PEPST Lab
POWER ELECTRONICS AND POWER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES LABORATORY
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Overview
Overview
The PEPST Lab carries out research at the intersection of power electronics and power systems. The driving force behind our research activities is to address the many challenges arising due to the evolving landscape of electric power systems. Key activities include development and application of new power electronic converter topologies to enhance grid functionality, at both transmission and distribution levels, and the large scale integration of renewable energy resources. We have significant experience with applications involving high-voltage dc (HVDC) and medium-voltage dc (MVDC) grids and mixed ac/dc power networks, but we are also interested in microgrids, virtual power plants, grid connected energy storage, and other technologies falling under the broad “smart grid” label.
Interested in joining the PEPST Lab? Please check details on opportunities at the Graduate and Undergraduate level.
Why Join the PEPST Lab?
Why Join the PEPST Lab?
A few reasons why the PEPST Lab at UAlberta is an exciting place
Work on interesting projects with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment you won't find in many other Canadian Universities: (i) fully modularized converter prototyping systems with rapid plug-and-play type reconfigurability for experimental validation of novel modular multilevel converter systems and controls, and (ii) a NovaCor real-time digital simulator (RTDS) that can model large and complex power electronically enabled systems such as DC grids.
Priority access to the ECE Department's ELITE Grid research lab, which houses a vast array of experimental hardware from real-time simulators and power amplifiers to reconfigurable hybrid AC/DC microgrid switchgear.
Edmonton is a great place to live with plenty of year-round fun; its River Valley is the largest urban park in Canada (with more than 160 km of maintained pathways & 20 major parks) and the city is only a couple of hours drive away from the Canadian Rockies which offers stellar hiking trails, biking and skiing activities.
The University of Alberta is consistently ranked among the top Engineering Programs in Canada.
Currently recruiting students with background in experimental analysis of power electronics. Please email me your CV and transcripts along with a brief description of why you want to join the PEPST Lab, using "PEPST Grad Position (2026)" as the email subject. PhD applicants must have previously obtained a thesis-based Master's degree. **Note, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.** Thank you!
Recent News
Recent News
2025/8/14 - Congratulations to Dr. Kish who received a certificate of appreciation from the IEEE in recognition of his outstanding support and mentorship in establishing the IEEE PES/IAS/PELS Student Branch Chapter at the University of Alberta! The certificate was presented at the IEEE IHTC 2025 in Edmonton at the Fort Edmonton Park, by Dr. Tom Murad (representing IEEE Canada), Dr. Yunwei Li (representing PELS), and Dr. Andy Knight (representing IAS).
2025/7/22 - Dr. Kish has been invited to serve as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JESTPE). More information on JESTPE can be found here.
2025/7/18 - Congratulations to Anushika Lakmini on the successful defense of MSc thesis "Exploring the Use of Soft Open Points in Networked Microgrids"!
2025/7/8 - Congratulations to PhD student Anjana Wijesekera on acceptance of “Improved Operational Flexibility of the M2AC for Direct AC/AC Conversion“ in a future issue of IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics!
2025/6/5 - Congratulations to PhD student Wael Telmesani on acceptance of “Parallel Connected Converters with Interleaved Phase-Shifted PWM Using a Common Carrier“ in a future issue of IET Power Electronics!
2025/5/23 - Bowei Li's PhD thesis work on "Investigation and Mitigation of Neutral Line Current Ripple in a Single 3L-NPC Converter System for Bipolar DC Distribution" has been accepted for lecture presentation at IEEE ECCE, taking place October 19-23, 2025. Congratulations, Bowei!
2025/4/11 - Congratulations to Tharindu Senavirathna on the successful defense of his MSc thesis "Discontinuous PWM Strategy for Circulating Current Control in Three-Phase Parallel-Connected VSCs"! Tharindu will be staying on in the PEPST group as a PhD student starting May 2025.
2025/4/8 - Congratulations to Nayanathara Widyalankara on the successful defense of her MSc thesis "Circulating Current Suppression in Parallel VSIs Using a Single-Carrier Based PWM Scheme"!
2025/2/25 - The PEPST Lab welcomes Yimeng Chen (MSc student) to the team! Yimeng will be working on modular converter technologies for enhanced control of distribution systems.
2025/1/22 - PhD student Sheron Bolonne recently had a manuscript accepted for publication in a future issue of IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, on the topic of “A Zero Net Flux Modulation Scheme for 3-Leg Core Transformer based 3-Phase AC-DC Topologies“. Congratulations, Sheron!
2024/11/6 - Congratulations to PhD student Haoran Wang on acceptance of “Detecting and Localizing Open-circuit Switch Faults in MMCs Using a Model Informed Estimation Scheme with Low Computational Complexity“ in a future issue of IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics!
2024/10/01 - Daniel Bowman is the recipient of the prestigious C.R. James Award for the best MSc Thesis in the ECE Department for Fall 2024, which recognizes his work on "Fault Tolerant Control of a Grid Interfacing Converter for Bipolar DC Distribution". This award is presented to only one MSc student in the entire ECE department for each term. Congratulations Daniel! Key aspects of his work were published in IEEE ECCE 2024.
2024/9/1 - The PEPST Lab welcomes Dhanika Nagasinghe (MSc student) to the team! Dhanika will be working on converter technologies for modern distribution grids.
Gregory Kish, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Gregory Kish, Ph.D., P.Eng.
-Associate Professor and MEng Faculty Advisor (ECE)
-Energy & Environment Theme Co-Lead, Centre for Applied Research in Defence and Dual-use Technologies (CARDD-Tech)
-PELS Chapter Chair, IEEE Northern Canada Section
-PES/IAS/PELS Student Branch Chapters Faculty Advisor, IEEE Northern Canada Section
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta
11-217 Donadeo Innovation Centre For Engineering
9211-116 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA , T6G 1H9
Phone: 780-492-7086 Email: gkish[at]ualberta.ca
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