Cathy Sana
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Award for the best Undergraduate Paper of 1997 for the Materials Science Engineering Department for “Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Device Design” – a UROP project with Dr. Rosario Gerhardt of Georgia Tech (Fall 96 – Winter 97).
Independent undergraduate research project resulted in a record low average reflectance of 3.8% for uncoated multicrystalline silicon during Winter quarter 1994, as reported by SNL at the Second IEEE World Conference on Photovoltiac Energy Conversion in Hawaii in Dec. 1995) with her husband. Authored a piece on this in an internal monthly technical report for Sandia National Labs (June, 1994).
Fabrication of a record high efficiency solar cell ( 17.4%) from HEM materials in the summer of 94, designed by the University Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics Research and Education, tested and verified by NREL and Sandia National Labs.
COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Donated over $1500 through Mission Fish at Ebay to more than a dozen different humanitarian and environmental charities.
Provide free solar education at solarpowergeneration.com website since 12-2001.
Started an Orchid seed germination lab for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens – volunteering there for 3 years, from 1991 to 1994, documenting over 300 hours of service.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
“Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Device Design” – a UROP project with Dr. Rosario Gerhardt of Georgia Tech (Fall 96 – Winter 97).
“Mechanical Texturing of Polycrystalline Silicon – Using the Conventional Dicing Saw” – a special topics research project on reducing reflectance of polycrystalline silicon. Independent undergraduate research project resulted in a record low average reflectance of 3.8% for uncoated multicrystalline silicon during Winter quarter 1994. Authored a piece on this in an internal monthly technical report for Sandia National Labs (June, 1994).
“Asymbiotic Germination of Native (to US) Terrestrial Orchids” – a study conducted with the superintendent of the conservatory at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Ron Determann. We germinated Spiranthes delitescens, Guzmania longipetalum, and Hexelectris spicata, all difficult to germinate or previously ungerminated in the lab. This was accomplished over the period of 1991 – 1993.
PUBLICATIONS:
- R.A. Gerhardt, J. Runyan, C. Sana, D.S. McLachlan, “Electrical Properties of BN Matrix Composites – Part III: Observations near Percolation Threshold in BN-B4C Composites,” submitted to the Journal of the American Ceramic Society.
- C. Sana and R.A. Gerhardt, “Modeling of the Electrical Properties of Thick Film Resistors,” Paper presented at Fall Meeting of the Electronics Division of ACerS, Clemson, SC in October 2000.
- C. Sana, “Miniature Solar System Design Concepts,” published on solarpowergeneration.com website in 2003 and at ecomall.com at: http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/solarpowergen.htm.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS:
Certified in the State of Florida to install grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems Florida Solar Energy Center, November 1999, and October 2000.
Bachelor of Electrical Engineering – Georgia Institute of Technology, December 1997.
Bachelor of Arts in Music – University of California, Santa Barbara, March 1982.