Who We Are
No person has ever changed the history of the world alone. Behind every great leader has been a team of people dedicated to a single cause. Through their hard work, magnificent feats have been accomplished around the globe, including the creation of the light bulb, the Pyramids of Giza, the Burj Khalifa, and the Model T. PrISUm exists at Iowa State University as much more than a student organization one can join as a freshman, senior, or graduate student. PrISUm is an advanced Research and Design (R&D) project for the applications of renewable and automotive technology. Our members are dedicated, passionate, and skilled individuals who want to make an impact on the world around them. Through members' dedication, PrISUm is able to design, fabricate, and race our creation, raise capital, and share our story with millions, all while attending class as full-time students. Interested in joining? Drop us a line and learn more directly from a member.
Team Values
Passion
Building a vehicle in two years take a momentous task, one that can only be completed through hard work, perseverance, and a passion for the task at hand.
Inspiration
In order to change the paradigm of transportation, we have to show the world that solar-powered vehicles are the future of mobility. Through our outreach efforts, PrISUm hopes to inspire future and current generations to build and drive vehicles like the ones we create.
Innovation
No one knows what the future holds. Here at PrISUm, we hope to redefine what clean transportation stands for.
Education
Since we are full-time college students, we here at PrISUm think it is important to show younger generations the importance of education. By connecting what we have learned in the classroom to a real-life problem, we hope to encourage students to challenge what they think is possible and pursue new answers through education.
Community
As a non-profit organization, our ambitious goal of changing the paradigm of transportation is only possible through the help from our local community. Our open door policy allows any of our neighbors to drop by and check out what PrISUm is up to.
Where We're From
PrISUm members come from all over the globe. Utilize this map to see if someone from your town is helping change the paradigm of transportation!
Team Leadership
Building a car from scratch is a momentous task. Leading the design, fabrication, and racing of PrISUm's vehicles takes time, dedication, and a passion for changing the future.
Andrew Bowen - Project Director
Emma Seipold - Assistant Project Director
What do you do for the team?
I manage the mechanical aspects of the battery box, which includes the ventilation and construction, along with other small details such as mounting and lock-out hardware. Additionally, I help out with many other projects on the team when I can!
Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because I wanted to join a club that allowed me to get hands-on engineering experience, and I loved the people involved!
Sneh Mistry - Safety Director
What do you do for the team?
I am responsible for making sure that the team stays safe and follows regulations while working on projects for the car. As safety officer, I also maintain that members have training for the equipment and chemicals we use everyday.Why did you join PrISUm?
I heard about PrISUm from my older sibling when he had become part of the team. I saw what he was capable of applying into the team and aspired to join the team as soon as I could. The experiences and skills I gained from the club are priceless, and have helped me advance my career paired with my degree, and will continue to be.Alex Kovar - Treasurer
What do you do for the team?
I help lead the overall project timeline, manage sponsor relations, and help out with various mechanical projects from time to time. I also play a large role in preparing all of the race logistics such as assigning roles, organizing equipment and hardware, and planning out the hour by hour responsibilities each day.Why did you join PrISUm?
I grew up in the Ames area, and have wanted to join the team since I was a kid seeing the various cars drive around the town.Sub-Teams
Just as in any corporation, PrISUm has divided its membership basis into sub-teams to better distribute the workload of building a car. Interested in working on one of these divisions? Contact the respective director and they will give you more information related to the subject.
Mechanical
Caden Kraft - Mechanical Director
What do you do for the team?
I help to take care of our IT infrastructure and management, as well as doing electromechanical design for various systems on the electrical team.Why did you join PrISUm?
I wanted to be a part of a club that's truly making a difference in promoting sustainable transportation, while also being able to grow my skills in other areas of engineering besides mechanical.Nick Schnoebelen - Assistant Mechanical Director
What do you do for the team?
I am responsible for ensuring the car, and especially the occupant cell, is structurally sound and safe for all passengers inside. The structures team is responsible for designing, analyzing, and constructing the roll cage, suspension mounting points, seat belt mounts, tow points, and other small non-moving aspects of the car.Why did you join PrISUm?
I heard about it from a friend one day, and it sounded like the perfect club to be a part of since it involves all aspects of mechanical engineering, as well as being a fun environment to push what's truly possible in creating something as cool as a solar vehicle. There's nothing else quite like it, and seeing what other members on the team does is truly inspiring.Austin Yost - Project Lead
Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because I have had an interest in car design for many years, and an electric car that was powered by solar panels really intrigued me. Also I wanted to join a club that is dedicated to redefining the future of clean transportation, which I believed that I could help do.
Electrical
Thomas Gaul - Electrical Director
Tori Kittleson - Assistant Electrical Director
What do you do for the team?
Powerboard and Motorboard managerWhy did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm to gain experience related to Electrical Engineering, and I stayed in PrISUm because of the amazing team culture.Owen Donohue - Array Lead
What do you do for the team?
The array subteam manages the solar cell array that powers our car. We research new and existing technologies that can improve our cells, design their layout on the car, and ensure they are functioning at maximum efficiency.Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm to explore my passion of renewable energy. Solar cells and panels are of particular interest to me, and PrISUm was a great opportunity for me to work with, and learn more about them in a recreational setting.Eli von Nordheim - BPS Lead
What do you do for the team?
I manage the battery protection system team and oversee the revision and improvement of the different elements of the system. I coordinate work on the boards under the BPS umbrella and ensure that board documentation remains up-to-date and accessible.Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined because I knew I wanted to go into computer engineering, but I was interested in exploring the hardware side of the field before my classes took me there. I found Prisum to be my best option not only to explore computer hardware but to gain valuable experience both applying my computer engineering knowledge on a large scale and collaborating in an engineering environment.Michael Drobot - Powerboard Lead
What do you do for the team?
I currently lead the Powerboard team, designing the main 12V power supply for the car.
Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm to use my skills from classes to get practical experience, and it has allowed me to do things I never imagined doing as a freshman.Gregory Ling - Software Lead
What do you do for the team?
I work with Will to manage the software team which programs all the electrical boards in the car.
Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because it looked really cool and I wanted to help build fancy solar cars!
Systems
The systems division supports the team in a variety of areas. Early in the design phase, they spearhead an effort to make preliminary decisions which set criteria for design groups later on. As the team moves into its full design phase, this division establishes a primary focus on the design and integration of electrical-mechanical systems on the vehicle to avoid costly oversights. In addition, they take on the responsibility of coordinating the deadlines between the electrical and mechanical sub-groups. This is essential to ensuring that parts of the car such as the door latches, infotainment center, steering, and board mounting are not only designed to support each other but are also prototyped, manufactured and assembled to meet the timeline requirements. Like any car on the road today, there are both complex electrical and mechanical parts that make up many of its functions. It is important that the systems which rely on both types of components properly integrate within the rest of the vehicle.
Marek Jablonski - Systems Director
Business
The business division deals with the team's fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. Regardless of how much work the members of the team put into designing a car, it would be impossible to build without the funds to do so. Since PrISUm is a non-profit organization and relies solely on our partners, it is one of the functions of the business division to be continually building connections and reaching out to new companies. PrISUm works to build and maintain our public image. The business division works to ensure that the team maintains a sense of professionalism aligned with our values and mission. Additionally, outreach is another main purpose of the business division. At outreach events throughout the state of Iowa, team members educate the community about renewable energy and the future of transportation. Visit the outreach page to learn more!
Aubrey Verdon - Outreach Director
Doug Zuercher - Assistant Business Director
What do you do for the team?
Currently, I am responsible for improving our current battery pack, assembling a new battery pack, managing our motors and motor controllers, and helping new members learn the ropes by working with them on a variety of smaller projects.
Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined the team because my peer mentor recommended it to me. I stayed because of the community and opportunity to learn skills that I otherwise wouldn’t learn in classes.
Strategy
The strategy team is responsible for ultimately making the best decision possible for both the creation and operation of our solar vehicles. This includes making the call for certain tradeoffs of design parameters that optimize the car for the rules it will be competing under, how much time to spend charging the car with its powerful solar array, and determining the most optimum speed to drive the car at any given moment. Strategy also is responsible for creating a digital model of the car that can simulate how the car performs for every possible factor from road conditions, tire wear level, and even individual cloud cover thanks to the powerful set of weather tools provided by Baron.
Austin Beinder - Strategy Co-Director
What do you do for the team?
I'm responsible for helping the solar car make the best decision possible while driving, along with developing a simulation software package that can directly simulate the performance of the car according to all the possible inputs it could be experiencing. Aside from this, I also help out the team with making design decisions that will keep the next car as competitive as possible!Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because I want to be a part of creating a sustainable future, and also because it is super cool!Nick Vazquez - Strategy Co-Director
What do you do for the team?
I help to lead our excellent team of strategists to analyze situations and provide data-driven metrics and recommendations for the betterment of the team on rayce and during planning.Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because I’m driven to restructure our current transportation model, which is a major contributor to the climate crisis. PrISUm is a passionate group of members all devoted to this same goal, and I was able to both contribute and learn from members to further the mission of the whole team. I was motivated to join the leadership side of PrISUm to both represent the goals of, and support the team in the endeavor to change the paradigm of transportation.Valerie Mansur - Project Lead
What do you do for the team?
I am apart of the strategy team helping improve our motor model so the team can predict how power is consumed while driving.Why did you join PrISUm?
I joined PrISUm because I have an overall interest in automotive engineering and heard that the club has a fun culture.Faculty Advisers
While students can build a car, it takes a lot of behind the scenes work to create a successful organization. Thanks to the dedication of PrISUm's faculty advisers, members are able to gain access to valuable resources throughout Iowa State University. Whether it is pointing out flaws in our rolling resistance calculations or explaining Color Theory, our advisers guide our organization to new heights.
Dr. Emmanuel Agba
Senior Lecturer - Mechanical Engineering
In 2010, Emmanuel Agba accepted an invitation to travel with the solar car team to the 2010 American Solar Challenge, and immediately after the race, he was invited to join the team as a faculty advisor. Emmanuel Agba has an academic background in design and manufacturing, professional experience in the industry (including more than 8 years in the automobile industry), several years of teaching experience, and personal interest in alternative sources of energy. “As I look back over the past years and months that I have worked with the club, I see my involvement in the 2010 ASC as great learning experience and a crash course on everything solar car,” says Emmanuel. Emmanuel is a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering and teaches design and manufacturing classes. He consults with Iowa State’s Center for Industrial Research (CIRAS) in the summer months and conducts research in industrial automation, computer-aided engineering, and powder-based metal additive machining.PrISUm History
Founded in 1989 as a Tau Beta Pi project, PrISUm is the longest-running solar car team in North America. Since our inception, PrISUm has attended every SunRayce, North American Solar Challenge, and American Solar Challenge. This is an accomplishment unique to one team in the world, and that is PrISUm.
