1st Year PhD Student
University of California, Berkeley
Department of Electrical Engineering
Coordinates
275M Cory Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-1770
About Me
I am a first year graduate student working in the Connectivity Lab under the direction of Professor Ahmad Bahai. My research interests are focused on improving energy efficiency and developing accurate models for mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical systems that are validated against data. My Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University was focused on control systems, fluid mechanics (as applied to rockets and turbine engines), and numerical simulations. My Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the University of Connecticut were focused on control theory, digital design/computer architecture, and operating systems. I live in Sunnyvale, CA and work part-time for National Semiconductor in the research and development group investigating lithium batteries. I was a member of the technical staff responsible for the development of the technology behind the SolarMagicTM Power Converter. I am hoping to take prelims in January so I can focus on my research.
Current Research Interests
Lithium Battery Characterization and Modeling
I am working with National Semiconductor to characterize lithium ion cells under a variety of operating conditions. The goal is to create a 0-D model that accurately represents the amount of remaining capacity left in the cell based off past usage information. The model will take into account thermal and cycle effects and provide prognostic estimates of the future health of the battery.
Toyota Prius Energy Monitoring and Optimization
I am working with TOYOTA InfoTechnology Center in Mountain View, CA on an investigation into the energy efficiency of the Toyota Prius. I have access to a Toyota Prius outfitted with additional sensors specifically selected for providing additional information about the state of the environment surrounding the car. These sensors decode signal light timing information; monitor position and velocity with GPS/INS; and measure motor, engine, and battery states. Using this information, I will create a system to help the driver conserve energy.