Ian Brown

Ian Brown is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, part of the Armour College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. (2009), M.S. (2003), and B.S. (1999) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Swarthmore College. His research focuses on energy conversion, electric machines, and renewable energy systems, with emphasis on sensorless control, machine design optimization, and traction motor development for electric vehicles. He has extensive industry experience as a principal engineer at A.O. Smith, contributing to electric machine and drive technologies.

Research interests include adjustable speed drives, high-power density motors, and applications in sustainable energy. He has advised multiple graduate students and published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in IEEE Transactions and conferences. His recent work explores superconducting circuit breakers, thermal management systems, and advanced winding designs to minimize harmonic distortions. Brown's contributions bridge academic research with industrial applications, particularly in improving energy efficiency and reliability in power conversion systems.

He is affiliated with the IEEE and has contributed to journal editorials on electric machines in renewable energy. His lab focuses on experimental prototyping and simulation-driven optimization of electric drives. Current projects include developing brushless capacitive excitation systems for traction motors and analyzing driving cycle-based machine design optimization strategies.

Teaching responsibilities include graduate courses on electric machines and power electronics. He maintains active collaborations with industry partners like A.O. Smith and Siemens, emphasizing translational research with commercialization potential.