Jamie Douglas

Standing awkwardly on a raised platform of the CEO’s office, graduate students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) milled about, waiting to be interviewed by eager reporters. These young men and women, all of whom are working on emerging “green” technologies, were recipients of funding from the Chesonis Family Foundation, a Rochester based non-profit founded by PAETEC CEO Arunas Chesonis.

The students were invited to visit the PAETEC headquarters in Fairport early this August, giving them a chance to meet the benefactor of their research.

While they were primarily on hand to discuss the $10 million grant fronted by Chesonis, the scientists were also eager to discuss their research, which all falls under MIT’s umbrella Solar Revolution Project.

“I’m concentrating on solar power on demand,” said Stefano Passerini, an Italian born MIT researcher. Using specialized fluids to retain high temperature heat energy, Passerini hopes to make solar energy more accessible and applicable.

“It’s an industry where you can make a difference,” he said.

“We’re looking at an efficiency of 40 to 42 percent,” said the 26-year-old master’s candidate, noting that they were still very much in the design phase of the project. “We’re going to aim at having a demo in a couple of years.

Working on a separate project, Prithu Sharma, also of MIT, is working on making solar cells and other electronics more efficient.

“I’m researching alternative materials for semi-conductors,” said Sharma. His research group’s technique, which incorporates Germanium, could reduce the costs of solar cells.

“Solar is the next wave of research,” said Amine Berrada, a first year master’s candidate at MIT. “It’s fun to be there.

Berrada, who is working on improving solar heating and cooling technology, is also a member of the MIT Energy Club, a student run alternative energy organization. As a member of the Collegiate Energy Association (CEA), the club works toward a number of goals, focusing on both technology and policy, said Berrada.

“There are about 25 to 30 colleges and universities involved,” he recalled. “It’s a small association, but we have members from all over the U.S. and around the world.

While there are no clubs at RIT currently affiliated with the CEA, Berrada noted that they are always looking for new members.

“The only requirement is that it is student run,” he said.

The Chesonis Family Foundation provided the funding as part of its larger mission to “address climate change … [and] develop economically viable technology as a driver of change.”