David Finley, Senior Scientist

As a senior scientist at Cool Earth Solar, David is focused on the optics and optical systems of Cool Earth's innovative concentrated photovolatic system.

David's areas of expertise include instrumentation for space-based astronomy, as well as precision fabrication techniques. Before he became a CoolEarthling, David was a research astronomer at Eureka Scientific, Inc. His background also includes various research positions at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) in the Space Sciences Laboratory and the Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics. While at UCB, he was a staff scientist for NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite, responsible for the design, fabrication, testing, and calibration of a variety of telescope mirrors. He also conducted observational research of hot white dwarfs at multiple wavelengths, performing ground-based observations at the Lick Observatory and the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory and space-based observations with telescopes such as the International Ultraviolet Explorer, the Hubble Space Telescope, and EUVE.

David received a BS in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and MA and PhD degrees in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley.