(818) 251-6700
Yale University Electrical Engineering Solar EnergyPhD Program 4thYear
EDUCATION
Yale UniversityPhD Electrical Engineering – equivalent graduate GPA 3.90 Expected May 2018
Yale UniversityMPhil Electrical Engineering2016
Yale UniversityMS Electrical Engineering2015
University of California, BerkeleyBS Chemistry (High Honors) – cumulative undergraduate GPA 3.95 2013
University of California, BerkeleyBA Applied Mathematics (economics & statistics concentration) 2013
(High Distinction in General Scholarship (magna cum laude))
RESEARCH
Yale University & National Renewable Energy Lab – Graduate Student Researcher 2013 – Present
Advisers: Minjoo Larry Lee, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering; Adele Tamboli, Scientist
Project: Developed wide bandgap GaP, AlxIn1-xP, and metamorphic GaAsyP1-y solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy for multijunction solar cell integration onto silicon; achieved record 15.5% efficient single-junction GaAsP/GaP/Si device; developing the selective area MOCVD growth of GaAs on Si via nanoimprint lithography
University of California, Berkeley – Undergraduate Researcher2010 – 2013
Adviser: Angelica M. Stacy, Professor of Chemistry
Project:Analyzed electrodeposition conditions for thermoelectric 11-40 nm bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) nanowires; superhydrophobicity of porous anodic aluminum oxide tuned via surfactants and surface geometries
Harvard University – Leadership Alliance/Summer Research Opportunity Researcher Summer 2012
Adviser: David C. Bell, Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Electron Microscopy
Project: Developedatechnique to transfer and suspendsingle atomic layer exfoliated graphene on silicon nitride substrates for the investigation of conductance properties at nanohole edges
Cornell University– Cornell Center for Materials Research REU Program Researcher Summer 2011
Adviser: Tobias Hanrath, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project:Studied the degredation of PbS quantum dot solar cells with air exposure
California Institute of Technology– Amgen Scholars Program ResearcherSummer 2010
Adviser: John D. Roberts, Institute Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus
Project: Analyzed the gauche conformational preferences of the succinic acid monoanion by nuclear magnetic resonance
PUBLICATIONS PRESENTATIONS
Publications
- M. Vaisman, et al. “GaAsP solar cells on GaP/Si with low threading dislcoation density.” Applied Physics Letters109, 032107 (2016).
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Direct-gap 2.1-2.2eV AlInP solar cells on GaInAs/GaAs metamorphic buffers.” Journal of Photovoltaics6 (2), 571 (2016).
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Effects of growth temperature and device structure on GaP solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy.” Applied Physics Letters 106, 063903 (2015).
- X. Li, B. Deng, X. Wang, S. Chen, M. Vaisman, et al., “Synthesis of thin-film black phosphorus on a flexible substrate.” 2D Materials 2 (3), 031002 (2015).
- T. Goh, J. S. Huang, B. Bartolome, M. Y Sfeir, M. Vaisman, et al. “Panchromatic polymer-polymer ternary solar cells enhanced by Forster resonance energy transfer and solvent vapor annealing.” Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3, 18611 (2015).
- S. Tomasulo, K. Nay Yaung, J. Faucher, M. Vaisman, M. L. Lee. “Metamorphic 2.1-2.2 eV InGaP solar cells on GaP substrates.” Applied Physics Letters 104, 173903 (2014).
Presentations
- M. Vaisman, et al. “GaAsP/GaP/Si Single-Junction Solar Cells for III-V/Si Tandem Devices.” Photovoltaics Specialists Conference (2016). (Oral) *Finalist in Best Student Paper Award Competition
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Direct-gap 2.1-2.2 eV AlInP solar cells on GaInAs/GaAs metamorphic buffers.” Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (2015). (Oral)*Finalist in Best Student Paper Award Competition; invited to submit to Journal of Photovoltaics
- M. Vaisman, et al. “GaP solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy.” Electronic Materials Conference (2015). (Oral)
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Preparation of black phosphorus thin films for optoelectronics and electronics.” Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena Open House (2014). (Poster)
- S. Tomasulo, K. Nay Yaung, J. Simon, M. Vaisman, M. L. Lee. “Wide-bandgap InGaP solar cells grown by MBE for 4-6 junction devices.” International Conference on Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Flagstaff, Arizona (2014). (Presented by S. Tomasulo)
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Conductance properties of single atomic layer exfoliated graphene near nanohole edges.” Leadership Alliance National Symposium, Hartford, Connecticut (2012). (Poster)
- M. Vaisman, et al. “Air effects on lead sulfide quantum dot solar cells.” Cornell Center for Materials Research REU Seminar Day, Ithaca, New York (2011). (Oral)
- M. Vaisman, J. D. Roberts. “Conformational analysis of the succinic dianion: determining the effects of water on gauche preferences.” Caltech Amgen Scholars/SURF Seminar Day, Pasadena, California (2010). (Oral)
SKILLS
Solar cell characterization: current-voltage (IV), quantum efficiency (EQE), Hall effect measurements, photoluminescence
Microscopies: Scanning electron (SEM), atomic force (AFM), Nomarski
Spectroscopies: IR, UV-Vis, Raman, energy dispersive X-ray (EDS/EDX), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Cleanroom fabrication: spin coater, thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation, photolithography
Other instruments and techniques: molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), glove box, goniometer, electrodeposition
Software: Matlab, Origin Pro, Endnote, ImageJ, LabTracer, PC1D, Gwyddion, GIMP, Microsoft Office
LEADERSHIPTEACHING
Writing Advisor at Yale’s Graduate Writing Lab–held over 40 appointments with students to develop their writing 2016 – Present
Lead Graduate Student Assistant at the Photovoltaics Specialist Conference –facilitated conference events 2015 – 2016
Intramural Softball Captain at Yale – communicated rules, coordinated within my team, & between teams & officials 2014 – 2016
Teaching Fellow for Photovoltaic Energyand Linear Algebra with Applications coursesat Yale University 2014 – 2016
Graduate Student Mentor – mentored two high school students in solar research2014
Calculus Tutor for the Learning Skills Center at Mary Baldwin College Fall 2009
HONORSAWARDS
NASA Space Technology Research Fellow2015 – Present
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient(offered, but declined)2015
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention2014
Montias and Blum Yale Graduate Fellow2013 – Present
Presidential Fellowship for Columbia University’s Materials Science and Engineering PhD Program (offered, but declined) 2013
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Member2013
UC Berkeley College of Chemistry Erich O. & Elly M. Saegebarth Commencement Prize in Chemistry 2013
UC Berkeley Leadership Award Winner2012, 2013
Mary Baldwin College Global Honors Scholar2008 – 2009
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society Member2009 – Present
Mary Baldwin College: H. Dunlop Dawbarn Scholarship & Leadership Initiative Scholarship in Mathematics and Science 2009
Honors/Dean’s Lists2008-2013
- Mary Baldwin College (2008-2009), UC Berkeley College of Chemistry (Fall 2012, Spring 2012 & 2013),
UC Berkeley College of Letters & Science (Spring 2012)
Winner of additional merit scholarships for overall academic achievement2008 – 2013
Mary Baldwin College Merit Scholarship (2008 & 2009), American Mensa (2008 2009), Mensa Karen Cooper Memorial Scholarship(2011 2013), US Achievement Academy (2008), Junior Achievement (local regional, 2008),California Association for the Gifted (2008), Zonta International Young Women of Merit Award(2008)
ACTIVITIES & OUTREACH
Girls in STEM Expo – planned, organized, & executed motivational activities for 9th and 10th grade girls interested in STEM 2015
Yale ManyMentors – mentored and encouranged underrepresented middle/high school students pursue STEM fields 2014 – Present
Women in Science at Yale – mentored an international undergraduate student interested in STEM2014 –2016
Yale Pathways to Science Orientation – discussed the importance/impact of science with middel school students 2014
New Haven Science Fair – judged middle school science projects and discussed projects with students2014, 2015
Michelle Vaisman▪▪ (818) 251-6700
HOBBIES INTERESTS
Michelle Vaisman▪▪ (818) 251-6700
Piano ▪Violin ▪ Swing salsa dancing ▪ Softball ▪ Tennis ▪ Japanese language & culture ▪ Traveling
Michelle Vaisman▪▪ (818) 251-6700