Assistant Solar

Aida Torabi, Ph.D.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

**** ********** **,

Killeen, TX, 76549

*******@******.***

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Physics 12-2016

University of Houston, Houston, Texas

Dissertation title: Mixed halide perovskite solar cells: Influence of fabrication and post fabrication conditions on the device performance

M.Sc. in General Physics 12-2013

University of Houston, Houston, Texas

M.Sc. in Astrophysics 12-2009

Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

Thesis title: Study of relation between solar cycles and solar wind

B.Sc. in Solid State Physics 12-2007

Tarbiat Moalem University, Tehran, Iran

LABORATORY/RESEARCH SKILLS TO SUPPORT TEACHING

Microscopy/Spectroscopy Skills including, but not limited to:

Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM),

Electron beam inducedcurrent (EBIC), Cathodoluminescence(CL), Photoluminescence(PL),Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Current-voltage measurement Conductivity measurement, External quantum efficiency (EQE), Voltage decay Impedance spectroscopy, Grazing Angle X-Ray Diffraction (GAXRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)

TEACHING / RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Killeen, TX)

Position: Adjunct Faculty – Dept. of Science and Mathematics 1-2020 to 5-2020

Co-instructor for Materials Science and Engineering course

Prepared lectures and homework assignments for upper level undergraduate engineering students

Managed and instructed Materials Science laboratory

Prepared lectures, designed experiments and created the laboratory manuals

Graded course assessments, prelab assessments and laboratory reports

Ensured students understood material and stayed on track

Position: Assistant Research Scientist – Dept. of Science and Mathematics 9-2018 to Present

Position: Post-Doc Researcher – Dept. of Science and Mathematics 3-2017 to 8-2018

Provided overall coordination for the implementation of the Scanning Electron Microscope including strategic planning and day to day operations for multiple faculty and staff use

Overview of research support available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qeaOqDbStk

Researcher in the Texas A&M Site - NSF I/UCRC (Industry-University Cooperative Research Center) on Next Generation Photovoltaics (https://www.nextgenpv.org/)

Responsible for designing, planning, conducting, and coordinating experiments consistent with research project objectives

Conduct independent research aligned with the research agenda of the university

Develop procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy of data collection and analyses

Evaluate, select and apply standard research techniques in advanced STEM based lab

Responsible for summarizing results for inclusion in scientific publication and research grants

Coordinated installation and operation for following research equipment;

Photoluminescence (PL), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Cathodoluminescence (CL), and Electron beam induced current (EBIC).

Collaborate with CSU-Colorado State University for wide bandgap CdTe devices and CdTe-Mg alloys material using SEM, CL, PL and EBIC analysis

Collaborate with UT-Austin University for wide bandgap perovskite solar cell devices using SEM, CL, PL and EBIC analysis

Collaborate with Iowa State University for 2-D materials with Br-based perovskite solar cell devices using SEM, CL and EBIC analysis

Collaborate with Texas A&M-Central Texas Forensic Science researchers for evaluating the effects of a commercially available formulation (HCL, 38%) on human teeth at different time intervals using SEM and EDS analysis

Collaborate with Cybersecurity research in collaboration with US Air Force using high resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron beam induced current (EBIC)

Lead tutoring in undergraduate students’ lab research

Coordinate outreach and educational events for college and high school students with mobile SEM; The mobile SEM provides secondary students and parents a unique opportunity to work with the machine and also discuss future SEM use as college students

Mentor undergraduate and graduate students on SEM laboratory, technical and field research

University of Houston (Houston, TX)

Position: Teaching Assistant – Dept. of Physics 8-2011 to 12-2015

Taught Introductory Physics Laboratory for non-physics major students

Lectured on lab material, provided lab grading, demonstrated/ supervised experiments

Taught Advanced Physics Laboratory for physics and engineering major students Responsibilities included lecturing on lab material, observing and demonstrating while students performing experiments

Taught in STEM program designed for high school teachers and students on summer 2014 and 2015 camps. Responsibilities included presentation about solar cell research and demonstrating dye sensitized solar cells and polymer solar cells devices

Mentored incoming graduate and undergraduate students in Nanomaterials & devices group at data collection, analysis, performing equipment and planning experiments

Tutored University physics for undergraduate students

Graded exams for multiple physics classes at undergraduate and graduate levels

Position: Graduate Research Assistant – Dept. of Physics 8-2013 to 12-2016

Coordinated laboratory investigation on Perovskite solar cells, enhancing efficiency, reducing cost and reproducibility

Designed and performed over 500 experiments to find optimal conditions for high efficiency, low cost PV cells

Coordinated laboratory investigation on dye sensitized solar cells and polymer solar cells

Fabricated Vertically Aligned, Highly Ordered Titania (TiO2) Nanotubes and membranes using Anodization

Coordinated drug delivery application with Toyo University by developing a new anodization method for fabrication of Titania (TiO2) Nanotubes and membranes and monitoring the effects of different etchants, time, temperature, voltage, concentration, and conductivity effects

Coordinated lab research for current-voltage, external quantum efficiency (EQE), Voltage decay, Impedance spectroscopy and other techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Grazing Angle X-Ray Diffraction (GAXRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Photoluminescence (PL), Conductivity measurement

Position: Research Assistant – Dept. of Physics 8-2008 to 12-2009

Coordinated laboratory investigation on solar wind data

Coordinated data analysis of Ulysses spacecraft data

Coordinated Matlab neural network simulation

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

NFS I/UCRC (Next Generation Photovoltaics Research Center)

PI: Cathodoluminescence of thin film PV absorber layers, $150,000- 2019

Co-PI: Cathodoluminescence of thin film PV absorber layers, $100,000- 2018

Co-PI: Scanning Electron Microscopy characterization of photovoltaics, $50,000- 2017

Co-PI: Mobile Electron Microscope solar outreach to elementary/high schools, $50,000- 2017

PUBLICATIONS

M. Roberts, T.B. Harvey, J.Sullivan, A. Torabi, “Analyze and visualize cathodoluminescence data obtained from images of a photovoltaic cell using the R language” Journal of Education and Social Development (2020), DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3961030

C. Jones, T. Bracewell, A. Torabi, C. Beck, T.B. Harvey, “The effect of hydrochloric (HCl) on permanent molars: A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) study” Journal of Medicine, Science and the Law (2020), DOI:10.1177/0025802420905981

T. D. Siegler, Y. Zhang, A. Dolocan, L. R. Reimnitz, A. Torabi, G. Cossio, D. W. Houck, E. T. Yu,T. B. Harvey, D. J. Milliron, B. A. Korgel, “Addition of Monovalent Silver Cations to CH3NH3PbBr3 Produces Crystallographically Oriented Perovskite Thin Films “ ACS Applied Energy Materials (2019), DOI: 10.1177/0025802420905981

M. R. Banki, A. Torabi, O.K. Varghese, “Anodically grown functional oxide nanotubes and applications” MRS communications (2017), DOI:10.1557/mrc.2016.46

M. S. Mohamed, A. Torabi, M. Paulose, D.S. Kumar and O.K. Varghese, “Anodically grown titania nanotube induced cytotoxicity has genotoxic origins” Scientific reports (2017), DOI: 10.1038/srep41844

A. Torabi, C. Beck, T.B. Harvey, “Understanding optical properties of Thin Film Photovoltaics by using Cathodoluminescence technique”. (in draft)

A. Torabi, C. Beck, C. Reich, J. Sullivan, A. Munshi, T. Shimpi, M. Roberts, W. S. Sampath, T.B. Harvey, “Determinqation of CdTe Thin Film Spatial Heterogeneity via Cathodoluminescence”. (in draft)

A.Torabi, M. Paulose and O.K. Varghese, “Enhanced efficiency of simple planar perovskite solar cell with short post fabrication oxygen plasma treatment” (in review)

A. Torabi, M. Paulose and O.K. Varghese. “Studies on the effect of fabrication and testing atmosphere on the performance of perovskite solar cells”. (in review)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

A.Torabi, C. Beck, A. Munshi, C. Reich, W. Sampath, T.B. Harvey., “Cathodoluminescence measurement of high bandgap CdTe-based devices” APS Annual Meeting (2020), Denver, Co

A.Torabi, C. Beck, A. Munshi, T. Shimpi, C. Reich, W. Sampath, T.B. Harvey., “Cathodoluminescence measurement of thin film PV” Solar Energy System Conference (2020), Waco, Tx

A.Torabi, C. Beck, A. Munshi, C. Reich, W. Sampath, T.B. Harvey., “Scanning Electron Microscopy Measurements of the Luminescent and Electrical Properties of Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices” AIChE Annual Meeting (2019), Orlando, Fl

A.Torabi, S. Menezes and T.B. Harvey., “Optical and Electrical Properties of bulk heterojunction CISe films” MRS Fall Meeting (2018), Boston, Ma

A.Torabi, T.D. Siegler, V.R. Voggu, B.A. Korgel, T.B. Harvey., “Optical and electrical properties of wide bandgap perovskites” MRS Fall Meeting (2017), Boston, Ma

O.K. Varghese, M. Paulose, A.Torabi, P. Kaur., “Efficient and stable organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells using anodic nanostructures” ICACC Spring Meeting (2017), Daytona Beach, Fl

A.Torabi, M. Paulose and O.K. Varghese., “Effect of Ambient on the Performance of Mixed Halide Perovskite Solar Cells” MRS Fall Meeting (2016), Boston, Ma

A.Torabi, M. Paulose and O.K. Varghese., ”Role of Post-Fabrication Treatments on the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells” MRS Fall Meeting (2014), Boston, Ma

A.Torabi, M. Paulose, O.K. Varghese.,“Role of chlorine in the performance of mixed halide perovskite solar cells” APS Annual Meeting (2015), San Antonio, Tx

N. Masoumzadeh, A. Torabi, A. Ajabshirizadeh., “Sunspot number and solar radio flux prediction by artificial neural network method” Cosper 10 (2010), Bermen, Germany

Academic committee member, 3rd international Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (2009), Tehran, Iran

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2012- Member, American Physical Society

2014- Member, Materials Research Society

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Professional Grant Development Workshop 10-2016 University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas

Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity 7-2020 Online non-credit course, Stanford University, Coursera.org

Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools and Cyber Attacks 8-2020 Online non-credit course, IBM, Coursera.org

AWARDS AND HONORS

Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) for international students, 2013, University of Houston

Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) for international students, 2014, University of Houston

Research Award for Outstanding Staff Research, 2018, Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Finalist for Innovation Staff Research award, 2019, Texas A&M University-Central Texas

OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Central Texas College, Mobil SEM, Killen, TX, May 2019

Phenomenal Woman Career Conference for Middle School girls, Killeen ISD, Killeen, TX, March 2019

Harker Heights High School, Mobile SEM, Killeen, TX, December 2018

Temple College, Mobile SEM, Killeen, TX, October 2018

Central Texas College, Mobile SEM, Killeen, TX, August 2018

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