Athula Dayanart Rajapakse

Dr. Athula Rajapakse is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba, Canada. He leads the Intelligent Power Grid Laboratory and holds Fellow status with Engineers Canada, alongside senior membership in IEEE. His research addresses critical challenges in modern power systems, particularly renewable energy integration and grid resilience.

His academic foundation includes:

• B.Sc. (Eng) First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (1990)
• M.Eng. in Energy Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand (1993)
• Ph.D. in Quantum Engineering and Systems Science from the University of Tokyo, Japan (1998)

Dr. Rajapakse's research centers on power system protection in evolving grid environments, with specialized expertise in transient-based protection schemes, HVDC grid security, and machine learning applications for fault detection. His work bridges theoretical innovation and industry implementation through synchrophasor technology and wide-area monitoring systems, addressing vulnerabilities introduced by inverter-based renewable resources.

Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant thrusts: (1) Machine learning-driven voltage stability prediction using real-time monitoring, (2) Novel protection architectures for HVDC grids and microgrids requiring sub-cycle fault clearance, and (3) Standardized electro-thermal designs for scalable DC circuit breakers in medium-voltage networks. These reflect the industry's urgent need for adaptive protection in grids with high renewable penetration.

His recognition includes:

• Fellow of Engineers, Canada

Dr. Rajapakse serves as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Electric Power and Energy Systems (Elsevier) and Technology and Economics of Smart Grids and Sustainable Energy (Springer), while convening the Cigre/IEEE Joint Working Group C4/C2.62 on synchrophasor applications. Though not accepting new graduate students currently, his editorial leadership and working group contributions significantly shape power systems protection standards. His research has secured industry partnerships focused on real-world grid modernization.

The Intelligent Power Grid Laboratory under his direction develops hardware-in-the-loop validation platforms for protection schemes, collaborating with Manitoba Hydro and international grid operators to test solutions for renewable-rich systems and remote microgrids.