Mahdi Mehrtash

Mahdi Mehrtash is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Engineering. He concurrently serves as an Assistant Research Professor at Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering, affiliated with the Ralph O'Connor Sustainable Energy Institute (ROSEI). His academic appointments span multiple institutions with active research roles in power systems and energy optimization.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Power) from Louisiana State University (2019, GPA 4.0/4.0)
• M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Power) from Shiraz University, Iran (2014, First Rank)
• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Power) from Shahid Chamran University, Iran (2012, First Rank)

Mehrtash's research focuses on advanced optimization techniques for power systems, with particular emphasis on global/stochastic/distributed optimization methods applied to zero-energy buildings, electricity markets, and power system expansion planning. His work addresses critical challenges in transmission/generation/distribution expansion planning, security-constrained unit commitment, and optimal power flow under high renewable penetration scenarios. He actively develops computational frameworks for large-scale power system analysis, including the Global-TEP solver for AC transmission expansion planning.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward decarbonization-focused research, with increasing emphasis on market design under deep decarbonization, resource adequacy in low-carbon grids, and clean energy supply chain analysis. The publications consistently integrate stochastic optimization methods with practical power system applications, demonstrating expertise in both theoretical frameworks and real-world implementation.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Mehrtash advises prospective graduate students through the University of Nevada, Reno's Graduate School, seeking candidates with optimization and power engineering expertise. His research is funded by major entities including the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and State of Maryland. He maintains active research groups at both UNR and ROSEI, focusing on developing the HOPE (Holistic Optimization Program for Electricity) framework and advancing transmission expansion planning methodologies. His GitHub repositories showcase computational tools for large-scale test systems and market research, reflecting strong software engineering capabilities alongside domain expertise.