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.

 

Dr. Nicholas Jewell is an Adjunct Professor with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, and a Senior Electrical Engineer in the Electrical Engineering and Planning Department of Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU).  At UK, Dr. Jewell advises graduate student research and teaches on topics of power system operations, renewable energy storage and electric vehicle grid integration. At LG&E and KU, Dr. Jewell serves as the subject matter expert in areas such as distribution planning, power systems analysis, distributed energy resources (DER) and electrified transportation.  His 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.  Dr. Jewell received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville in 2014 and is a registered Project Management Professional (PMP).  He has authored and co-authored a number of industry publications and has received several technology transfer awards from the Electric Power Research Institute. In 2018 he was named Top Innovator by Public Utilities Fortnightly, a national distinguished recognition for his innovative work on LG&E and KU's E.W. Brown Energy Storage Research and Demonstration site, which incorporates, next to a multi-MW PV farm, a utility-scale battery system with advanced monitoring and controls that served for the development of the ESIC Energy Storage Test Manual, coordinated by EPRI. Dr. Jewell is an IEEE Senior Member and serves on the Executive Committee of the Louisville IEEE Section.

 

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.

 

Murat Gurhan Kesgin is a Ph.D. candidate in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He started his graduate studies at UK in 2015 on a scholarship supported by the Turkish Government and received his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2017 with research on the design and simulation of a photovoltaic-based charging station for electric vehicles. At UK, he has been working as a Research Assistant on multiple projects sponsored by NSF and industrial companies with emphasis on the large-scale design optimization of special electric machines for high-speed and low-speed direct drive applications. Murat received a Best Poster Paper Award at the 2019 IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA) with a paper on axial-flux permanent-magnet machines for renewable energy storage flywheel systems. His current research focuses on advanced electromagnetic FEA, electric machines and power electronic drives, and design optimization.

 

Stewart Evan Jones is a Ph.D. student and a GAANN Graduate Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of Kentucky (UK). He received two B.S. degrees in EE and CE with a minor in CS, and the undergraduate PEIK certificate in power and energy from UK in 2019. During his undergraduate studies, Evan was a University Scholar, a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, a L. Stanley Pigman Scholar and an ECE and Schneider Electric sponsored Undergraduate Research Fellow. From 2017 to 2019, he was a student engineer for the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), where he implemented and maintained SCADA and metering systems in transmission substations across Kentucky. At UK, he has been working as a Teaching Assistant and as a Research Assistant on projects sponsored by DOE, utilities, including TVA and LG&E-KU, and EPRI. In 2020, he was awarded a multi-year GAANN Ph.D. Fellowship by DoEd. His research focuses on building energy models (BEMs), virtual power plants (VPPs), electric power systems, and renewable energy generation and integration.

 

Yaser Chulaee 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 2021 after receiving his B.Sc. degree from the Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran, in 2016 and the M.Sc. degree from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, in 2019, both in electrical engineering. At UK, he has been working as a Research Assistant on multiple projects sponsored by NSF and industrial companies. His current research focuses on advanced electromagnetic FEA, electric machines, design optimization, and power electronic drives.

 

Rosemary Alden 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). 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 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 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 was an intern in industry with Midea Appliances R&D and with Link-Belt Company. He was an IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative Recipient, an E.ON (Kentucky Utilities) Power and Energy Scholar, and a UKY Presidential Scholar. He served four years on the University of Kentucky Solar Car team which designs, builds, and races solar electric vehicles for annual national competitions. Rising to head the electrical engineering division of the solar car team, Donovin significantly contributed to system-wide reliability leading to 3 podium finishes including a national championship win in 2021. 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) and 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 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. He also received the Best Student Paper Award at the 2023 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference (ITEC) with a paper on in-wheel electric machines for electric vehicles (EV) employing a vernier-type configuration with dual stator with reduced number of slots and coils, and a spoke PM rotor. His current research focuses on renewable energies, advanced electromagnetic FEA, and the design and optimization of electric machines and power electronic drives.

 

Badewa Oluwaseun 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. 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 conference paper award from the Iranian Conference on Electrical Engineering (ICEE), published by IEEE. 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.

 

Charles Skean is an Undergraduate Research Fellow in the SPARK Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky (UK), studying towards his B.S. in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics. Charles is a Governor’s and DCI Scholar at UK, on track to receive the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK) undergraduate certificate, and to join the University Scholar Program (USP) continuing for PhD studies. As the current Chief Electrical System Engineer for the nationally awarded UK Solar Car team from 2021 to 2023, he was in charge of managing electrical system design and implementation. His research interests include electric power components and systems.