WKU News

Dr. Farhad Ashrafzadeh has been named the Greulich Chair of Energy Systems at WKU.

WKU President Gary Ransdell introduces Dr. Farhad Ashrafzadeh as the Greulich Chair of Energy Systems. (WKU photo by Bob Skipper)

Dr. Ashrafzadeh joined the Electrical Engineering Program in the Department of Engineering at WKU in 2012. His academic career follows 15 years of experience at the Whirlpool Research and Development Center in Benton Harbor, Mich., where he served as an electrical motor drive and power electronics specialist. He has extensive experience in the design, development and commercialization of highly reliable and cost-effective power electronics and motor drives for energy-efficient appliances.

Dr. Ashrafzadeh was the keynote speaker for the 2005 IEEE International Electrical Machines and Drives Conference in San Antonio, Texas. He has also served as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, an invited speaker for various universities and IEEE sections, and a chair and session organizer for a number of IEEE conferences.

He has been an adjunct professor at both Western Michigan University and Indiana University at South Bend, and a member of the WMU External Advisory Board. He performed two years of postdoctoral research at the University of Calgary, where he received his Ph.D. He is also a Certified Six-Sigma Black-Belt Engineer.

Dr. Farhad Ashrafzadeh talks about his research as the new Greulich Chair of Energy Systems at WKU. (WKU photo by Bob Skipper)

Dr. Ashrafzadeh holds 65 patents. His research interests include renewable energy conversion and advanced electrical drives for various applications, including the smart grid, hybrid vehicles and appliances.

The focus of the Greulich Energy Systems Lab will be the challenges and opportunities in modern appliances. Appliances provide interesting applications for research in advanced control and drive techniques, as well as novel but familiar examples for innovative educational materials illustrating basic science and engineering topics.

The Greulich Endowed Chair in Energy Systems was created in 2008 by Don and Jennifer Greulich, who met when they were both WKU students. Don Greulich is president of Kerr Greulich Engineers Inc. in Louisville, which provides building systems engineering and design throughout the United States.

Contact: Julie Ellis, (270) 745-2461.