Laura T. Schelhas is an Associate Staff Scientist in the Applied Energy Programs Division at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.  Her research mainly focuses on understanding the structure function relationship in optoelectronic materials for application in photovoltaics (solar panels).  This work utilizes in-situ and operando X-ray diffraction techniques to look at both the formation of materials as well as degradation mechanisms in operational cells.  She also works closely with theorists to inform materials by design creating a feedback loop between theory and experiment.  In 2014, she accepted a postdoctoral position at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC before becoming staff in 2016.

Laura received her Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles.