Junbo Zhao

Junbo Zhao is the Castleman Term Professor in Engineering Innovation at the University of Connecticut's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He directs the DOE-funded CyberCARED Center and serves as a Research Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His research focuses on cyber-physical power systems, resilience, and machine learning applications in smart grids. He leads multiple IEEE PES initiatives including the Working Group on Distribution System DERs and the Task Force on Cyber-Physical Interdependency.

Education: PhD from Virginia Tech's Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (2018), advised by Prof. Lamine Mili. Prior roles include Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University and Virginia Tech, and a summer internship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Research Highlights: Develops advanced methodologies for power system modeling, cybersecurity, and renewable integration. Specializes in data-driven control, uncertainty quantification, and resilient energy systems. His work bridges physics-based models with machine learning techniques for smart grid optimization.

Professional Contributions: Serves as Associate Editor for leading journals like IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and IET Renewable Power Generation. Holds over 200 publications and 20+ grants from NSF, DOE, and industry partners. Recognized with the 2024 NSF CAREER Award, 2023 AAUP Research Excellence Award, and numerous Best Paper Awards.

• Leads $5M+ projects on grid modernization
• Founder of IEEE Cyber-Physical Interdependency Task Force
• Prominent in distribution system visibility & control

Labs & Teams: Directs CyberCARED - a DOE-funded initiative developing cybersecurity solutions for advanced energy delivery systems. Collaborates with industry partners like Eversource, Dominion Energy, and Avangrid on grid resilience projects.