Shesha Jayaram

Dr. Shesha Jayaram is a Professor and Director of the High Voltage Engineering Laboratory at the University of Waterloo's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She holds adjunct professorships at the University of Guelph and McMaster University. Her research focuses on high-voltage engineering, insulation diagnostics, nanocomposite materials, and pulse power applications in biotechnology and environmental engineering. Dr. Jayaram earned her B.A.Sc. (1980) and M.A.Sc. (1983) from Bangalore University and the Indian Institute of Science, respectively, and her Ph.D. (1990) from the University of Waterloo. She has published over 350 articles, holds patents globally, and received prestigious awards including the IEEE IAS Outstanding Achievement Award (2023) and ESA Lifetime Achievement Award (2021).

Education:

• Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Waterloo (1990)
• M.A.Sc., High Voltage Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (1983)
• B.A.Sc., Electrical Engineering, Bangalore University (1980)

Her research interests span conduction/breakdown mechanisms, HV stress, partial discharge analysis, insulation failure, and energy systems. Recent work emphasizes nanocomposite materials for thermal and erosion resistance, pulse power applications in food processing, and high-voltage testing techniques for EV motors and transformers. Her publications reflect a focus on material durability under transient stresses, insulation aging mechanisms, and renewable energy integration.

Awards:

• 2023 IEEE Industry Applications Society Outstanding Achievement Award
• 2021 ESA Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1998 Karnataka State Gold Medal (India)

Teaching: Courses include ECE 464 (High Voltage Engineering), ECE 6608PD (Dielectrics), and ECE 665 (High Voltage Applications). She actively mentors graduate students in electrical engineering and energy systems. Her lab, the High Voltage Engineering Laboratory, drives innovations in insulation diagnostics and sustainable energy technologies.