William Hassenzahl

Biography

William Hassenzahl's career was initially with the three National Laboratories operated by the University of California. In that capacity, he carried out research and led groups of scientists and engineers in advanced technologies associated with superconductivity, magnetic systems, energy storage, particle accelerators, and tokamak fusion systems. In 1993 he retired from the University of California and founded Advanced Energy Analysis, a company dedicated to the analysis of energy-based systems ranging from medical devices to local battery-storage systems and to nationwide power connections (e.g., via direct-current cables).

Dr. Hassenzahl is a highly experienced scientist with over 40 years of research experience in a variety of technical areas relating to energy systems. He was the head of a team that developed precision magnetic devices necessary for the production of intense, laser-like beams of synchrotron radiation for studies of materials (organic, biological, polymers, crystals and metals). He was one of the two lead scientists in the US on the development of the magnetic systems for the ITER fusion power reactor. He worked with the UCSF Department of Radiology to develop an interventional technique that uses MRI instead of X-Rays to detect the position of a catheter within the body. During development, certain critical procedures were shown to take only 10-20% of the time of conventional methods (30 minutes instead of 4 hours). He jointly holds a patent on the technology with UCSF.

As a Senior Scientist on NSC’s Scientific Advisory Board, Bill will play a key advisory role in developing battery materials, assessing their functionality, predicting value, and guiding research, developmental and marketing strategies.

Bill is the author or co-author of over 150 technical publications. He is the author/editor of two books on energy storage and the author of several book chapters on technical subjects related to energy systems. He has been the guest editor of special issues of several IEEE publications on power systems and superconductivity.

Education:
    Ph.D. in physics, 1967, University of Illinois, Urbana; thesis on elementary particles.
    B.S. in physics and electrical engineering, 1962, California Institute of Technology.