معرفی
Michael Muglia is a Research Professor at East Carolina University's Coastal Studies Institute and Assistant Director of Science for the NC Ocean Energy Program. He holds a joint appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). His expertise spans oceanography, renewable energy systems, and marine technology. Muglia earned three B.S. degrees (Biology, Marine Science, Physics) from the University of Miami and UNC Wilmington, followed by an M.S. in Physics from UNC Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from UNC Chapel Hill.
His research focuses on western boundary currents like the Gulf Stream, shelf-ocean exchange dynamics, and marine renewable energy solutions. He has pioneered underwater kite systems, wave energy converters, and turbine technologies, supported by funding from DARPA, DOE, and NREL. Collaborators include institutions like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Muglia has led over 20 grants totaling millions in funding, including projects on Gulf Stream energy characterization and ocean observation systems. He chairs SECOORA's Science Advisory Board and has received the Distinguished Scholar (2025) and Cleantech Innovation (2023) awards.
Key contributions include HF radar analysis of Gulf Stream variability, shelf water cascading events near Cape Hatteras, and deployment of energy harvesting prototypes. His work bridges oceanographic research with practical renewable energy solutions, advancing grid-scale ocean power systems.
