Our annual All-Hands meeting will be held in Boulder, CO at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) building located at 4001 Discovery Dr. The regular sessions are Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Professional development for our graduate students will continue from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On the evening of Tuesday, February 11, we will host a dinner session featuring Dr. Iain McCulloch. This dinner session will be held at the Boulder Marriott, 2660 Canyon Blvd. Boulder, CO 80302.
We will provide morning coffee/pastry, lunch, and afternoon snacks at RASEI on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dinner will be provided at the Boulder Marriott on Tuesday. You will be on your own for breakfast.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | First shuttle from Marriott to RASEI departs | Boulder Marriott front drive | |
| 8:50 AM | Second (last) shuttle from Marriott to RASEI departs | Boulder Marriott front drive | |
| 9:00 AM | State of the Center & Goals for the meeting | Erin Ratcliff | RASEI |
Project 1: Optoelectronic and chemical signatures of polarons in model systems | |||
Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
| 10:00 AM | "What pulse radiolysis can teach us about conjugated polymers" | Matt Bird, BNL | RASEI |
| 10:45 AM | "A Theoretical and Spectroelectrochemical Approach to Understanding Local Environmental Effects on Polaron Properties" | Megan Brown, Arianna Magni, Zhiting Chen, Hong Li, Joel Bombile, Jean-Luc Bredas, Neal Armstrong, Chad Risko, Erin Ratcliff | RASEI |
| 11:05 AM | "Spectroscopic Investigation Into P(NDI2OD-2T) Charge Localization" | Jonathan Thurston & Shuya Li | RASEI |
| 11:25 AM | Full EFRC discussion and Q&A | Chad Risko (moderator) | RASEI |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch | RASEI | |
Project 2: Polymer Physics and Transport Considerations | |||
Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
| 1:00 PM | "Unraveling the differences in disorder between flexible-chain and hairy-rod conjugated polymers" | Henry Kantrow & Yael Tsarfati | RASEI |
| 1:20 PM | "Probing the Effect of Phase Morphology on Electrochemical Doping in Conjugated Hairy-Rod Polymer Blends" | Jude Kpare, Henry Kantrow, Arianna Magni, Spencer Yeager, Casey Davis, Michel De Keersmaecker | |
| 1:40 PM | "Implications of ordering in Thiophene-Based Polymer for Driving Electrochemical Reactions" | Casey Davis & Spencer Yeager | RASEI |
| 2:00 PM | Full EFRC discussion and Q&A | Natalie Stingelin (moderator) | RASEI |
| 2:30 PM | BREAK | RASEI | |
Project 3: Competing Processes in Photocathodes | |||
Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
| 3:00 PM | "Polaron-Mediated Exciton Dynamics of P(NDI2OD-T2) Unveiled by Transient Absorption Spectroscopy under Electrochemical Conditions" | Bo Dong & Eui Hyun Suh | RASEI |
| 3:30 PM | "P(NDI2OD-T2): From the characterization of its polymorphs to the description of mixed ion-electron transport in polymer-electrolyte systems" | Chamikara Karunasena | RASEI |
| 3:50 PM | "The changes to photoinduced charge dynamics of a PTB7-Th:N2200 blend induced by aqueous environments and their structural origins" | Abhisek Mohaptra & Will Kopcha | RASEI |
| 4:10 PM | Full EFRC discussion and Q&A | Tim Lian (moderator) | RASEI |
| 5:00 PM | Tuesday working session Ends | ||
| 5:15 PM | First shuttle from RASEI to Marriott | Private service to SPECS provided by Green Ride Charter | |
| 5:35 PM | Second (last) shuttle from RASEI to Marriott | Private service to SPECS provided by Green Ride Charter | |
| 6:00 PM | Welcome Reception | Boulder Marriott | |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner Service starts | Boulder Marriott | |
Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
| 6:50 PM | "Harnessing the sun for chemistry" | Iain McCulloch | Boulder Marriott |
| 8:00 PM | End | ||
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
| Start Time | Description | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | First shuttle from Marriott to RASEI departs | Boulder Marriott front drive | |
| 8:50 AM | Second (last) shuttle from Marriott to RASEI departs | Boulder Marriott front drive | |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome and Announcements | Erin Ratcliff | RASEI |
Project 4: Catalytic site attachment and electron transport polymers | |||
| 9:30 AM | "Theoretical Models and XPS Characterizations of Pt NP Deposition on Conductive Polymers" | Zhiting Chen & Hong Li | RASEI |
| 9:50 AM | "Electron Transport Polymers and Interface Modification for SPECs" | Yunping Huang, Suman Kulia, Aiswarya Abhisek Mohapatra, Yadong Zhang, Erin L. Ratcliff, Neal R. Armstrong, Ann L. Greenaway, Stephen Barlow and Seth R. Marder | RASEI |
| 10:20 AM | Full EFRC discussion and Q&A | Stephen Barlow (moderator) | RASEI |
| 11:00 AM | Small Group Breakouts - discussion of research for August 2025 publications | (accepting moderators) | RASEI |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch | RASEI | |
| 1:00 PM | Shuttle to Marriott | Private service for SPECS provided by Green Ride Charter | |
| 1:00 PM | Professional Development session - "How to write a proposal: communicating in large teams, and other points" | Neal Armstrong & Garry Rumbles | RASEI |
| 1:45 PM | Break | If you need a ride back to Marriott, let Jen know (charter service on call) | RASEI |
| 2:00 PM | Professional Development session - "Setting your paper up for success" | Getting your research published takes more than just experiments! To successfully get your work out into the world, papers need to convey your results clearly and reach the right audience. I’ll provide my perspective as an editor to provide tips on different steps of the publication process, ranging from how to choose the right journal to how your figures can make the best impression on reviewers and readers. | RASEI |
| 3:10 PM | First Shuttle for hotel guests back to Boulder Marriott | RASEI - pick up loc. TBD | |
| 3:30 PM | Second (last) Shuttle for hotel guests back to Boulder Marriott | RASEI - Pick up loc. TBD | |
The 2025 SPECS All Hands meeting is being held at the University of Colorado Boulder Renewable And Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), in the SEEC and SEEL Building located at 4001 Discovery Dr. Boulder, CO 80303.
PARKING
Paid Parking is available in Lot 550, the southwest parking lot in front of the SEEL building. There are 92 spaces of which 6 are for ADA-accessible parking only. There are additional ADA-accessible spaces in the circle in front of the SEEC building.
Please contact Jen Garcia jennyj@arizona.edu to receive the SPECS booking link for full-day parking.
LODGING
Designated lodging has been contracted at the Boulder Marriott, 2660 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, CO 80302.
Distance from Denver International Airport: 42 miles
Distance from RASEI to Marriott: 2.1 miles (7 minutes driving) or 1.6 miles walk (40-minute walk)
GROUND TRANSPORTATION AIRPORT : MARRIOTT
Airport Transportation suggested by Marriott: Eight Black Airport Shuttle; Fee $24.00 one way. Call 720-223-5474, Text 720-853-2272, or email for booking: bookings@eightblackairportshuttle.com
SHUTTLE BETWEEN RASEI & MARRIOTT
For the convenience of those staying at the Marriott, Green Ride Charter Services has been contracted for our use between the hotel and RASEI. Each of the scheduled departures below will be serviced by a 15-passenger van. You are encouraged to take the earlier departure so that we don't have people being stranded because of not having enough room for everyone. If you miss the departure, the walk is 1.6 miles. As of the most recent weather forecast, snow is expected.
Tuesday, February 11
- 8:30 am departure from Marriott to RASEI
- 8:50 am departure from Marriott to RASEI
- 5:15 pm departure from RASEI to Marriott
- 5:35 pm departure from RASEI to Marriott
Wednesday, February 12
- 8:30 am departure from Marriott to RASEI
- 8:50 am departure from Marriott to RASEI
- 1:00 pm departure from RASEI to Marriott
- 3:15 pm departure from RASEI to Marriott
- 3:35 pm departure from RASEI to Marriott
TUESDAY DINNER
Dinner will be at the Boulder Marriott, 2660 Canyon Boulevard in the Trailhead Ridge Ballroom. Beer and wine service will start at 6:00 PM, Dinner buffet will be open at 6:30 PM, and our presentation starts at approximately 6:50 PM (when most have been able to get through the buffet line).
Reception:
Your first 2 beverages from the bar are hosted by SPECS. Jen will hand out your drink tickets. The bar will remain open through dinner. Any additional beverages from the bar will be at cost to you (Beer $7-$8, Wine $10).
Iced tea, coffee, and soft drinks are complimentary at the dinner buffet line.
Buffet selections:
- House Salad - mixed greens, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, crispy garbanzos, house vinaigrette
- Wild Rice
- Smashed Garlic Fingerlings
- Vegetable Succotash
- Pan Roasted Salmon with Chimichurri
- Vegetable Curry
- Braised Short Rib, Thyme Jus
- Flourless Chocolate Torte
- Iced Tea and Iced Water
- Freshly brewed Starbucks Regular and Decaf
- Canned Sodas (Pepsi Products) & Diet Coke - special request
The banquet manager has been apprised of the following dietary restrictions: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, GERD-friendly, Gluten-free, Low-carb, and Lactose-free. Thank you to all who responded to the registration form with your dietary needs!
CU Boulder guest WIFI
CU Boulder offers guest wireless via UCB Guest Wireless and Eduroam: CLICK HERE for instructions.
