معرفی
Derek Baker is a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, and serves as Co-Director of ODAK, the Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) Research Laboratory within METU's Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications (GÜNAM).
His educational background includes a BS from Virginia Tech (1992), and MS and PhD from The University of Texas-Austin (1996, 2000), all in Mechanical Engineering.
Professor Baker's research focuses on solar thermal energy systems, specializing in concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies for industrial applications. His work spans the design, optimization, and implementation of CST systems for renewable heat generation, with emphasis on solar heat integration in industrial processes and concentrating solar power (CSP) advancements. He actively contributes to European Union research initiatives driving solar thermal innovation.
His notable awards include:
- Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) research performance awards (2016, 2017)
- METU overall academic performance award (2017)
- METU Educator of the Year (2003-04, 2005-06)
- METU Outstanding Educator (2013)
As principal investigator for the EU Horizon 2020 INSHIP project and former participant in EU-SOLARIS (2012-2016), he secures significant international research funding. He serves as an independent expert for EU research evaluations and contributes to the European Energy Research Alliance Joint Program on Concentrating Solar Power. While advising graduate students, funding constraints limited new admissions as of early 2018.
He co-directs the ODAK laboratory at GÜNAM, which pioneers concentrating solar thermal energy research and development for industrial and power generation applications.
