RA and TA Positions (Ph.D.)
Our lab is seeking highly motivated graduate students to join our research team. Students with a background in modeling building energy systems, like HVAC systems, are highly encouraged to apply—especially those proficient in one or more of the following simulation tools: EnergyPlus, Modelica, TRNSYS, Trane TRACE, HAP, eQUEST, IES VE, etc.
If you are interested, please send your CV to yao.yu@ndsu.edu.
News - 2026
New Member - Fady Anees has joined our team as a Postdoctoral Research Associate - Welcome! (Jan. 2026)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from North Star Public School to support its application to the the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant Program administered by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. (Jan. 2026)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from City of Pembina to support its application to the the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant Program administered by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. (Jan. 2026)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received grants from Martin Mechanical Design Inc. to conduct building energy modeling for two facilities in support of the 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction. (Jan. 2026)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., renewed a one-year grant from the Southeastern ND Community Action Agency for "Work Scope Development and Cost Estimation for SENDCAA’s Home Rehabilitation Program." (Jan. 2026)
News - 2025
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota about "Needs assessment study of low-income North Dakota individuals and families." (December 2025)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from the NDSU EXPLORE undergraduate research program to support our BASE-TWIN project (December 2025)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce about "Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures in Minard Hall at North Dakota State University." (October 2025)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from the Southeastern ND Community Action Agency about "Work Scope Development and Cost Estimation for SENDCAA’s Home Rehabilitation Program." (September 2025)
Funding - Yao, as P.I., received a grant from the DoD STTR Phase II through the Interactive Aptitude LLC about "Building Automation Systems for Efficient Twin-computation With Interfaces and Networked-tools (BASE-TWIN)." (August 2025)
Funding - Yao, as Co-P.I., received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation about "Feasibility of LED Solar Street Lighting." (July 2025)
Fellowship - Yao has been awarded a Challey Institute Faculty Fellowship, which will run from August 2025 through August 2026! (July 2025)
Presentation - Bal Krishna Kharal presented our conference paper "Development of a Multi-Source Heat Pump System Using EnergyPlus/Modelica Co-Simulation Framework for Residential Buildings" at the 2025 ASHRAE Conference. Phoenix, AZ. (June 21-25, 2025)
Publication - Our paper, “Development of a High-Efficiency and Cost-Effective Ground Source Heat Pump System for Subtropical Climate Applications,” received the 2025 ASHRAE Best Paper Award. (June, 2025)
Presentation - Xuelei Xiao presented our conference paper "Comparative Analysis of Energy Storage Systems for Residential Space Heating: Thermochemical Salt vs. Water-Based Systems" at the 2025 ASHRAE Winter Conference. Orlando, FL. (Feb. 8-12, 2025)
Presentation - Xiaoou Hu presented our conference paper "Novel Designs and Simulations of Integrating Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems for Residential Heating Applications" at the 2025 ASHRAE Winter Conference. Orlando, FL. (Feb. 8-12, 2025)