EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Ph. D.  Mechanical Engineering 2002

University at Buffalo, SUNY
"A Theoretical and Experimental Study of High-Temperature Compressive Gas Heating."

B.S. M.S.  Thermal Physics and Engineering 1995

St Petersburg State Technical University, Russia
"Mathematical Design of a High-Temperature Vertical Kiln," thesis internship at the Institute of Flame-Resistant Materials, St. Petersburg, Russia.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Alternative and Renewable Energy, Fuel Cells, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Automotive Applications, Fuel Reforming, Combustion, Thermal and Fluid Systems, CFD, Data Acquisition and Instrumentation, Rotating Machinery.

We are standing in the doorway of the next technical revolution in transportation and renewable energy sectors. Autonomous, electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles are making a quantum leap and are strongly positioning themselves in manufacturing and service over the next 20-30 years.

Wind and solar technologies have reached the development and affordability levels to compete with coal burning. These are the jobs of today and tomorrow, where I see my students taking technology leadership positions.

California, and especially Southern California, is like none other state in the union. Here is the prime market for new mobile and renewable technologies. The Sustainable Energy and Transportation program enjoys the support of dozens world wide known Research & Development and manufacturing companies. Students are regularly taken on field trips or have guest lectures.

TEACHING INTERESTS

The Sustainable Energy and Transportation program offers the following courses:

Solar panel team members Cesar Cardenas, Jesse Morales, Edgar Avalos, Jacob Dayneko, Jimmy Hoo and Jeovany Aguilar gauge the output of their panels on top of the Engineering and Technology building. There are two, 79-panel grid systems that will power lab experiments and research, as well as supply energy to a hydrogen fueling station.

System was upgraded to 58 Sharp (circa 2000, 10% efficiency) and 11 LG (circa 2016, 22% efficiency) in 2018.

KEY PROJECTS

2019-2020 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Technical Director for Cal State LA Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility

Lead Faculty Advisor for EcoCAR 3 (Facebook) (2014-20180 and EcoCAR 2 (2011-2014) Projects

Project Lead and Designer for Cal State LA Photovoltaic System

Project Lead for Cal State LA Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure, 59 Level II and 6 FCDC

Faculty Advisor for Hydrogen Super Eagle Racer

Updated 2021