Educational Experience |
2019 – Present |
Principal Scientist — Brilliant.org |
2017 – 2019 |
Science Quiz Writer |
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I write science, engineering, and computer science content for brilliant.org, which provides online STEM education. I’ve worked on courses and challenges covering a wide range of topics including solar energy, scientific thinking, and cryptocurrency. I design my lessons to be broadly accessible without sacrificing technical accuracy. |
2018 – Present |
Tutor — Signet Education |
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I work as a subject tutor for Signet Education, covering a variety of technical subjects including math, chemistry, physics, and engineering. While the primary goal of subject tutoring is to improve a student's understanding and grades in the relevant course, I also strive to instill a passion for learning and an appreciation of science and math in my students. |
2018 – 2019 |
Production Lead — Principles of Munfacturing MicroMasters |
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I helped facilitate and develop the Manufacturing Process Control and Management in Engineering courses for the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program. |
2014 – 2017 |
Mentor — MITxplore |
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As a mentor for MITxplore (mitxplore.org) I worked with about ten 4th – 6th grade students per semester during weekly math outreach sessions. I also developed lessons to make complex math topics accessible and engaging for young students. |
Spring 2016 |
Teaching Assistant — 2.55: Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer |
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I was a teaching assistant for course 2.55 (graduate level heat transfer) at MIT. I organized and led recitation sessions, office hours and exam review. I earned an overall rating of 6.8/7 on my course evaluations in this position. |
Research Experience |
2015 – 2018 |
Solar-Thermal Aerogel Receiver — MIT |
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I was part of a team that developed a novel solar-thermal aerogel receiver, which achieves efficient solar to thermal conversion using transparent silica aerogel. I modeled system performance as well as fabricated and characterized experimental prototypes of the receiver. |
2016 – 2018 |
Determining Performance Limit of Spectral Selectivity — MIT |
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I worked on determining the limit of performance enhancement possible using spectral selectivity (e.g., in solar thermal systems) for physically realizable surfaces. In this work, limits were set by the Kramers-Kronig relations in conjunction with selected physical constraints. |
2014 – 2018 |
Hybrid PV-Thermal Solar Receiver — MIT |
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I helped design a spectrum-splitting hybrid PV and thermal solar receiver, and developed an integrated model spanning the receiver sub-components to predict overall system performance. |
2012 – 2015 |
Macroscale Optical Cavity for Solar Receivers — MIT |
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I designed an optical cavity to reduce radiative losses from solar receivers. As part of this project, I programmed a ray tracing code to predict cavity performance and experimentally demonstrated reduced thermal losses from a receiver at elevated temperature. I also used ray tracing to show an improvement in absorption of photovoltaic cells with the cavity. |
2011 – 2015 |
Solar Thermoelectric Generator (STEG) — MIT |
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I helped design an improved efficiency STEG using optical concentration and modeled the device efficiency using heat transfer analysis. I tested a prototype STEG with integrated thermal storage. |
2010 – 2011 |
Energy scavenger from fluid flow — UC Berkeley |
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I helped develop a piezoelectric energy scavenger for use in HVAC ducts. My work on the project improved power output from 3 µW to 2 mW, or approximately 700x increased performance. I modeled the fluid dynamics and solid mechanics of the system to optimize design, prototyped a variety of designs and completed performance and fatigue testing on prototypes. |
Publications |
K. McEnaney, L. Weinstein, D. Kraemer, H. Ghasemi and G. Chen. “Aerogel-based solar thermal receivers.” Nano Energy, 40, 180-186, 2017. |
D. Kraemer, Q. Jie, K. McEnaney, F. Cao, W. Liu, L.A. Weinstein, J. Loomis, Z. Ren and G. Chen. "Concentrating solar thermoelectric generators with a peak efficiency of 7.4%" Nature Energy, 1, 16153, 2016. |
S.V. Boriskina, L.A. Weinstein, J.K. Tong, W.C. Hsu and G. Chen. "Hybrid Optical-Thermal Antennas for Enhanced Light Focusing and Local Temperature Control." ACS Photonics, 3 (9), 1714-1722, 2016. |
L.A. Weinstein, J. Loomis, B. Bhatia, D.M. Bierman, E.N. Wang and G. Chen. "Concentrating Solar Power." Chemical Reviews, 115 (23), 12797-12838, 2015. |
J. Loomis, L. Weinstein, S.V. Boriskina, X. Huang, V. Chiloyan and G. Chen. "Diverging polygon-based modeling (DPBM) of concentrated solar flux distributions." Solar Energy, 122, 24-35, 2015. |
L.A. Weinstein, W.C. Hsu, S. Yerci, S.V. Boriskina, G. Chen, “Enhanced absorption of thin-film photovoltaic cells using an optical cavity,” Journal of Optics, 17 (5), 055901, 2015. |
L. Weinstein, D. Kraemer, K. McEnaney, G. Chen, “Optical cavity for improved performance of solar receivers in solar-thermal systems,” Solar Energy, 108, 69-79, 2014. |
L.A. Weinstein, K. McEnaney, G. Chen, “Modeling of thin-film solar thermoelectric generators,” Journal of Applied Physics, 113 (16), 164504, 2013. |
L.A. Weinstein, M.R. Cacan, P.M. So, P.K. Wright, “Vortex shedding induced energy harvesting from piezoelectric materials in heating, ventilation and air conditioning flows,” Smart Materials and Structures, 21 (4), 045003, 2012. |
J. Bakhshi, L. Weinstein, K.S. Poksay, B. Nishinaga, D.E. Bredesen, R.V. Rao, “Coupling endoplasmic reticulum stress to the cell death program in mouse melanoma cells: effect of curcumin,” Apoptosis, 13 (7), 904-914, 2008. |
Conference Presentations |
L. Weinstein, T. Cooper, S. Yang, B. Bhatia, L. Zhao, E. Strobach, G. Ni, S. Boriskina, E. Wang and G. Chen, "On-sun demonstration of a Solar-Thermal Aerogel Receiver (STAR)," MRS-ES09.10.05, MRS Fall Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2017, Boston, MA. |
L.A. Weinstein, V. Chiloyan, T.A. Cooper, S.V. Boriskina and G. Chen, “Limit to the spectral selectivity of a passive radiative surface based on the Kramers-Kronig relations,” HT2017-4837, ASME Summer Heat Transfer Conference, July 9 – 12, 2017, Seattle, WA. |
L. Weinstein, V. Chiloyan, S. Boriskina and G. Chen, “Limit on the Performance of Spectrally Selective Surfaces for Solar Applications,” MRS-NM4.6.04, MRS Fall Meeting, November 27 – December 2, 2016, Boston, MA |
L. Weinstein, S. Fay, C. Douglas, C. Jiang, A. Hosoi and C. Clanet, "Dribbling as a Particle-Particle Interaction," Sports Physics, June 8 - June 10, 2016, Paris, France. |
L. Weinstein, S. Yang, L. Zhao, B. Bhatia, E. Strobach, D. Bierman, T. Cooper, L. Meroueh, S.B. Boriskina, E.N. Wang and G. Chen, “A Solar-Thermal Aerogel Receiver (STAR) for Cost-Effective Electricity Generation,” MRS-EE3.1.08, MRS Spring Meeting, March 28 – April 1, 2016, Phoenix, AZ |
L. Weinstein, J. Loomis, X. Huang, S. Yang, L. Zhao, Y. Huang, F. Cao, T. Sun, B. Bhatia, D. Bierman, E. Strobach, W.C. Hsu, G. Ni, L. Tang, S. Boriskina, Z. Ren, E. Wang and G. Chen, “Hybrid PV and Thermal Solar Receiver Using Silica Aerogel and Thin-Film Multi-Layer Spectral Splitting,” MRS-OO11.02, MRS Fall Meeting, November 29 – December 4, 2015, Boston, MA |
K. McEnaney, D. Kraemer, L.A. Weinstein, Q. Jie, W.S. Liu, F. Cao, Z. Ren and G. Chen, “Demonstrated high efficiency of concentrating solar thermoeletric generators,” MRS-CC8.01, MRS Fall Meeting, November 30 – December 5, 2014, Boston, MA |
L.A. Weinstein, W.C. Hsu, S. Boriskina and G. Chen, "External Cavity for Enhanced Absorption in Thin-Film Photovoltaics", ES-FuelCell2014-6865, ASME International Conference on Energy Sustainability, June 30 - July 2, 2014, Boston, MA |
L.A. Weinstein, D. Kraemer, K. McEnaney and G. Chen, "Angularly dependent emissivity using optical cavities", IMECE2013-64894, ASME International Conference and Exhibition, November 15 - 21, 2013, San Diego, CA |
Patents |
G, Chen, E.N. Wang, S.V. Boriskina, L.A. Weinstein, S. Yang, B. Bhatia, L. Zhao, E.M. Strobach, T.A. Cooper, D.M. Bierman, X. Huang, J. Loomis. Solar Thermal Aerogel Receiver, Application #: US 62/299,090 |
G. Chen, E.N. Wang, S.V. Boriskina, K. McEnaney, H. Ghasemi, S. Yerci, A. Lenert, S. Yang, N. Miljkovic, L.A. Weinstein, D. Bierman. Internally-Heated Thermal and Externally-Cool Photovoltaic Cascade Solar Energy System for Full Solar Spectrum Utilization, Application #: US 14/464,103 |
S. Boriskina, D. Kraemer, K. McEnaney, L.A. Weinstein, G. Chen. Solar power conversion system with directionally-and spectrally-selective properties based on a reflective cavity, Application #: US 13/972,261 |
Selected Leadership and Service |
2013 – 2017 | Webmaster, MITxplore, MIT |
2014 – 2017 | Graduate Member at Large, Intramural Executive Board, MIT |
2015 – 2017 | Member, DAPER Advisory Board, MIT |
2015 | Intramural Chair, Graduate Association of Mechanical Engineers, MIT |
2014 | President, Graduate Association of Mechanical Engineers, MIT |
2012 | Orientation Chair, Graduate Association of Mechanical Engineers, MIT |
2010 – 2011 | Student Relations Officer, Tau Beta Pi, UC Berkeley |
Spring 2011 | Student Relations Chair, Pi Tau Sigma, UC Berkeley |