Dr. Canough obtained her B.S. in physics from Purdue University in 1980 and her Ph.D. in Particle Physics from the University of Notre Dame in 1987. She has carried out studies on solar under NASA and the Space Studies Institute at Princeton, and directed design projects at the International Space University.

Dr. Canough also completed several experiments in particle physics at Fermilab and CERN. She has conducted the PV Installers Course over 130 times, is Certified Master Trainer with the Institute for Sustainable Power, and a Certified PV Installer with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. She also taught engineering physics, electronics, and particle physics at Binghamton University from 1990-1995.