Levi Lentz
LLentz @ mit . edu

  1. Home
  2. Levi Lentz

About

I am originally from San Diego, so this whole Boston weather is taking some getting used to. Currently in my 3rd year in the Kolpak group, I use my mechanical engineering experience to bring a unique perspective to computational material modeling. I hope to use the work that we are currently working on to expand the practival limis of of photovoltaic materials. In the future, I would like to work on clean water generation; energy and water being forever intertwined.

  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, 2012
  • SM, Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2014

Research Interests

Photovoltaics

Each generation has an issue that defines it; the solution of which becomes what is written in history books as our greatest achievement. The combined issues of global warming, energy, and water issues are all of extreme interest to me and the issues that will define this generation. To this end, I am currently working on designing a new type of organic photovoltaic superstructure that will increase the overall efficiency of the traditional organic bulk-heterojunction framework. At the conclusion of this current project I would like to work with experimental collegues to try and make this design a reality.

I like describing myself as a "molecular designer," using my training as a Mechanical engineer to approach the material design considerations from an interesting perspective. Moving forward I would like to use this knowledge to address traditional mechanical engineering and material science topics such as heat management, optics, and energy storage. Understanding the molecular structure opens up the possibilities to advance the fundamentals of mechanical engineering. To quote Professor fred harris at SDSU, "Mechical Engineering makes the world go round; electrical engineering provides the music."



Personal Interests

  • Coerced Web Design
  • Coding and scripting
  • Snowboarding
  • Exercising and Playing Sports
  • March Madness
  • SDSU Aztecs
  • The intersection of technology and society
  • The egalitarian issues of the world