Back to Academics
Explore Programs
Colleges & Schools
Beyond the Classroom
Academic Support
Academic Resources
Back to Research
Research Opportunities
Support & Services
Back to About
Who We Are
Leadership & Faculty
Back to Student Life
Campus Living
Facilities
Clubs & Organizations
Wellness & Support
Student Success
Resources & Guides
Back to Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Costs
Financial Aid
Other Funding Options
Back to Admissions
Apply
Visit
Counselors & Support
Back to Alumni
Back to Athletics
Back to Events
Back to Make a Gift
The University of Tulsa is proud to announce two recent recipients of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships: Eden Knepper and Ayden Whittaker. Each year, the U.S. Department of State awards the nationally competitive Gilman awards…
Quraysh Ali Lansana, applied associate professor of English & creative writing, is a distinguished scholar of African American studies, journalist and author of 23 books including poetry, nonfiction and children’s literature. His journey as a writer led him from Enid, Oklahoma, to studying and teaching in cities like Chicago and New York. However, after 30 […]
Serving nontraditional students, such as military veterans, is nothing new at The University of Tulsa, and Don Cowan’s success is a prime example of how students from all backgrounds thrive on campus. Humble and soft-spoken, Cowan (B.S. ’25) graduated from Owasso High School and served eight years as a U.S. Marine before returning to Tulsa […]
The University of Tulsa Kendall College of Arts & Sciences has welcomed alumna Taylor Chukwu as the newest member of its Board of Visitors.
UTulsa assistant professor Cayman Seagraves is leading the charge toward integrating AI into the real estate and finance sectors.
UTulsa has received a $677,000 grant from the Public Knowledge program of the Mellon Foundation to support a joint effort between the university and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Historic and Cultural Preservation Department.
For over a decade, The University of Tulsa and four other Oklahoma universities have engaged in an exciting consortium focused on education and research programs related to next generation solar cells.
The Oklahoma Photovoltaic Research Institute (OKPVRI) includes UTulsa, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. Faculty members are drawn from physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
Parameswar Hari, a UTulsa professor of physics and engineering physics, initiated OKPVRI in 2012 after receiving a NASA Established Program to Stimulate Collaborative Research grant.
“The then-president of the university, Dr. Steadman Upham, proposed the formation of interdisciplinary institutes at UTulsa around 2011,” said Hari, who serves as director of the institute. “I approached the then-provost, Dr. Roger Blais, to support the formation of a new multidisciplinary institute. Thankfully, it was approved.”
The primary goal of OKPVRI is to foster active and sustainable collaboration across Oklahoma in research, education, and outreach and to consolidate resources in terms of expertise and infrastructure to support such efforts. The institute’s first symposium had 12 attendees in 2012. Last year, there were 65 participants, and participation expanded to Texas.
This year, the OKPVRI Annual Symposium will be held on April 26 at the University of Central Oklahoma. Plenary speakers from the University of Buffalo and Arizona State University will discuss their research.
The 2025 theme is perovskite solar cells. “About 90% of solar cells are made of one material. In the past 10 years, a new material, perovskite, has been discovered,” Hari said. “This new material is revolutionizing solar energy production. There is a lot of excitement about developing high-efficiency solar cells using perovskites.”
The institute is collaborating with NASA to manufacture perovskites under the Artemis project on the moon’s surface. In addition to perovskites, the institute is also working to develop agrivoltaics, a combination of agriculture and solar cells, in Oklahoma and is conducting a project on surface modification of silicon solar cells.
“I enjoy interacting with faculty from different universities and industries in Oklahoma,” Hari concluded. “Through collaborative proposals, we have successfully obtained external funds from federal and state agencies to support our research.”
© 2025 The University of Tulsa
800 S. Tucker Drive Tulsa, OK 74104

source