Biography: Mr. Gary Wright is a Research Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Mr. Wright served 22 years on active duty in the Air Force and retired in 2008. At AFRL, one of his research interests is defining strategies to implement renewable energy technologies with a net-zero environmental impact.

General

Sandra DeVincent Wolf, MRS

Title: Advanced Materials for Our Energy Future: Study Results

Biography: Sandra DeVincent Wolf currently serves MRS as Director of Membership Development and is responsible for developing strategic approaches to membership programs, coordinating advocacy and outreach initiatives, and creating key services for the materials community. She has a background in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Case Western Reserve University, as well as 15 years of prior work experience in many sectors including government labs, small start-up companies and large corporations.