A University of Texas at Dallas materials science and engineering professor has expanded her research on solar cells this year to include machine learning techniques through the Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship.
Dr. Julia Hsu, holder of the TI Distinguished Chair in Nanoelectronics in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, studies how processes and materials can increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar panel production. The Pivot Fellowship, which is open to researchers in natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, data science and computer science, provides financial support as well as a mentor who guides fellows through the transition to a new field.
“It is a tremendous honor for Dr. Hsu to be selected in the inaugural Pivot Fellow class,” said Dr. Manuel Quevedo-Lopez, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and holder of the TI Distinguished University Chair in Nanoelectronics. “She is one of seven researchers selected from all disciplines across the nation. This fellowship has allowed Dr. Hsu to find additional research opportunities outside traditional avenues.”
Since January, Hsu has worked with Dr. Tonio Buonassisi, professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has used machine learning techniques for solar photovoltaic development.
Hsu is working to improve the production of flexible perovskite solar cells with a novel photonic curing process, which uses short blasts of high-intensity light and eliminates the need for a costly process at high temperatures. To find the right process, researchers need to explore multiple variables in the laboratory, which can be costly and time-consuming.
While many machine learning methods require a large volume of data, Hsu uses a method that works with a smaller data set.
“Machine learning is very broad,” Hsu said. “We focus specifically on Bayesian optimization with a Gaussian process, which works well for small numbers of data points. My approach to doing experiments has changed. I now immediately think about all the possible variables that can affect the experimental outcome and how to sample them efficiently.”
Hsu’s group published some of its findings in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
At the end of the year, Hsu and the other Pivot Fellows will be invited to apply for a $1.5 million, three-year research award to continue their work.
Jindal School Student Wins Accounting Scholarship
University of Texas at Dallas accounting senior Sidrah Syeda has received a $5,000 scholarship for minority accounting students from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
Syeda, who is expected to graduate from the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) in December and begin an internship with firm KPMG in January, wanted to attend a university that would prepare her for a career as a certified public accountant.
“UT Dallas is different than other universities,” she said. “The professors work closely with students to prepare them for exams, help them get internships and pair them with mentors. They made me feel that I could stretch outside my comfort zone. I owe so much to the PPA (Professional Program in Accounting) program at JSOM.”
The PPA, established in 2007, allows students to reduce the time necessary to receive a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree by a year or more. Syeda is on track to complete her bachelor’s degree after three years at UTD.
Mary Beth Goodrich, professor of instruction in accounting in the Jindal School, described Syeda as an exceptional student.
“She is extremely hardworking and dedicated and has shown herself to consistently go above and beyond in her studies, asking additional questions and seeking resources to deepen her understanding of the courses,” said Goodrich, who is also the faculty advisor of the UT Dallas student chapter of Ascend and CPA advisor/mentor.
Since 2022, Syeda has been a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, which provides resources, education and professional development to members. In addition, she volunteers as an English as a second language teacher at DFW Refugee Outreach Services.
For more than four decades, the AICPA scholarship program has provided over $14.6 million in scholarships to over 8,000 accounting students.
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