Shuxuan Chen, PhD Candidate
Shuxuan Chen, born in Fuzhou, China, is a PhD candidate at Texas A&M University since August 2023. He earned his bachelor’s degree in China in 2021 and his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022, both in Electrical Engineering. Fueled by his unparalleled passion for electric machines and a die-hard love for Formula One (F1), Shuxuan’s interest in hybrid powertrains hit overdrive when he discovered the Transmotor, a “straightforward yet counterintuitive” technology conceptualized by Dr. Ehsani in 1994. His journey began with a vision to apply it in F1 cars, but soon expanded to envisioning a greener, quieter, and safer future for aircraft propulsion systems.
Hesam Mazaheri, PhD Candidate
Hesam Mazaheri received his B.Sc. degree from Shahid Beheshti University, and M.Sc. degree from Sharif University of Technology both in Electrical Engineering in 2015 and 2017, respectively. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University, and he has published 19 papers including 9 journals, 3 chapters, and 7 conferences. He has experience working in energy resources integration and interconnection at Electric Power Engineers, LLC company as an intern and he has been honored with Thomas W. Powell ’62 and Powell Industries Inc. Fellowship for two consecutive years. His research interests include power systems, renewable energy generation and storage, smart grid, and distributed energy resources.
Yi Deng, PhD Candidate
Yi Deng was born in China. In 2016, he received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Hunan University, Changsha, China. In 2017, he received his M. Sc. degree in electronic engineering from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China. In 2019, he received his M. Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. He joined the advanced power electronics and drive systems group and has been working toward his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University since 2019. His research interests include machine design and control, renewable energy applications, and energy storage.
Xu Feng, PhD Candidate
Xu Feng was born in Guangdong, China. He received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from South China University of Technology, Guangdong, China, in 2017, and the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, in 2024. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University. His current research interests include the design and modeling of power electronic converters and photovoltaic power interfaces.
Ali Shawartamimi, PhD Candidate
Ali Shawartamimi earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Palestine Polytechnic University in 2019, graduating as the top student in his class. During his time there, he also participated in a student exchange program at the University of Michigan in 2018. Ali then worked as a lab supervisor at the same university for two years, teaching PLC, circuit theory, machines workshop, and pneumatic labs. He also gained industry experience in the biomedical field at Tamimi Medical Ltd, where he specialized in the installation of X-ray machines for hospitals and clinics. Ali was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for his Master’s studies and completed his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University in 2023. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, focusing on the conversion function theory for switching power converters modeling. His research interests include power electronics, power electronics modeling, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and converter-rich systems.
Alumni
Dr. Zhemin Hu
Dr. Zhemin Hu was born in Hubei, China. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 2014 and 2016, respectively, from Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. He has been working toward a PhD degree since 2018 at Texas A&M University, where he joined the advanced power electronics and drive systems group. His main research interests include the design and control of motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicles, energy management, and renewable energy applications.
Dr. Muneer Mohammad, Research Associate
Dr. Muneer Mohammad received the B.S. degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2006, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University in 2009 and 2014, respectively, all in electrical engineering. His research interests are in energy dynamics, sustainable energy, renewable energy, and hybrid electric vehicles. He has over three years of experience as a teaching assistant for undergraduate and graduate courses that covered a wide spectrum of topics in sustainable energy, electronic motor drives, electric circuit, and foundation of engineering. He was selected to receive the first Outstanding Teaching Assistant award given by the Electrical and Computer Engineering department for his dedication to teaching and the outstanding work he has performed.
Dr. Hussein M. K. Al-Masri (S’14, M’16)
Dr. Al-Masri received the B.Sc. and M.S. degrees in electrical power engineering from Yarmouk University, Jordan, in 2010 and 2012, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, USA in 2016. He is also currently a Lab Manager and Researcher with the Sustainable Energy and Vehicle Engineering Program, Power Electronics and Motor Drives Laboratory, Texas A&M University. His research interests include renewable retrofitting energy systems, power electronics and PV applications, and the applications of artificial intelligence techniques to solve power system problems. Dr. Al-Masri was awarded the outstanding graduate teaching fellowship at the department of electrical engineering in Texas A&M University for his excellent academic standing.
Dr. Abdullah A Almehizia
Abdullah Almehizia received his B.Eng. degree from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2010, and the MEng degree from University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University in, College Station, USA. His main research interests are related to renewable energy resources integration and optimization, Power system planning, reliability and economics.
Dr. Ahmad Bashaireh
Ahmad Bashaireh received the B.S. degree from the University of Jordan in 2009, and the M.S. degree from Texas A&M University in 2014, all in electrical engineering. He is currently pursuing his PhD in the area of power electronics. His current research interests include: analysis and design of power electronics systems, energy management, and sustainable energy.
Dr. Nima Ershad
Nima Ershad was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1982. He received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Shahed University, Tehran, Iran, in 2005 and M.S degree in electrical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Center of Excellence in Power Systems, Tehran, Iran) in 2008. He then started working in both academia, as a research associate, and in industry for about four years. He has published 5 ISI journal papers, 4 conference papers, in the area of machine design and energy management. He also has some Iranian national patents. He is now working towards his Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University. His main interests are: analysis, design and manufacturing of electrical machines, fault detection, non-intrusive load monitoring, energy management and renewable energy.
Dr. Babak Rahrovi
Babak Rahrovi received his B.Sc. degree from Sharif University of Technology, and his M.Sc. degree from University of Tehran both in Electrical Engineering in 2007 and 2010, respectively; and then he joined the industry for five years. He holds a M.Eng. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University as well, and he is currently working toward his PhD at the Texas A&M University Power Electronics and Motor Drives laboratory. He has experience working in the electric vehicle industry and in the ABB Inc. Research Corporate Center as an intern and he has honored the Thomas W. Powell ’62 and Powell Industries Inc. Fellowship and the 2019 IEEE Texas Power and Energy Conference Best Paper award. His research interests are power electronics, motor drives, electrification of the transportation, and DC distribution systems.
Dr. Ahmet Yasin Yeksan
Ahmet Yasin Yeksan was born in Konya, Turkey, in 1989. He received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2011 and M.S degree in electrical engineering from the same university in 2014. He worked as a research assistant for about four years. He has published 3 conference papers, in the area of electric drive systems. He joined advanced power electronics and drive systems group in 2014 and is pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University. His main interests are analysis, design and implementation of electric drive systems, ac-dc and dc-dc power converters, electric and hybrid vehicles and flywheel-equipped energy transfer systems.
Dr. Billy Yancey
Billy Yancey received his B.S. in Engineering from Arkansas State University and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2005 and 2010 respectively. Throughout his M.S. and Ph.D he has held various internships in the area of electric vehicle design and renewable energy integration into the utility. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D in the area of sustainable energy and life cycle assessment. His current research interests include sustainable energy, power electronics, machines, and hybrid vehicles.
Dr. Wang, Yiqi
Wang received a bachelor degree in Control &Measurement from Huazhong University of Sci. & Tech in Jun 2011. He is now pursuing his PhD degree at Texas A&M starting Sep 2011. His field of interests are mainly in electrical vehicle and its control.
Owen Golden, M.Sc
Owen Golden received his B.S. degree in Engineering Physics (with a focus in Electrical Engineering) from the University of Colorado in 2012. He has four years of experience in the industry. He is currently working towards his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in the Power Systems group at A&M. He is studying the effects of semi-still loads on the dynamic controls of the induction motor. This research topic includes hybrid/electric vehicles and motor control methods.
William Harris, M.Sc
William Harris received his BS degree in May 2015 in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. Mr. Harris is currently working toward MS degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, starting Fall 2015. His research interests include microgrids, multi-disciplinary optimization, renewable energy systems, energy storage, and complex energy system interactions.
Andre de Morais, M.Sc
Andre de Morais was born in Brazil on April 17 of 1981. He got a first bachelor’s in Physics in 2005 from the Community College of Formiga, Brazil , and a second bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, also in Brazil. In 2014 he joined the Power Electronics and Motor Drives group for a two years master’s program and since then he has been studying power electronics application for renewable sources of energy. He is interested in power electronics converters for PV applications.