Steven B. Leeb

Steven B. Leeb is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and Mechanical Engineering at MIT. He holds the Carl Richard Soderberg Chair in Power Engineering and is a MacVicar Fellow, recognizing his excellence in teaching and research. His work focuses on power electronics, energy conversion systems, motor drives, and nonintrusive power monitoring. Leeb has contributed to advancements in smart grid technologies, building energy management, and fault detection systems. He leads interdisciplinary research integrating control systems with renewable energy applications.

Education: B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT (1987–1993). His career at MIT spans over three decades, progressing from Assistant Professor (1993) to Full Professor (2005). He has advised numerous projects in collaboration with industries and military applications, including naval propulsion systems and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) energy buffering.

Research Interests:

• Power Electronics and Motor Drives
• Nonintrusive Load Monitoring (NILM)
• Building Energy Management
• Smart Grid Technologies
• Sensors and Sensor Networks
• Electromagnetic Systems

Awards: Over 15 major awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1996), IEEE Fellow (2007), and multiple R&D 100 Awards. His work has led to patents in nonintrusive monitoring systems, smart lighting, and energy-efficient technologies.

Teaching: Courses include Mechanical Engineering Tools (2.670), Power Electronics Laboratory (6.131), and Microcomputer Project Laboratory (6.115). He emphasizes hands-on learning through labs like his DC motor experiments, which are featured in freshman orientation programs.

Labs/Teams: Active in MIT’s Energy Initiative, collaborating with industry partners on projects such as naval propulsion systems and UAV energy systems. His group develops prototypes for commercial applications in smart buildings and renewable energy integration.