Biography
Ricardo de Castro received the Licenciatura and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computers engineering from University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Portugal, in 2006 and 2013, respectively. During 2007-2008 he was an entrepreneur with the WeMoveU project, targeting the development of powertrain control solutions for lightweight electric vehicles. From 2013 to 2020, he was with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of System Dynamics and Control (SR), where he developed enabling technologies for electric mobility and automated driving. In 2021, he joined University of California, Merced as an assistant professor.
Throughout his career, Ricardo de Castro has been involved in the development of several electric vehicles for research and educational purposes, featuring car-to-car communications and x-by-wire actuators (ROMO), multiple electric motors (uCar) and FPGA-based high performance control units (VEP). He has been an expert evaluator for the European Union, Editor of IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Associate Editor of IEEE Access, Guest Editor of the journal Energies and chair of technical tracks on vehicular electronics and intelligent transportation systems, IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC 2017-2018). Ricardo de Castro is also a Senior Member of the IEEE.
He is the author of three patents, more than 70 papers in international journals, conferences and book chapters, and recipient of two best paper awards. Detailed list of publications can be found at Google Scholar, Research Gate
Education
2013 - Ph.D. in Electrical and Computers Engineering, University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Portugal
2006 - Engineering degree (Licenciatura) in Electrical and Computers Engineering, University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Portugal
Professional Experience
2021 to present - Assistant Professor, University of California, Merced, Department of Mechanical Engineering
2013 to 2020 - Research Scientist, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of System Dynamics and Control, Germany
Jan. 2013 - Feb. 2013 - Visiting Researcher, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
2006 to 2009 - Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Signals and Systems (LSS), University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Portugal
2006 to 2008 - Entrepreneur, WeMoveU
Honors & Awards
2023 - Best Paper Award in Energy Systems, 2023 American Control Conference (ACC)
2023 - Best Student Poster Award (as advisor), 2023 Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC23)
2022 - Hellman Fellow
2021 - 1st Prize in the IEEE VTS Motor Vehicle Challenge 2021
2019 - Best Paper Award, IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC19)
2019 - IEEE Senior Membership: Honor in recognition of professional excellence and significant performance.
2015 - Best Paper Award, International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER 2015)
2009 to 2013 - FCT Fellowship: Merit-based fellowship to fund and support Ph.D. studies awarded by Portuguese National Science and Technology Foundation
2006 - Undergrad Research Award, for the development of an advanced motor control unit for neighborhood electric vehicles
2000 - Finalist in the Portuguese Informatics Olympiads, organized by the Portuguese Informatics Association