Kristofer Pister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Ubiquitous Swarm Lab. His career spans groundbreaking innovations in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Control Systems, and Low-Power Circuits, with a focus on Smart Dust and synthetic insects. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1992, 1989); B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986). His research areas include MEMS , Control Systems , Robotics , and Integrated Circuits , with recent work on self-powered micro-sensors, crystal-free radios, and interplanetary swarm networks. Key awards include the ISA Albert F. Sperry Founder Award (2009) , Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006) , and the NSF CAREER Award (1996) . He has authored numerous influential publications in wireless sensor networks and microrobotics. His lab, Ubiquitous Swarm Lab , explores distributed robotics and swarm intelligence. Pister emphasizes open collaboration in research, ethical conduct in academia, and efficient resource utilization for graduate students.
Professor David C. Dunand is a faculty member in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University , where he leads the Dunand Research Group . His work focuses on mechanical metallurgy of advanced metallic materials, including alloys, composites, and foams, with applications in energy-efficient transportation and biomaterials. He also investigates additive manufacturing techniques like laser powder-bed fusion and 3D ink extrusion. Research Interests: Physical and mechanical metallurgy of multiphase metals Additive manufacturing (ink extrusion, selective laser melting) Green/sustainable metal production In situ X-ray tomography for microstructure analysis Metallic foams and scaffolds Thermoelectric materials Recent Publications show expertise in redox cycling stability, precipitation strengthening, and hierarchical microstructures, with applications in batteries, shape-memory alloys, and high-entropy systems. Awards: TMS Fellow (2012) Structural Materials Division Distinguished Scientist/Engineering Award (2008) Fellow, ASM International (2007) Department Teacher of the Year (1998) He has held leadership roles including Co-Director of the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (2008-2015) and Visiting Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2000). The group operates a SISMA MYSINT 100 laser powder bed fusion machine and collaborates extensively.
Umut Aydemir is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Koç University , where he also serves as Director of KUBAM (Koç University Boron Application and Research Center) . His research focuses on Boron-Based High-Tech Materials, 2D Materials, Electrocatalysis, Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting , and Hydrogen Storage . PhD in Chemistry (2012), Dresden University of Technology MSc in Materials Science and Engineering (2006), Koç University BSc in Chemistry and Physics (2004), Koç University Umut’s work addresses structure-property relationships in advanced materials, with a particular emphasis on boron-containing compounds , MXenes , and thermoelectric systems . His recent publications highlight innovations in electrocatalytic water splitting , hydrogen storage materials , and sustainable coating technologies . His research trends include: Development of metal diborides for water splitting Engineering MXene/polymer composites for corrosion resistance Novel approaches to thermoelectric materials like MgAgSb and Zintl phases Designing hydrogenated borophene for environmental applications Awarded the 2024 Koç University College of Science Outstanding Faculty Award and 2019 TÜBA Young Scientist Award , Umut leads high-impact projects in materials science. He advises graduate students in Nanocatalysis and Advanced Material Synthesis and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives at KUBAM.
Prof. Dr. Peter Strasser is a faculty member at the Technische Universität Berlin , affiliated with the Institute of Chemistry and leading the Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group within the Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences . His research spans electrocatalysis , fuel cell technology , and high-throughput materials testing , with a focus on nanostructured catalysts for clean energy systems. Research Interests : High Throughput Testing Fuel Cells Electrocatalysis Electrochemical Materials Water Splitting CO2 Conversion Scientific Contributions highlight trends in oxygen evolution reactions , dealloyed catalysts , and non-noble metal electrocatalysts . His work bridges materials science and energy storage , particularly for hydrogen fuel cells and magnesium batteries . Awards : Otto Roelen Medal 2016 Advising notable researchers like former PhD student Mehtap Özaslan , who established a junior research group at the University of Oldenburg and won the Umicore Scientific Award. Prof. Strasser's team collaborates with UniSysCat and has secured funding from the Federal Ministry of Research for catalyst innovation.
Frede Blaabjerg is a Professor at Aalborg University (AAU Energy) , affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and Science . Since 1998, he has pioneered power electronics research in applications such as wind turbines , photovoltaic (PV) systems , reliability engineering , and Power-2-X technologies. Education : PhD in Electrical Engineering (1995, Aalborg University) Honorary Degrees : Honoris Causa at University Politehnica Timisoara (2017) and Tallinn Technical University (2018) His research focuses on power electronics control , system optimization , and reliability for renewable energy and electric mobility . Recent work includes grid-forming converters , virtual synchronous generators , and smart EV charging systems. Key publication trends span 15+ years , with over 3,733 peer-reviewed articles and 900+ journal papers in power electronics , renewables , and energy storage . Notable book series: Control of Power Electronic Converters and Systems (4 volumes, Elsevier). Scientific Awards : 46 IEEE Prize Paper Awards 2020 IEEE Edison Medal 2019 Global Energy Prize 2014 IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award Leadership Roles : Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (2006–2012) Chairman, Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy (2020–) President, IEEE Power Electronics Society (2019–2020)
Marko Hinkkanen is a Professor at Aalto University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, affiliated with the School of Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on electric drives, power electronics, and control systems, with a strong emphasis on sensorless control, grid converters, and motor drives. He has received numerous awards, including the IEEE Fellow distinction and multiple best paper awards for contributions to sensorless control and grid integration. Research interests span advanced control algorithms, power converter design, and renewable energy systems. His work addresses challenges in grid stability, motor drives under weak grid conditions, and energy-efficient control strategies. Notable achievements include innovations in bearingless motor systems and grid-forming converter control frameworks. His awards reflect impactful contributions: the Aalto ELEC Supervisor Award (2023) highlights exceptional mentorship, while the IEEE Fellow (2023) and numerous paper awards underscore technical excellence. Key publications include advancements in grid-forming control, sensorless techniques, and electromagnetic damping for aircraft systems. He has advised doctoral students such as F. M. Mahafugur Rahman and Hafiz Asad Ali Awan, whose theses won top awards. His labs and collaborations focus on cutting-edge topics like virtual air gap reactors and six-phase machine dynamics.
Di Shi is an Associate Professor at the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , New Mexico State University (NMSU), holding the Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professorship. He previously founded the AI energy startup AInergy, LLC and held leadership roles at GEIRI North America, NEC Laboratories America, and Arizona State University. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University (2012) MS in Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University (2009) BS in Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University (2007) His research focuses on power system data analytics , energy storage , artificial intelligence , and IoT applications for grid stability and renewable integration. His work bridges theoretical innovation with real-world deployment, including software adopted by 15 utility companies. Recent publications highlight his leadership in deep reinforcement learning for grid control, blockchain frameworks for energy management, and tensor decomposition for efficient load modeling. He has secured a $6M NSF grant for AI-driven digital twinning to address climate-aware energy resilience. Awards & Recognition: 2025 Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professorship 2024 University Research Council Mid-Career Award 2024 IET Fellow Multiple IEEE Best Paper Awards (2019–2022) 2019 L2RPN AI Competition Championship He serves as an editor for IEEE Transactions on Power Systems , IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution , and other journals, and leads the IEEE Task Force on IoT for Power Systems . His team’s patents cover AI-driven load modeling , energy storage scheduling , and state estimation , with 42 granted or pending.
Assoc Prof Ng Teng Yong is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (NTU), specializing in numerical modeling and simulation. With a background as Research Manager at A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, his work spans materials science, nanotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Current focus on graphene-based desalination membranes Expertise in molecular dynamics simulations Investigates nanoscale fluid mechanics and structural dynamics Recent publications highlight advancements in energy-efficient electrodialysis, smart robotics, and nonlinear vibration analysis. His interdisciplinary approach integrates computational methods with experimental validation in additive manufacturing and soft material mechanics.
Qifeng Li is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida specializing in Electrical Engineering with a focus on power and energy systems. His research integrates convex optimization and nonlinear dynamics to address challenges in renewable energy integration, microgrid stability, and energy-water-hydrogen nexus systems. Research Interests: Convex optimization, nonlinear systems, grid resilience, energy-water-food nexus Grants: NSF and DOE projects on microgrid stability and cross-system coordination Professional Roles: Editor for CSEE Journal, IEEE Battery Energy Storage Work Group member Honors: China National Scholarship 2012 His recent publications emphasize data-driven optimization methods, voltage stability analysis, and machine learning applications in power systems. Key trends include hybrid physics-data-driven models, stochastic disturbance analysis, and real-time grid control solutions. Scientific Awards: China National Scholarship (2012)
Geert Deconinck is a full professor at KU Leuven , leading the Electrical Energy Systems and Applications (ELECTA) research group within the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT). He also serves as scientific leader of the EnergyVille research center's algorithms domain, focusing on smart electrical networks and thermal systems. M.Sc. and Ph.D. from KU Leuven Head of ELECTA since 2012 (10 professors, 8 postdocs, 70+ PhDs) Over 8 million EUR research budget in last 5 years 44 completed PhDs and 10 current advisees IEEE Transactions editorial board member His research spans smart grid architectures , distributed control , and cyber-physical security , with recent focus on EV-grid integration , renewable energy democratization , and multi-carrier energy systems . Current projects include: Smart Charging - E-Mobility meets Renewable Energy Early Detection and Defense Systems for Smart Grids Open-source P2P energy sharing platforms Microgrid control strategies for PV-battery systems Awarded IET Fellow and IEEE Senior Member status, his work combines machine learning with power systems engineering through both theoretical modeling and experimental validation . He has contributed over 575 publications with 9800+ Google Scholar citations.
R. Edwin García is a Professor at the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University, where he has been faculty since 2005. He holds appointments in the Materials Engineering department within Purdue's College of Engineering, specifically in the School of Materials Engineering located in the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. His educational background includes: B.S. in Physics from the National University of Mexico (1996) M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2000) Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Applied Mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003) Professor García's research focuses on the design of materials and devices through the development of a fundamental understanding of the solid state physics of individual phases, their short and long range interactions, and associated microstructural properties and time evolution. His current research emphasizes establishing relationships between material properties and resultant performance and degradation in electrochemical systems. He integrates computational approaches ranging from kinetic Monte Carlo, phase field and level set methods, to finite elements, finite volumes, and symbolic computing. His work particularly addresses microstructure design, crystallographic texture, and grain boundary science and engineering to control the topology of underlying phases and establish practical relations between processing, microstructure, and material properties. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on lithium-ion battery technology, ferroelectric materials, and computational modeling of material behaviors. The research trends show increasing integration of machine learning with traditional computational methods, exploration of novel sintering techniques like flash sintering, and deeper investigation into the fundamental mechanisms of material degradation in energy storage systems. His work spans multiple length scales from atomistic to continuum modeling, reflecting a comprehensive approach to materials design and analysis. Professor García teaches several courses including MSE 230 (Structure and Properties of Materials), MSE 350 (Thermodynamics of Materials), MSE 597G (Modeling and Simulation of Materials), MSE 597I (Introduction to Computational Materials), and MSE 597N (Physical Properties of Crystals). He mentors graduate students in areas related to computational materials science, battery technology, and microstructural evolution. His research group, the Laboratory of Computational Microstructures, focuses on developing home-grown analytical theories and algorithms to resolve relevant time and length scales in materials systems. The group's work has significant implications for portable power sources, including rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, as well as for ferroelectric ceramic applications.
Professor Paul D. Sclavounos is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his B.Sc. from the National Technical University of Athens in 1977 and Ph.D. from MIT in 1981. Research Interests : Marine hydrodynamics, stochastic control, offshore wind/wave/tidal/solar energy, machine learning applications, magnetohydrodynamic propulsion systems. Notable Contributions : Development of computational tools like SWAN and SML software suites; analysis of nonlinear wave dynamics; integration of AI/ML in marine hydrodynamics. Scientific Recognition : First Prize in National Mathematics Competition (1972), Georg Weinblum Memorial Lecturer (2010-2011), Best Paper Award at OMAE 2019, AEOLOS Scientific Award (2024). Leadership : Director of the Laboratory for Ship and Platform Flows since 1985; advisory roles for US Navy, US Department of Energy, and Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Teaching : Courses in Hydrodynamics (2.016), Advanced Fluid Mechanics (2.25), and Naval Architecture (2.701).
Magdy M. A. Salama is a Professor and University Research Chair at the University of Waterloo's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. He holds a P.Eng. license and is a Fellow of the IEEE. His research spans Energy Systems (Power Quality, Smart Grids, Renewable Energy) and Biomedical Engineering (Medical Imaging, Sleep Analysis). He has authored/co-authored over 460 publications and supervised numerous graduate students. Education: PhD (University of Waterloo), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Cairo University). Awards include the IEEE Fellow distinction, University Research Chair, and multiple teaching/research awards from the University of Waterloo. Research trends in his articles focus on Smart Grid resiliency, renewable integration, cyber-physical security, and biomedical applications of AI. Notable projects include voltage sag mitigation, EV fleet electrification, and blockchain-based energy trading platforms. Scientific Awards: IEEE Fellow, University Research Chair, Teaching Excellence Award (2000) Grants/Consultation: Extensive industry and institutional collaborations on power systems and biomedical tech. Labs/Teams: Active in High Voltage Lab, Smart Grids Research Group, and Medical Image Processing Lab.
Dr Bahareh Zaghari (MSc, PhD, CEng, FHEA) is a Lecturer in the Electrical Power Engineering group at the University of Southampton's School of Electronics and Computer Science. Her research focuses on electrified aircraft systems, sensors with machine learning applications, electrical power systems, and nonlinear dynamics modeling. Current projects include acoustic sensing for temperature/flow measurement Co-design of electrical machines for aircraft electrification Research activities span hybrid-electric aircraft design (FutPrint50 Horizon project), fully electric aircraft development (EnabEl Innovate UK), and smart sensing systems for aerospace components. Industrial collaborations include KISTLER, iNetic, PALL Aerospace, Safran, ARUP, Embraer, and BAE Systems. Conference coordinator for IEEE Transportation Electrification Council's Electrified Aircraft committee Chair of IEEE/AIAA Electrified Aircraft Technology Symposium (2023) Panel moderator at AIAA Propulsion and Energy (2021) Her work demonstrates innovative applications of acoustic transducers in harsh environments, with contributions to temperature mapping, fault analysis, and energy harvesting systems. She currently supervises PhD student Shikhar Singh.
Dane Morgan is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Engineering. His research focuses on computational materials science for materials design, including ab initio electronic structure modeling, multiscale methods, and machine learning applications in materials discovery. His work spans nuclear materials, battery and fuel cell electrodes, and electronic materials. Education : PhD, 1998, University of California, Berkeley MS, 1994, University of California, Berkeley BA, 1992, Swarthmore College Research Interests : Computational materials science, ab initio methods for electronic structure and thermokinetics, machine learning for materials discovery, electrochemical systems modeling, and applications in nuclear materials, batteries, and electronic materials. His work integrates advanced computational techniques with experimental validation. Scientific Awards : 2024 APL Materials, Editors Pick 2023 Microscopy and Microanalysis Best Paper Award (Instrumentation and Software category) 2023 IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Best Paper Award 2023 Kellet Mid-Career Award 2015 TMS Materials Genome Initiative Ambassador 2006 3M Technical Nontenured Faculty Grant
