Institutional Lead
University of Arizona
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Interests:
Photovoltaic materials and device resiliency and integration of off-grid energy systemsBio:
Dr. Kelly Simmons-Potter is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a Professor of Optical Sciences, and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Simmons-Potter received her B.S. in Physics in 1986 from Florida State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in 1990 and 1994 respectively in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona. Dr. Simmons-Potter spent nearly 10 years at Sandia National Laboratories, from 1994 to 2003, ending in the position of Principal Member of Technical Staff and Project Manager for Advanced Optical Technologies. In 2003, she left Sandia Labs to return to academia at the University of Arizona. Dr. Simmons-Potter is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, Director of the Arizona Research Initiative for Solar Energy (AzRISE), and is a Professor in the Food, Energy, Water GIDP. She is the co-author of four textbooks in the field of optics, has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed publications, has delivered more than 150 scholarly presentations, and holds several patents. Dr. Simmons-Potter is the recipient of numerous awards, including six Outstanding Service Awards for her work in the field of radiation-hardened optics, the 2010 University of Arizona Science and Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, and the 2016 University of Arizona Mentor Award for her years of organization and mentorship of the Racing the Sun high school solar go-kart event. In addition, Dr. Simmons-Potter was a featured speaker on KUAZ-FM Arizona Science Friday in November 2019. Her research focuses on radiation-resistant resiliency of renewable energy components and the design of off-grid FEW systems.
