POWER ELECTRONICS AND ENERGY RESEARCH GROUP (PEER)
FACULTY MEMBERS
Dr. Pragasen Pillay
Professor
Dr. Pragasen Pillay
Research Interests:
Biography:
Dr. Pillay received the Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa, in 1981 and 1983, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA, in 1987. From 1988 to 1990 he was with the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. From 1990 to 1995, he was with the University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA. From 1995 to 2007, he was with Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA, where he held the Jean Newell Distinguished Professorship in Engineering. From January 1999 to August 2016 he was an adjunct Prof at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2017, Dr. Pillay was appointed as Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town, S.A.
Dr. Pillay is a member of the IEEE Power Engineering, IEEE Industry Applications, IEEE Industrial Electronics, and IEEE Power Electronics Societies. He is a member of the Electric Machines Committee and the Past Chairman of the Industrial Drives Committee of the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS), the Past Chairman of the Induction Machinery Subcommittee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society, and the Past Chairman of the Awards Committee of the IAS Industrial Power Conversion Department. He has organized and taught short courses in electric drives at IAS Annual Meetings as well as to the Government of South Africa. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, U.K., and a Chartered Electrical Engineer in the U.K. He is also a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa and a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.
Dr. Pillay is the recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe from the President of South Africa in 2008 for contributions to South Africa in the area of energy conversion. He is also the recipient of the 2015 IEEE IAS Outstanding Achievement Award. He was also a distinguished lecturer of the IEEE Industry Applications Society in 2012/2013. In 2015 he was the General co-Chair of the Energy Conversion Conference and Exposition, which is the largest and most important conference in his area of electric machines.
Professor Pillay has published more than 160 articles in refereed journals and around 280 technical papers in major conferences and meetings in North America and other international conferences.
Professor Pillay’s Research Group Members
Dr. Luiz A. C. Lopes
Professor
Dr. Chunyan Lai
Associate Professor
Dr. Akrem Aljehaimi
Dr. Akrem Aljehaimi
Research Interests:
Biography:
Dr. Akrem received a bachelor’s degree from Misurata University, Misurata, Libya, in 2007, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Concordia University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, in 2012 and 2018, respectively, all in electrical engineering. He was a Research Associate with the Power Electronics and Energy Research Group at Concordia University in Montréal from May 2018 to November 2018. In December 2018, he joined the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Misurata University in Libya as a Senior Lecturer. There, he have taught the following courses: Controlled Electric Drives, Fundamentals of Electrical Machines, and Electrical Machines I & II. Also, he supervised several Undergraduate Capstone Projects. In April 2022, he joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Concordia University as Post Doctoral Fellow under the supervision of Professor Pragasen Pillay. From April 01, 2024, Dr. Aljehaimi is a research associate with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Concordia University.
Dr. Daniel Nzongo
Dr. Daniel Nzongo
Research Interests:
Biography:
received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Ecole Normale Supérieure d'Enseignement Technique (ENSET) of Douala University, Douala, Cameroon, in 2010 and 2012, respectively, and a Ph.D. degree from Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China, in 2018, all in electrical engineering. From June 2018 to June 2021, he worked as a senior R&D engineer with Pearl Electric Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China. During this time, he was the team leader of the Power Electronics Laboratory and developed several product prototypes, which included DC 1.5 kV, 100 kW four channels energy router and a thermal ice melting device rated 1000 kW for catenary wires in rail transit power system. During this time, he gained experience with the design of power supplies for the next-generation of rail transit electrification systems. He recently joined the PEER group at Concordia University as a horizon PDF where he is currently involved in the intelligent control of high-speed electric motor drives and power converter design using WBG semiconductors.
Dr. Hyacinthe Tchakounte
Dr. Hyacinthe Tchakounte
Research Interests:
Biography:
Dr. Hyacinthe Tchakounte received a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Yaounde, Cameroon in 2008. In 2012, he obtained his master's degree in Mechanics and Materials from the same university. His master's work focused on the realization of a one-armed robot. He obtained his PhD in applied physics and engineering from the National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences at the University of Ngaoundere, in July 2021. From 2019 to 2023, he worked as assistant lecturer and senior lecturer at the High Institute of Excellence PKFOKAM, teaching the following courses: engineering statics, engineering Dynamics, strength of materials, introduction to mechatronics and engineering computation using MATLAB. In February 2024, he joined the Power Electronics and Energy Research Group at Concordia University in Montréal as a research assistant.
Shiva Garaei
Shiva Garaei
Research Interests:
Electrical Machines and Drives; Modeling and Optimization of Electric Vehicles
Biography:
Shiva Garaei received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran in 2011 and a master’s degree from the University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran in 2015. She is pursuing a Ph. D. degree in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Concordia University under the supervision of Dr. Chunyan Lai.
Seyedeh Nazanin
Seyedeh Nazanin Afrasiabi
Research Interests:
Motor Control; Electric Machines and Drives
Biography:
Nazanin received her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and her Master’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Tehran University and her Master’s degree from Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada, in 2020 in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada. She is currently working towards a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Concordia University.
Neetusha Kalarikkal
Neetusha Kalarikkal
Research Interests:
Design and Control of Power Electronics Converters
Biography:
Neetusha Kalarikkal received her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Calicut, India in the year 2013. She received her master’s degree in Electronics Systems Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India in 2016. She worked at General Electric as an Edison Engineer from 2016 to 2018. Presently she is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada under Prof. Pragasen Pillay. She is a recipient of the Concordia University Gina Cody Scholarship for her ongoing Ph.D.
Ahmad Darabi
Ahmad Darabi
Research Interests:
Electric vehicle, Power Electronics
Biography:
Ahmad graduated from the BSc program in Electronic engineering from Razi University Kermanshah, Iran. He received the MSc degree in power system protection from Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), Tehran, Iran. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. program at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Bassam Samy
Bassam Samy AbdelMageed
Research Interests:
Design of electric machines, Magnetic gears
Biography:
Bassam received his bachelor’s degree in electrical power and machines engineering from the higher institute of engineering at el-shorouk in 2015, and his master’s degree from Cairo University, Egypt, in 2020. Bassam is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Mehdi Shamshirband
Mehdi Shamshirband
Research Interests:
Power Systems, Energy Management, Electric Vehicles, Smart Grids
Biography:
Mehdi Shamshirband is a Ph.D. student of Electrical Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He received his M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering – Power Systems at Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran. His main research interests include Power System Operation and Planning, Electric Vehicles, Demand Response, Smart Grids, Renewable Energy integration studies, and CO2 Reduction. Mehdi has three years of experience in the industry and electrical distribution network by completing various projects, including development and establishment, maintenance, and equipping the electrical distribution networks.
Koteswara Rao Alla
Koteswara Rao Alla
Research Interests:
Electric Transportation, high power converters, Traction motors, and their control
Biography:
Koteswara Rao Alla was born in Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1982. He received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronics engineering from Vignan Engineering College, Vadlamudi, India in 2003. He did his masters from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in the year 2005. He has worked with General Motors, Synopsys, BHEL R&D and currently working with Indian Railways. He is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada under the supervision of Prof. Pragasen Pillay. He is the recipient of the Concordia University International Award of Excellence for his ongoing Ph.D.
Paul Inuwa Adamu
Paul Inuwa Adamu
Research Interests:
Electrical Drives, Electric Vehicles (EVs), High Power Converters, and Renewable Energy Systems
Biography:
Paul Inuwa Adamu earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2009, and a Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Bradford, UK, in 2016. From June 2011 to December 2019, he was a lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic in Damaturu, Nigeria. He also served as a lecturer at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Kaduna, Nigeria, from January 2020 to August 2022. He is currently a research assistant at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he is pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Amir Kermanizadeh
Amir Kermanizadeh
Research Interests:
Electrical Machines, Electrical Vehicles, Ultra High-Speed Electrical Motors and Ultra High-Frequency Motor Drives
Biography:
Amir Kermanizadeh received his bachelor's degree in power Electrical engineering from Shahre-Rey branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. He worked on starting torque optimization of a single-phase induction motor for industrial applications as his final project. Also, He received his master's degree from Science and Research branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, where he presented a new topology for cage rotor structure of an induction motor in order to reduce the stator harmonic currents under supervision of professor Hamid Lesani.
He during and after his master's degree worked as a R&D manager in AryaMotors company, Eyvanekey, Iran. During his career he provide several accomplishments for the company, such as: design and implementation of a magnetic brake, a dynamometer interface, a 0-300 V 50A Step down converter, a ultra high frequency v/f induction motor drive, in-process measuring system for grinding machines, Broken bar detection equipment, overhauling the control system of high pressure die casting machines (HPDC) and jig grinding machines.
Amir Kermanizadeh is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Solihah Sharief Shiekh
Solihah Sharief Shiekh
Research Interests:
Power Electronic Converters, Advanced Control Strategies, Electric Vehicles
Biography:
Solihah Sharief Shiekh received her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Kashmir, India in 2020, and her master’s degree from the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, India in 2022. Solihah is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Hani Eltouni
Hani Eltouni
Research Interests:
Design and Analysis of Electric Machines
Biography:
Hani received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical power and machines engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt, in 2016 and 2022, respectively. He is currently pursuing a PhD degree in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Pragasen Pillay.
Odo Kenneth Chinonso
Odo Kenneth Chinonso
Research Interests:
Electrical Machines and Drives
Biography:
Kenneth Chinonso Odo obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Master of Engineering in Power Electronics Devices and New Energy Systems both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2017 and 2022 respectively. From April 2019 to December 2023, he worked as a Lecturer in the department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is currently working for his PhD in department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, QC, Canada.
JAY PRAJAPATI
JAY PRAJAPATI
Research Interests:
Renewable Energy Resources, Power Electronic Converters
Biography:
Jay Prajapati received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India. He worked as an automation engineer for one year at KYB Conmat Pvt Ltd. He is currently working on the future building laboratory project as a MAsc student in Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Concordia University in Canada under the supervision of Dr. Pragasen Pillay.
Abraham Ande
Abraham Ande
Research Interests:
Power Electronics and Controlled Electric Drives
Biography:
Abraham received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Higher College of Technology, Abu-Dhabi, UAE. He is pursuing his M.Sc. degree in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Concordia University, Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Pragasen Pillay.
Jia Fu
Jia Fu
Research Interests:
Power Electronic Converters, Electric Vehicles
Biography:
Jia Fu received her bachelor's degree in Electronic Science and Technology from Chang'an University, China and her master's degree in Business Administration from Jilin University, China. She is currently pursuing another Master of Applied Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Concordia University under the supervision of Dr. Chunyan Lai.
Jie Dang
Jie Dang
Research Interests:
Power-to-hydrogen System, Renewable Energy System Optimization
Biography:
Jie Dang received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in control science and engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China. He is currently working on the project relating to the modeling and control of power-to-hydrogen system as a MASc student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Concordia University in Canada under the supervisor of Dr. Luiz A.C. Lopes.
- Dr. Ashutosh Patel
- Dr. Nil Patel
- Dr. Sadam Hussain
- Dr. Ying Zuo
- Mr. Sahil Jaglan
- Mr. Muhammet T. Mercan
- Mr. Tolga Osmancik
- Dr. Mohanraj Muthusamy
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- Dr. Vakacharla Venkata Ratnam
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- Ms. Koyelia Khatun
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- Dr. Sivanagaraju Gangavarapu
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- Dr. Amitkumar Kortagere Sashidhar
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- Dr. Chirag Desai
- Mr. Zaid Hamed Zaid
- Mr. Saroosh Saeed
- Dr. Mohammad Masadeh
- Dr. Sara Maroufian
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- Dr. Ahmad Malkawi
- Dr. Akrem Mohamed Aljehaimi
- Dr. Amirmasoud Takbash
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- Mr. Mohamed Ismail Omer
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- Mr. Peng Zang
- Mr. Giampaolo Carli
- Mr. Pablo Cassani
- Mr. Xin Li
- Ms. Di Wu
- R&D Engineer II, Ansys, Montréal, QC
- Electrical Engineer, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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- Assistant Specialist, Ministry of Energy, Türkiye
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- Consultants, BBA, Montreal, QC
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- Postdoctoral Researcher
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- Looking for Engineering work
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- Power Supply Design Engineer at MDA Space
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- Working in Libya
- Assistant Professor at the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Assistant Professor at Misurata University, Libya
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- Looking for Engineering Job
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- ABB Inc., USA
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- OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES, Canada
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- MDA Corporation, Canada
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- MacDonald Dettwiler & Assoc., Canada
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- ABB, Canada
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- Hyperloop One, USA
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- Private Business, Canada
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