UO's SuNRISE lab lights up over Hynix news
EUGENE, Ore. -- The waiting game goes on for a possible solar cell plant in west Eugene.
But when it's time to start hiring, a University of Oregon solar program could supply a lot of workers. The Oregon Support Network for Research and Innovation in Solar Energy, or SuNRISE, attracts top-notch researchers.
"Solar and renewables are the new future high tech, technologies," said Frank Vignola, the father of solar energy research at the UO.
The long time physics professor said the future is now for his solar program, especially if the old Eugene Hynix plant is purchased by South Korea's Uni-Chem.
"They can get their employees trained here and can answer questions," he said. "If they have problems, they can come here."
The graduate intern program at the UO SuNRISE lab has placed more than 200 scientists and engineers in Oregon high tech industries. That lab is funded through a grant from the Oregon Best state program for high tech research.
"We hope through this facility that we can do our part in helping to train the workforce that's needed for such a facility," said UO Sunrise Lab co-director Mark Lonergan.
From solar cell testing using laser beams to a sun-in-a-box solar simulator, graduate students say SuNRISE is getting them ready for bright careers.
"Solar has always been a thing that has made the most sense to me," said chemistry graduate student Ethan Walker. "Ultimately it's where all of the energy on this planet comes from."
"I think Oregon has a magnificent opportunity to create sustainable industry," said physics graduate student Pete Erslev.
