Mahdi Shahbakhti

Mahdi Shahbakhti is an Adjunct Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at Michigan Technological University. He has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta and joined MTU in 2012 after postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley and 3.5 years in automotive R&D. His research focuses on advanced control techniques for energy systems in transportation and buildings, which account for 68% of U.S. energy consumption.

• Education:
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada

Research interests include thermo-kinetic physical modeling, model order reduction, grey-box modeling, and nonlinear controls for hybrid electric vehicles, internal combustion engines, and HVAC systems. His work bridges academic and industrial applications in vehicle emissions, aftertreatment systems, and smart grid integration.

Recent publications demonstrate expertise in HCCI engine modeling, hybrid powertrains, emission control, and building energy systems. He actively collaborates with researchers in automotive and energy sectors.

Affiliations:

• Co-Advisor of Alternative Energy Enterprise at MTU
• Active member of ASME Dynamic Systems & Control Division

Professional roles include Vice-Chair of ASME Energy Systems technical committee, Secretary of Automotive Transportation Systems technical committee, and session organizer in automotive and building energy control. His industry experience informs real-world applications of adaptive parameter estimation and model-based control.