I work on discrete optimization, stochastic modeling, and physics-informed artificial intelligence for resilient electric power systems. I use modern applied mathematics and software tools to address practical problems in a rigorous manner. Many problems in power systems operations include discrete decisions -- opening and closing switches, turning generators on and off -- that must be made on short time scales and with large uncertainty. We must not only advance the ground-truth to accommodate these realities, but also develop surrogate models to reliably integrate with operational workflows.
You can learn much more about my research on the Publications page. I plan to update this section with concise summaries of my recent projects.
My research philosophy is multidisciplinary. I gravitate towards problems that cannot be solved without drawing substantially from various fields, including mathematics, physics, systems and electrical engineering, and economics. I also enjoy interacting and sharing ideas with researchers in all of these fields.
As an early-career researcher, I am dedicated to increasing opportunities for my early-career colleagues to engage in the research community, whether in academia, the national labs, or industry. I organize internal seminars for students and postdoctoral researchers to share their work, and I am happy to support events and conferences that raise the voices of our community. To this end, I am proud to participate in the PowerUp conference as a presenter, and to co-organize the LANL Grid Science Winter School and Conference.
Conducting research as a graduate student can be an overwhelming experience. Scientific research is inherently unstructured, and many of us enter this world from strictly regimented academic backgrounds. My unsolicited advice is to set manageable internal goals for yourself. Write them down concisely and set deadlines. This will be tough at first, but your goal management will improve as time goes on. Document everything. Keep thorough internal and external notes, and commit changes to your code on a regular basis. Make sure your notes are coherent enough to eventually be turned into a paper, and that your code is professional enough to eventually be released for public consumption. Track your time every week, and make steady progress. Do not put yourself in a position where you are rushing to meet deadlines.Â
Above all, take care of yourself. Your mind will not be at your best unless you are eating and sleeping properly. Take care of both your physical and mental health. It is not uncommon to spend 60+ hours a week on your research, but believe it or not, this still leaves plenty of time for leisure. On that note, find something to read besides your academic work. In my experience, reading for pleasure yields tangible mindset improvements.