About Us

Mascot

Ray loves sunbathing, conserving water, and making sugar.

Principle Investigator

Professor of Environmental Studies, focusing on climate change and plant physiological ecology. Cactus enthusiast and sensor nerd. Came up with the concept of cactus-electricity and the name "Living Solar Panels".

PhD Candidate

Environmental tech nerd and desert lover. Ran with Michael's Living Solar Panels idea as her PhD focus. Recruited some undergrads and built the Living Solar Panels team.

Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Researches temperature impacts on cactus-electricity. Created our cactus malic acid titration protocol.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Focuses on nitrogen impacts on cactus-electricity and planning a new experiment with lupins! Erin also takes care of the Cactus-Electricity Demonstration Plot.

 Environmental Studies Undergraduate Research Assistant

Spreads prickly pear research to the masses on social media. Currently creating a micro-weather station for the cactus plot.

Computer Science & Environmental Studies

SUPERDAR student devloping a new spectrometry method to measure photosynthesis via plant reflection. This work will help us further understand how cactus-electricity forms!

Electrical Engineering & Environmental Science

Lead Electrical Engineer. Led battery charging and energy harvesting system. Assisted in building and testing embedded sensors, and helping build micro-weather station.

Computer Engineering & Chemistry

Lead computer engineer. Designed low-cost PAR sensor.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineer. Built and calibrated PAR sensors.