Staff
Research Engineers
Eric Keller
- Research Engineer
- B. S. in Multi-disciplinary Engineering Technology, Texas A&M 2021
- Research Areas include electrical grid simulation, cybersecurity, and machine learning
Farnaz Safdarian
- TEES Senior Research Engineer I
- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power, Louisiana State University, USA, 2020
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power and Energy Management, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran, 2014
- B. Eng. in Electrical Engineering, Power, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran, 2011
- Research interests include distributed and decentralized optimization, power systems operation and planning, machine learning and data science, energy management, electricity markets, smart grids, and microgrids.
- Google Scholar page: [Scholar Page Link]
- Personal website [Personal Page Link]
Jonathan Snodgrass
- Senior Research Engineer II
- Assistant Director for Modeling, Simulation and Outreach for the TEES Smart Grid Center
- Ph.D. and M.S in Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021 and 2018
- M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2016 and 2012
- Electrical Engineer II at Zachry Engineering Corporation, 2012-2014
- Research interests include large scale electric grid planning, modeling, analysis, and optimization, plus grid resilience, electric vehicle integration, and cross-domain co-simulations
- Personal website [Personal Page Link]
- Google Scholar page: [Scholar Page Link]
Administrative Staff
Victoria Schmidt
- Program Specialist I, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University
- Administrative support staff for Dr. Thomas Overbye (February 2025 – present)
- Personal interests include photography, painting, traveling and volunteering as the Texas 4-H Junior Master Photographer Youth Advisor
- Contact: victoria.schmidt@
tamu.edu - Office: 308M Wisenbaker Engineering Building (Main Campus)
- Office: 3306 Center for Infrastructure Renewal (RELLIS Campus)
Kelly F. Nickinson
- Program Specialist III, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University
- Administrative support staff for Dr. Thomas Overbye (November 2022 – present)
- B.S. in Recording Arts (Audio Engineering), Full Sail University, 2010, Valedictorian
- Personal interests include reading, writing, audio editing, sound design, Foley, graphic design, cover design, art, and typography
- Kelly’s Personal Portfolio
- Contact: kelly.ford@tamu.edu
- Office: 308D Wisenbaker Engineering Building
Students
Rawand Badawi
- Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2024
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Jordan, 2022
- Recipient of the Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD Merit Fellowship
Lyric Haylow
- M.S. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2024
- Research interests include Transmission & Distribution integration, Renewable Energy, and grid-scale batteries
Seri Kang
- Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University
- B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2020
- Research interests include synthetic grid visualization, smart grid, electric grid resiliency
Sanjana Kunkolienkar
- Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering, Mumbai University, 2018
- Research interests include power grid modeling and visualization, synthetic power system networks and transmission planning.
- Sanjana’s personal webpage
Brian Lee
- M.S. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2024
- Research interests include Upgrading Transmission Lines, Weather Drought, and Renewable Energy
Nicole LoGiudice
- M.S. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2023
- Research interests include EMT Modeling, Geomagnetic Disturbances, Weather Integration with Generation Capacities, Renewables, and Power System Resiliency
Melvin Stevens
- Ph.D. Student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- BSEE , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001
- MSEE , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017
- Research interest Electric Grid simulation, stability, & security
Diana Wallison
- Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, current
- Pursuing Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering Power Systems
- B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2017
- Research Interests focusing on power system geomagnetic disturbance analysis and mitigation, power system stability.
Kseniia Zhgun
- Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- Professional Experience: Senior Specialist, ETAP SYSTEMS LTD, Moscow, Russia (2019-2022)
Power System Design Engineer, several companies, Moscow, Russia (2014-2019) - M.S in Electrical Engineering, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Russia 2017
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Russia 2015
- Scholar page: [Google Scholar]
- Research interests include Dynamic Analysis, Voltage Stability issues, Control Systems Engineering, Optimization, Power flow solution algorithms.
Maedeh Mahzarnia
- Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University
- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems), Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
- M.S in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems), Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Iran
- Google Scholar page: [Google Scholar]
- Research interests include smart grids, power system resilience, AI/machine learning technology in power system applications, power system analysis and modeling for planning and operations, dynamic analysis, power system stability, energy economics and electric power markets, power system optimization, power flow analysis and algorithms
Alumni
Ph.D. Thesis Students
Order |
Name |
Year Graduated |
Thesis Title |
| 31 | Jessica Wert | 2023 | Extracting Value from Electric Grid Information Towards a Resilient Grid Amidst Decarbonization Efforts |
| 30 | Pooria Dehghanian | 2023 | Enhancing Power System Resilience Under Geomagnetic Disturbances: Hazard Characterization, Vulnerability Assessment, and Mitigation Solutions |
| 29 | Juhee Yeo | 2023 | A Methodology for Determining The Appropriate Level of Power Flow Model Detail |
| 28 | Zeyu Mao | 2022 | Improving Power System Resilience Against High-Impact-Low-Frequency Events |
| 27 | Yijing Liu | 2022 | System Dynamics Modeling of Synthetic Power Grids with High Renewable Penetration Level |
| 26 | Wei Trinh | 2022 | The Efficient Determination of Electric Grid Modes for Large Systems Using the Matrix Pencil Method |
| 25 | Hanyue Li | 2021 | Towards the Automation of Data-Driven Remedial Action Scheme Design |
| 24 | Cecilia Klauber | 2020 | Improving Power Grid Situational Awareness during Geomagnetic Disturbances Using Estimation and Visualization |
| 23 | Ikponmwosa Idehen | 2019 | Data Analytics and Wide-Area Visualization Associated with Power Systems Using Phasor Measurement Units |
| 22 | Tamara Becejac | 2018 | Synchrophasors: Multilevel Assessment and Data Quality Improvement for Enhanced System Reliability |
| 21 | Adam Birchfield | 2018 | Creation, Validation and Application of Synthetic Power Grids |
| 20 | Desiree Philips | 2018 | Towards Joint Water-Power Electric Grid Modeling |
| 19 | Shamina Hossaain | 2017 | Protecting the Power Grid: Strategies Against Distributed Controller Compromise |
| 18 | Xu Ti | 2017 | Valuing of Inertia and Fast-Acting Storage Devices in Interconnected Power Grids |
| 17 | Siming Guo | 2017 | Improvements to Power System Dynamic Load Model Parameter Estimation |
| 16 | Wonhyeok Jang | 2017 | Line-Limit Preserving Power System Equivalents |
| 15 | Maryam Kazerooni | 2016 | Enhanced Power System Resiliency to High Impact, Low Frequency Events |
| 14 | Trevor Hutchins | 2015 | Modeling, Simulation and Mitigation of the Impacts of the Late Time (E3) High-Altitude Electrocmagnetic Pulse on Power Systems |
| 13 | Saurav Mohapatra | 2015 | Techniques for Determining Hidden Properties of Large-Scale Power Systems |
| 12 | Rajesh Bhana | 2015 | Methods to Ensure the Adequate Primary Frequency Response of Low Inertia Power Systems |
| 11 | Soobae Kim | 2014 | Power System Analysis Criteria-Based Computational Efficiency Enhancement for Power Flow and Transient Stability |
| 10 | Sudipta Dutta | 2012 | Data Mining and Graph Theory Focused Solutions to Smart Grid Challenges |
| 9 | Kate Rogers | 2011 | Data-Enhanced Applications for Power Systems Analysis |
| 8 | Aquino, Angel | 2010 | Distributed and Decentralized Control of the Power Grid |
| 7 | Davis, Charles | 2009 | Multiple-Element Contingency Screening |
| 6 | Tate, Zeb | 2008 | Event Detection and Visualization Based on Phasor Measurement Units for Improved Situational Awareness |
| 5 | Cheng, Xu | 2006 | Electricity Market Pricing, Risk Hedging and Modeling |
| 4 | Sun, Yan | 2004 | Data Analysis and Visualization for Electricity Markets |
| 3 | Correia, Pedro | 2002 | The Use of Noncooperative Games to Determine Strategic Bidding in Centralized Electricity Markets |
| 2 | Klump, Raymond | 2000 | Computational Framework for Assessing Voltage Security Using Energy Methods |
| 1 | Weber, Jamie | 1999 | Individual Welfare Maximization in Electricity Markets Including Consumer and Full Transmission System Modeling |
M.S. Thesis Students
Order |
Name |
Year Graduated |
Thesis Title |
| 48 | Jordan Cook | 2025 |
Improving Electric Grid Analysis by Incorporating Weather Information
|
| 47 | Jung Kyo Jung | 2023 |
A Methodology of Utilizing Electric Vehicles to Improve the Reliability and Resilience of the Power System in Extreme Weather
|
| 46 | Anna Zhang | 2023 |
Enhancing Geomagnetic Disturbance Modeling for Power Grids: Investigating the Effects of Spatial Variation and Exploring Advanced Data Techniques
|
| 45 | Ramyaa Rathna Kumar | 2021 | Considerations for Real Time Data Analysis using Multiple Magnetometer Sources for GIC studies to Improve the Situational Awareness of an Electric Grid Model |
| 44 | Brandon Thayer | 2020 | Automating Voltage Control of the Electric Transmission Grid with PowerWorld and Deep Reinforcement Learning |
| 43 | Matthew Gaskamp | 2020 | Single User Real-Time Dynamic Geomagnetic Disturbance Simulations of Power Systems |
| 42 | Yiqiu Zhang | 2019 | Evaluating Static and Dynamic Impacts of Geomagnetic Disturbances on Interconnected Power Grids |
| 41 | Raymund Lee | 2018 | Evaluating a Power Grid’s Vulnerability to High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulses Using Detailed Earth Conductivity Models |
| 40 | Zeyu Mao | 2017 | A Power System and Synchrophasor Communications Network Co-Simulation Testbed with a Real-Time Cyber Security Application |
| 39 | Kathleen Gegner | 2017 | Phasor Measurement Units, Analytics, and the Future Electric Grid |
| 38 | Bui Uyen | 2017 | Geomagnetically Induced Current Sensitivity to Assumed Substation Grounding Resistance in the Power System |
| 37 | Adam Birchfield | 2016 | The Creation of Synthetic Power Grids |
| 36 | Beverly Raposa | 2016 | Automation tools for the verification and validation of transient stability models |
| 35 | Oladipupo Ogunnbi | 2015 | An Economic Validation of Solar Energy Potential in Nigeria |
| 34 | Yuchen Hughes | 2014 | Real-Time Validation of Power System Transient Stability Simulation Results |
| 33 | Shamina Hossain | 2014 | Intelligent Distribution Fault Location Using Voltage Magnitude Measurements |
| 32 | Desiree Philips | 2014 | Distribution System Analysis Using Local-Area Voltage Measurements |
| 31 | Joseph Silvers | 2013 | Transient Verification of Generic Wind Turbine Models |
| 30 | Hao Liu | 2013 | Smart-Grid Enabled Distributed Reactive Power Support with Conservation of Voltage Reduction |
| 29 | Trevor Hutchins | 2012 | Geomagnetically Induced Currents and Their Effect on Power Systems |
| 28 | Chris Recio | 2012 | The Utilization of Power Converters in Consumer Products for Distributed Reactive Power Support |
| 27 | Saurav Mohapatra | 2012 | Drivers of Change in the North American Electric Grid |
| 26 | Siming Guo | 2012 | Parameter Estimation of a Composite Load Model Using a Hybrid Approach |
| 25 | Komal Shetye | 2011 | Validation of Power System Transient Stability Results |
| 24 | Thomas Nicol | 2011 | Privacy Protection Through Limited Load Signal Distortion |
| 23 | Alex Westendorf | 2011 | Power System Transient Stability Analysis of Stiff Systems Using the Multirate Method |
| 22 | Chris Reeg | 2011 | Nonintrusive Load Monitoring for Verification and Diagnostics |
| 21 | Prosper Panumpabi | 2010 | Wind Turbine Low Voltage Ride Through Analysis |
| 20 | Héctor Beltrán Mora | 2009 | Modern Portfolio Theory Applied to Electricity Generation Planning |
| 19 | Leilei Xiong | 2009 | Visualizing Market Power in Real-time Electric Power Systems |
| 18 | Renata Revelo | 2009 | Impact Assessment of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Power System Regulation and Control |
| 17 | Kate Rogers | 2009 | Power System Control with Distributed Flexible AC Transmission System Devices |
| 16 | Steve Judd | 2008 | Electric Grid Aspects of Pluggable Hybrid Vehicles |
| 15 | David Maggio | 2006 | Transmission Corridor Analysis using Power Transfer Distribution Factors |
| 14 | David Savageau | 2006 | Adaptive Influence Distance Algorithm for Contouring Bus-Based Power System Data |
| 13 | Charles Davis | 2005 | |
| 12 | Zeb Tate | 2005 | A Comparison of the Optimal Multiplier in Polar and Rectangular Coordinates |
| 11 | Phil Chorazy | 2002 | Visualization Techniques for a Java Power System Applet |
| 10 | Oscar Munoz | 2002 | Evaluation for the Potential for Transmission Constraints on the Operation of a Competitive Electricity Market |
| 9 | Craig Martini | 2000 | Visualization of Oscillation Mode Shapes, Participation Factors and Transmission Systems |
| 8 | Yiqing Zhu | 1999 | Evaluation of the Reactive Market Power |
| 7 | Kollin Patten | 1998 | Evaluating Market Power in Congested Power Systems |
| 6 | Jamie Weber | 1997 | Implementation of a Newton-Based Optimal Power Flow into a Power System Simulation Environment |
| 5 | Caroline Marzinzik | 1996 | A Linear Programming Method for Removing Thermal Line Overloads Affecting Transmission Capacity |
| 4 | Raymond P. Klump | 1995 | Effective Calculations of Low-Voltage Solutions Using the Newton-Raphson Load Flow |
| 3 | David K. Cullum | 1994 | Use of Energy Methods to Approximate Maximum Power System Loadability |
| 2 | Doug Brown | 1993 | Transient Stability Enhancement in Power Systems Using Flexible AC Transmission System Devices |
| 1 | Rezwan A. Lateef | 1992 | Toward a Unified Energy Function Approach in the Assessment of Power System Stability |