At technical universities, it is common for undergraduate and even master’s students to complete their studies without ever entering a research laboratory or speaking directly with active researchers. This disconnect makes it harder for students to imagine themselves pursuing research careers, especially in fields like photovoltaics, which are technically demanding and often taught in abstract terms. In this context, the Instituto de Energía Solar of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IES-UPM) organized a one-week summer school with the financial support of the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS), aiming to offer a first-hand introduction to photovoltaic research and to awaken scientific vocations among students in engineering and the physical sciences.

The school brought together thirty selected students from various universities—most of them in the final years of their bachelor’s or beginning a master’s degree—for an intensive program combining short lectures and guided laboratory work. Participants engaged directly with researchers and professors working in fields such as silicon and III-V solar cells, thermophotovoltaics, energy storage, and building-integrated PV systems. The sessions were designed to give participants a realistic picture of what research involves: not only its goals and achievements, but also its methods, technical challenges, and collaborative nature. Informal conversations with researchers were encouraged throughout the week to spark curiosity.

Learning was organized around the main research lines of IES-UPM. Guided by our senior professors and researchers, as well as renowned invited external speakers, students were trained in the fundamentals and applications of solar photovoltaic energy. In the afternoons, IES-UPM research teams welcomed students to the laboratories to put theory into practice. They carried out manufacturing, characterization, or demonstration laboratory practices on some of the most promising emerging photovoltaic technologies (e.g., III-V solar cells, perovskites, 2D materials...), as well as on mainstream industrial PV technologies. Students also worked on system simulations and experimental hydrogen production for energy storage. In addition to the technical sessions, the school included informal gatherings. A tour of Madrid’s historical center and a group dinner gave students a chance to talk more casually with the professors and researchers. These events were an important part of the experience, helping participants form new connections that could lead to future collaborations.

The summer school offered students a solid introduction to the latest PV research and technologies. The mix of theory, lab work, and networking was well received, and the feedback from the students was very positive. According to the feedback provided anonymously during the last session, many participants left with a clearer idea of what they want to pursue in their studies or careers.

Keywords: Research education, hands-on training, networking.