Po-Ya Abel Chuang

Po-Ya Abel Chuang is a Professor and Vice Chair of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Merced. He leads the Thermal and Electrochemical Energy Laboratory (TEEL), focusing on advanced energy systems, transportation, and thermal management.

• Education: Executive MBA (2009, Rochester Institute of Technology), Ph.D. (2003, Pennsylvania State University), M.S. (1997, National Cheng Kung University), B.S. (1995, National Cheng Kung University)

His research spans PEM fuel cells, thermal management, and electrochemical energy storage, with recent studies on lithium-ion batteries, anion exchange membranes, and CO2 electrolysis. Collaborations include KIT (Germany), University of the Philippines Diliman, and OCOchem.

Key article trends reveal expertise in two-phase transport phenomena, catalyst layer optimization, and neutron radiography diagnostics. His work addresses fuel cell durability, electrolyzer design, and sustainable hydrogen production.

• Awards: KIT International Excellence Grant

Professor Chuang advises Ph.D. students like Joy Marie Mora and Nitul Kakati, while managing the TEEL lab (SRE 316, 360). His DOE-funded projects and industry partnerships emphasize scalable energy solutions.