The Hands-On Photovoltaic Experience (HOPE) is a week-long workshop designed to strengthen photovoltaic (PV) research at universities across the United States. HOPE allows graduate students to interact with scientists and engineers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in order to expand their knowledge through several hands-on activities involving the design, testing, and measurement methods involved in solar cell research. The HOPE program allows students to learn a variety of PV-related characterization techniques, including time-resolved photoluminescence, X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning probe techniques.