Who am I?
PES Scholar - 2014 and 2015
I am currently an Electrical Engineering student in the BS/MS program at Northeastern University with interest in the areas of system planning and renewable energy, expecting to graduate in May 2018. I have a concentration in Power Systems for the MS as well as a minor in Sustainable Energy Systems. My primary interest lies in the area of system planning to support the expansion of renewable generation. I would like to be involved in transmission/distribution scale power systems analysis and transmission expansion feasibility studies. I am also very interested in the integration of DERs into the electric grid and the economic feasibility of increased renewable proliferation in the market.
Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?
It seems to me that engineering, in general, requires a fair amount of physical knowledge and a keen sense of causality. It is never about the symptom on the surface, but rather the subtle, underlying plague to the system. The elusive root cause that provides such a sense of accomplishment when it is found. Why. Why. Why. And then it hits you! That’s a feeling that is hard to find elsewhere. And was their ever a field which could provide such a great benefit to the world? The needs for an ever-growing and more demanding than ever population must be filled, and that’s exactly what engineers do. They provide the advances in technology and the clever solutions which allow this world we all live in to keep on spinning. And soon enough, that “they” will include me. There is so much space in the power engineering field for innovation and completely new technology that it is sure to never be stagnant. And I’m always up for a challenge. I am ready to start finding a way to make a difference, one kilowatt at a time.
What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?
My primary interests lie in the fields of renewable energy generation, integration and grid interconnect technologies, and energy storage techniques designed to enhance the attractiveness of variable renewable generation. I would like to be involved in projects related to power conditioning and grid-interconnection management to support increased penetration of RE systems, for example residential solar in areas such as Hawaii and California. It is clear that there are a great number of challenges associated with bringing more renewable generation online and maintaining grid stability. I aspire to be a part of mitigating any problems caused and work towards developing systems that can in fact allow renewables to provide increased stability and decrease the need for excessive spinning reserves. The projects completed in the area of large scale energy storage are an additional area of particular interest, as a future grid with storage capacity has the potential to eliminate a large number of expensive, inefficient power plants which are currently required in order to meet peak demand and provide security in the event of other generation failures. I am also interested in the work being done with micro-inverter control technology as well as other demand side power management such as the development of systems that could use electric vehicle batteries as a grid-stabilizing controllable load as they expand in popularity.
How has been selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?
Recognition as a IEEE PES Scholar has certainly been impactful when pursuing co-op opportunities, as PES is a widely recognized institution within the power engineering industry. Additionally, becoming a recipient has allowed me to form connections with professors whom I had not previously had contact. This has led to changes in the coursework I am completing as well as research opportunities in the academic side of power engineering related to transmission and distribution system operation. Of course, the financial assistance is always greatly appreciated and continues to help me advance my studies toward the graduate level.
January 2016
