Dr. Dan M. Ionel is Professor of Electrical Engineering, the L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power, and the Director of the SPARK Laboratory and of the PEIK Institute at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. He previously worked in industry, most recently as Chief Engineer for Regal Beloit Corp., and, before that, as the Chief Scientist for Vestas Wind Turbines. Concurrently, Dr. Ionel was also a Visiting and Research Professor at the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. He received the M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania. His doctoral program included a Leverhulme Visiting Fellowship at the University of Bath, England. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the SPEED Laboratory, University of Glasgow, Scotland. He contributed to technological developments with long lasting industrial impact, including US’ most successful range of PM motor drives and one of the world’s most powerful wind turbines, and holds more than thirty patents, including a medal winner at the Geneva Invention Fair. His research has been supported by NSF, DOE, NIST, NASA, and directly by leading industrial companies and utilities. Dr. Ionel co-authored three books, including “Renewable Energy Devices and Systems – Simulations with MATLAB and ANSYS” published by CRC Press, and published more than two hundred papers, including five winners of IEEE Best Paper Awards. He received the CG Veinott Award, the highest distinction for electromechanical energy conversion from the IEEE Power and Energy Society. He taught and advised student research on subjects of sustainable and renewable energy technologies, electric machines and power electronic drives, electromagnetic devices, electric power systems, smart grids and buildings. Dr. Ionel is an IEEE Fellow, was the inaugural Chair of the IEEE Industry Applications Society Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conversion Systems Committee, Chair of the IEEE Power and Energy Society Electric Motor Subcommittee, Editor of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, Technical Program Chair of the IEEE ECCE 2015 Congress, and the General Chair of the IEEE 2017 IEMDC Conference Anniversary Edition. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Electric Power Components and Systems Journal and the Chair of the Steering Committee for the IEEE IEMDC Series of Conferences.
Nicholas Jewell, Ph.D., PMP received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA, in 2014. He is currently the Group Leader of Electric Distribution Emerging Technologies Engineering with the Electrical Engineering and Planning Department at Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU). At LG&E and KU, he leads a team of engineers to implement cutting edge technologies and manage distributed resource interconnection, while serving as the company subject matter expert in areas such as distribution planning, power systems analysis, and distributed energy resources (DER). Dr. Jewell’s primary focus is on implementing advanced DER strategies and defining and executing a multi-year strategic roadmap pertaining to distribution hosting capacity, distribution system interconnection requirements, customer usage behavior, and system analysis regarding DER impacts to protection systems. He has been an author or co-author for numerous industry publications, has received several Tech Transfer Awards from the Electric Power Research Institute, and has one patent disclosure. Additionally, he was named a Top Utility Industry Innovator by Public Utilities Fortnightly in 2018, a national distinguished recognition, for his work with energy storage technologies at LG&E and KU's E.W. Brown Energy Storage Research and Demonstration site. Dr. Jewell is a IEEE senior member (2018), serves on the executive committee of the Louisville IEEE section, and mentors students in the field of electrical engineering through the ACE program. Dr. Jewell is also a licensed Professional Engineer in KY and a registered Project Management Professional (PMP).
Dr. Seun Akeyo graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (EE) from University of Kentucky (UK) in December 2020 and is now a Senior Engineer with Sargent & Lundy, a global leading power and energy consulting firm. He continues to mentor and advise graduate students in the SPARK Laboratory, ECE Department at UK, on academic research topics. Akeyo started his graduate studies at UK in 2016 after receiving the B. Eng. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Nigeria. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in EE from UK in 2017 and 2020, respectively. At UK, he has been working as a Teaching Assistant and as a Research Assistant on projects sponsored by DOE and utilities and especially in close collaboration with LG&E-KU. Akeyo published 4 journal and many conference proceedings papers, received a Best Poster Paper Award at the 2016 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA) in Birmingham, England, the Best Presentation Award at the 2018 FEEDER DOE Sponsored Summer Institute, and the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS), Renewable Energy Systems Committee, Transactions Paper Award - Third Prize in 2020. His research focuses on electric power systems, power electronics, battery energy storage, and renewable energy generation and integration.
Dr. Damien Lawhorn graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (EE) from University of Kentucky (UK) in May 2021 and is now with the Space Exploration Systems Group within Jacobs Engineering as an Electronics Design Engineer working in collaboration with the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. He continues to mentor and advise graduate students in the SPARK Laboratory, ECE Department at UK, on academic research topics. Damien received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UK in 2017, and then worked as a summer intern in the TwinBuilder development team at the ANSYS Inc. headquarters where he developed power electronic models for various applications. At UK, Damien was a NASA KY Graduate Fellow and starting from 2018 he also worked as an intern at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) for three summers, contributing to the development of motor drives for NASA's first all-electric aircraft, the X-57 Maxwell, as well as to advancements toward MW hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Damien was a founder of the Kentucky Organization of Robotics and Automation, a multidisciplinary student-led club, which has competed in a NASA driven national competition, and was an Executive Committee member of the UK IEEE PES and IAS student chapter. His doctoral research focused on power electronic converters, electric machines and drives, and power systems and components for aircraft with electrified propulsion.
Yaser Chulaee is a Ph.D. candidate in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Department at the University of Kentucky (UK). He started his studies at UK in January 2021 after receiving his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran, in 2016 and his M.Sc. degree from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, in 2019. Prior to his Ph.D. studies, he worked as a project manager and technical engineer in the R&D section of a dental equipment manufacturing company for two years in Mashhad, Iran. At UK, he has been working as a research assistant on multiple projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, and industrial companies. Yaser received a Best Paper Award as a co-author at the 2022 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA), Best Student Paper Award as a co-author at the 2023 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference (ITEC), and prize paper by the Electric Machines Committee of the IEEE Industrial Applications Society for a paper presented at the 2022 Energy Conversion Conference and Exposition (ECCE) all on topics of electric machine design. In the summer of 2023, he worked as an intern with the Motor Controls team at Lucid Motors in the San Francisco Bay Area. His current research focuses on advanced electromagnetic FEA, the design and optimization of electric machines, and power electronics drives.
Rosemary E. Alden is a Ph. D. candidate and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). She received her B.S. in EE in May of 2021 along with a minor in Math and the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Undergraduate Certificate. During her undergraduate studies, Rosemary was enrolled in the University Scholars Program (USP), and was a L. Stanley Pigman Scholar, an NSF REU Student and an Undergraduate Research Fellow supported by major utilities: TVA, and LG&E and KU. She was an intern in industry with CMTA, Inc. and in research with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). She was an IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative Recipient, the Inaugural Chair of the IEEE PES & IAS Student Chapter at UK, H. Alex Romanowitz Memorial Awardee, Maurice A. Clay Awardee, and received the IEEE 2020 PES GM Best Undergraduate Poster Award. Rosemary was awarded in 2021 a most prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for her doctoral studies and has been recognized by the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman COE with the 2023 Outstanding PhD Student Award. As a graduate student, she is a remote research collaborator and summer visitor with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and with the University of Oxford in England. Her current research focuses on artificial intelligence, smart home and grid technologies, EVs, and electric power systems.
Donovin D. Lewis is a Ph.D. student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He received his B.S. in EE in May of 2021 with the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Undergraduate Certificate. During his undergraduate studies, Donovin was enrolled in the University Scholars Program (USP), a William C. Parker Diversity Scholar, a NASA REU student, and an Undergraduate Research Fellow on research projects for transportation electrification sponsored by DOE, NSF, and directly by industry. He served four years on the University of Kentucky Solar Car team which designs, builds, and races solar electric vehicles for annual competitions and significantly contributed to system-wide reliability leading to 3 podium finishes including a national championship win in 2021. Additionally, he held industry internships with Midea Appliances R&D and Link-Belt Cranes. In 2021, Donovin was awarded a most prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and an Otis A. Singletary Graduate Fellowship, the highest UK distinction for incoming PhD students. As a graduate student, he is a remote research collaborator and summer visitor with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and with the University of Oxford in England. His current research focuses on renewable energy integration, electric motors, and wireless charging of electric vehicles.
Ali Mohammadi is a Ph.D. student in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky (UK). He started his Ph.D. studies at the UK in August 2021 after receiving his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Babol Noshirvani University of Technology (BNUT), Babol, Iran, both in electrical engineering, in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Ali has been working as a Research Assistant at UK on multiple projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, and industrial companies. He was the recipient of the Best Paper Award as first author at the 2022 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA), the Best Student Paper Award as first author at the 2023 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference (ITEC), and the First Best Paper Award as a co-author at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA) all on topics of specialty electric machines. His current research focuses on renewable energies, electrification of transportation, advanced electromagnetic FEA, and the design and optimization of electric machines and power electronic drives.
Oluwaseun A. Badewa is a Ph.D. student in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He started his studies at UK in January 2022 after receiving his B.Sc. degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, and the M.Sc. degree from the Christian Albrechts Universitat zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany both in Electrical engineering in 2014 and 2022 respectively. From 2016 to 2020, he worked as a Senior Electrical engineer with DORCL, Nigeria specialized in electrical design and detailed engineering, electrical installation, and commissioning for petrochemical complexes. He was the co-recipient of the Best Paper Award at the 2022 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA) with a paper on multi-MW direct-drive wind-turbine generators employing a flux intensifying PM stator and reluctance rotor novel topology. At UK, he has been working as a Research Assistant with research interests in electric machines and power electronic drives.
Matin Vatani is a Ph.D. student in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He started his studies at UK in August 2022 after receiving his M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) with a minor in Power Electronics and Electrical Machines from the Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT - Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran. He received the AUT Best M.Sc. Thesis Award among all majors for his research on linear switched reluctance motors and the Best Paper Award from the Iranian Conference on Electrical Engineering (ICEE), published by IEEE. He also received the First Best Paper Award at the 2023 IEEE ICRERA International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications with a paper on the coreless axial flux generator concept for direct-drive wind turbines. At UK, his contributions as a Research Assistant included projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, and industrial companies. His current research focuses on advanced electromagnetic FEA, electric machines, design optimization, power electronic drives, and electrification of transportation.
Steven Poore is a Ph.D. student and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He received his B.S. in EE in May of 2023 along with a minor in Math and the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Undergraduate Certificate. During his undergraduate studies, Steven was enrolled in the University Scholars Program (USP), and was a L. Stanley Pigman Scholar, an NSF REU Student, and an Undergraduate Research Ambassador and Fellow supported by major utilities: LG&E and KU and TVA, on electric power systems projects. He was an IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative Recipient, Chair of the IEEE PES & IAS Student Chapter at UK, H. Alex Romanowitz Memorial Awardee, Robert L. Cosgriff Awardee, and received an IEEE 2022 PES GM Undergraduate Poster Award. Steven was an intern and co-op with Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU). In 2023 he was awarded a most prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for his doctoral studies. His current research focuses include artificial intelligence for home energy management systems with EV charging and energy storage, transactive energy controls, and cyber-physical power systems.
Kwabena A. Kyeremeh is a Ph.D. student at the SPARK Laboratory in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University of Kentucky (UK). He has a BSc degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from KNUST, Ghana, and an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, which he received in 2013 and 2018, respectively. Prior to starting his PhD studies in August 2023, he worked as a Lecturer at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana from 2019 to 2023, where he lectured undergraduate students in courses related to power systems. Kwabena has worked as an Electrical Design Engineer with Sinetheta Engineering Group Ltd and Brutt Engineering Ltd, all in Ghana. He also had internships at the Electricity Company of Ghana, Otto – von – Guerricke University in Germany (as a Research Assistant), and Elektroplan Schneider – Stadtallendorf, Germany (as a Graduate Trainee Engineer). He currently serves as a Teaching Assistant at the ECE Department of UK and a Research Assistant at the SPARK Lab with research focused in electric power systems.
Diego Lopez G. is a Ph.D. student in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the University of Kentucky (UK). He began his Ph.D. studies after receiving his B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia, in 2024. Before starting his Ph.D., he worked as a Visiting Student Scholar at the SPARK Lab, where he contributed to the mechanical design of two lab prototypes for advanced concepts of electric machines. During his undergraduate studies, Diego was a member of the Shell Eco-Marathon team, which designs, builds, and races ultra-efficient electric vehicles, participating in the Brazil 2022 competition. He was awarded the Excellence Scholarship by Universidad de La Sabana throughout his undergraduate studies. He currently serves as a Teaching Assistant in the ECE Department and a Research Assistant in the SPARK Lab, with his research focused on electric machines, particularly electric propulsion for aircraft.
Lucas Gastineau is an Undergraduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at the University of Kentucky (UK). He has also worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for the ECE department and is a member of Tau Beta Pi. Lucas is currently working towards his BS with a minor in mathematics, pursuing the PEIK undergraduate certificate in Power and Energy, and plans on integrating his Ph.D. studies in the University Scholars Program. Lucas has been a member of the UK Solar Car team for two years, which designs and builds a solar electric vehicle for national collegiate competitions. His current research involves wireless charging of UAVs with new coil coupler designs.
David Stewart is an Undergraduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at the University of Kentucky (UK). While at UK he has worked as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the ECE Department, is a member of the IEEE robotics team, and the treasurer for IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu. David is currently working towards his BS in Electrical Engineering, pursuing the PEIK undergraduate certificate in Power and Energy and is enrolled in the University Scholars Program (USP) Ph.D track. His current research is on switched reluctance motors and permanent magnet-less machines with application to electric vehicles and aircraft.
Sam Lowe is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at the University of Kentucky (UK). He is also a recipient of the Kentucky Governor's Scholar Presidential Scholarship. During his time at UK, he has worked as a First Year Engineering Program Teacher's Assistant. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a minor in computer science. His current research focuses on automated lighting.
Spencer Goode-Kulchar is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at the University of Kentucky (UK). He is also a recipient of the L. Stanley Pigman Scholarship. During his time at UK, he has worked as the Social Media head for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and is a member of the Tractor Pulling Team. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a PEIK certificate and a minor in mathematics. His current research focuses on electrified micromobility.
Grant Fischer is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at the University of Kentucky (UK). During his time at UK, he has initiated as a member of Triangle Fraternity and has held several positions within Triangle. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. His current research focuses on electrical vehicle smart plugs.