Rajit Gadh

Rajit Gadh is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), serving as Director of the Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC). He leads multiple research initiatives including the Connected Autonomous Electric Vehicle (CAEV) Consortium, Wireless Internet for Mobile Enterprise Consortium (WINMEC), and Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) programs.

His educational background includes:

• Carnegie Mellon University (1991)

Dr. Gadh's research focuses on critical energy infrastructure challenges, spanning Smart Grid systems, Electric Vehicle integration with power grids, Microgrid deployment, Distributed Energy Resource management, and renewable energy integration. His work addresses Demand Response mechanisms, Autonomous Electric Vehicle infrastructure, and wireless sensor fusion for IoT applications, with direct relevance to climate resilience and grid modernization efforts in California and beyond.

His notable recognitions include:

• NSF/Lucent Industrial Ecology Fellow
• AT&T/Lucent Industrial Ecology Fellow
• Early CAREER Development Award from NSF
• ALCOA Science Support Scholar
• Ralph R. Teetor Research and Educational Award from SAE
• ASME Fellow designation
• William Mong Visiting Research Fellowship at University of Hong Kong

As Director of SMERC, Dr. Gadh oversees research on grid-hardening technologies, EV charging infrastructure, and demand response systems. His work through the CAEV Consortium explores vehicle-grid integration challenges, while WINMEC and RFID initiatives develop wireless enterprise solutions. Recent media engagements (including CBS News, Washington Post, and IEEE Spectrum through July 2025) highlight his expertise on grid resilience during heat waves, mandatory electrification policies, and California's 15-fold EV growth projections.