Associate Professor Nazir Kherani receives NSERC Strategic Project Grant to advance materials research in photovoltaic technologies
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Photo: an advanced solar cell made of ultra-thin film silicon from the Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices (APD) group (left); and Associate Professor Nazir Kherani
February 11, 2013
Associate Professor Nazir P. Kherani is one of five researchers in the U of T Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering to be awarded a Natural Science & Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Strategic Project Grant (SPG). The results of the program were announced on February 8, 2013. The NSERC SPG is designed to increase research and training in targeted areas that could enhance Canada’s economy, society and environment within the next decade.
The funding is focused on large-scale, multidisciplinary research projects in targeted research areas that require a network approach and involve collaboration between academic and Canadian-based organizations. The SPG program helps to address Canada’s science and technology priorities. The primary goal of these grants is to increase research and training in targeted areas that, like the SNG program, could enhance Canada’s economy, society and/or environment in the next 10 years.
Professor Kherani and his Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices (APD) Group were awarded $536,160 for their project titled, “Efficient light harvesting using nanoparticle-based selectively transparent and conducting photonic crystal and index-graded anti-reflective films.”
“This funding is a tremendous boost to U of T’s ability to address real-world problems that affect all Canadians,” said Professor Paul Young (CivE), U of T’s vice president (research and innovation). “We are deeply thankful to the Government of Canada and NSERC for this investment in our applied research.”
Professor Kherani is joint-appointed between the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Materials Science & Engineering