Mahdi Shahbakhti

Mahdi Shahbakhti is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta and an Adjunct Professor at Michigan Technological University. He leads the Energy Mechatronics Laboratory (EML), focusing on dynamic modeling, control, and optimization of energy systems.

• Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Alberta, 2009), Postdoctoral Scholar at UC Berkeley (2010-2012)
• Appointments: Professor (2024-Present), Associate Professor (2019-2024), Research Associate Professor (2019-2020) at Michigan Tech

His research interests span:

• AI and Machine Learning for energy system control
• Fuel cell systems and hydrogen-diesel dual fuel engines
• Connected and automated vehicles with emission reduction focus
• Smart building energy management with grid integration
• Advanced combustion engines and renewable energy sources

Recent scientific awards include:

• ISA Scholarship (2025) for student advising
• Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) (2024, 2023)
• Alberta Innovates Graduate Scholarships (2024, 2023)
• SAE Ralph Teetor Educational Award (2016)
• ASME Best Paper Awards (2017, 2014)

He has supervised numerous graduate students including multiple recipients of prestigious scholarships and awards. His lab leads initiatives like the Alberta Zero-Emissions Fleet Fueling (AZEFF) project and international workshops on AI-optimized vehicle systems.