PITTSBURGH
(Feb. 7, 2020) … Brandon Grainger, assistant professor
and Eaton Faculty Fellow of electrical and computer engineering at the
University of Pittsburgh, received the 2019 Engineer of the Year Award from the
Engineering Society of
Western Pennsylvania (ESWP). The award recognizes individuals who
have significant technical and professional accomplishments which contribute to
the engineering profession, and it was presented at the ESWP Annual
Engineering Awards Banquet on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at the Westin
Convention Center Hotel.
Grainger is associate director of the Swanson
School of Engineering’s Electric Power Engineering Program and associate
director of the Energy GRID Institute. He received his PhD in electrical
engineering with a specialization in power conversion from Pitt in 2014, where
he also received his master’s degree in electrical engineering and a bachelor's
degree in mechanical engineering. He was
one of the first R.K. Mellon graduate student fellows as the Center for Energy
was being established at Pitt.
Grainger’s research interests are primarily
focused upon power electronic converter design with power ranges that
accommodate aerospace to grid scale applications. He and his advised students
investigate circuit topology design, controllers, magnetics, and power
semiconductor devices to ensure practical, high power dense solutions primarily
for DC/DC and DC/AC converters.
“The success of my research endeavors is a
result of being strategic, aggressive and observant with a critical eye for
detail,” he said. “In the past, there were two classes of engineers in power
engineering: the system engineers and power conversion engineers. Although I
focus in power conversion engineering, my strength is bridging both domains
while proposing unique, novel solutions that industry will find valuable. I
feel I bridge academia and industry well - in how I teach, train students, and
interact with a wide range of manufacturers.”
Grainger, a Pittsburgh native, worked for a
variety of companies before joining Pitt full-time including ABB, ANSYS,
Mitsubishi Electric and Siemens as either a co-op student, graduate student
intern or full-time engineer. The Pittsburgh region is the birthplace of
electric power engineering and Grainger gives credit to his academic and
industry partners, foundations in the region and graduate students who have
invested in him professionally, monetarily, or partnered with him in solving
tough, electrical engineering problems that resulted in him receiving this
award.
“The challenges we are facing today cannot be
solved by one individual but requires a community of champions within various
organizations who have diverse skill sets to drive change,” he said. “My job is
to ensure that students graduating with advanced degrees are equipped to meet
these challenges and, yet, being a part of the community of professionals early
on. I want to ensure that they feel confident as they transition to the
workforce, thus, they are a part of influencing solutions being developed now,
in practice, with our program at Pitt.”
Grainger has contributed to more than 60
electric power engineering articles and is an annual reviewer of various power
electronic conferences and transaction articles. He is a senior member of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) where he participates
in the Power Electronics Society (PELS) and Industrial Electronics Society
(IES) at national levels. He served as the IEEE Pittsburgh PELS chapter chair
for three years at which time the section won numerous awards under his
leadership.
“We are very proud to have Brandon as part of
our faculty,” said Alan George, Chair of the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering and the R&H Mickle Endowed Chair Professor. “Through his teaching and mentoring, he effectively
prepares nascent engineers for a successful career in an increasingly diverse
and global workforce. His innovative research and collaborations have been an
asset to our department from his time as a student to his subsequent transition
to faculty in 2014. Brandon is most deserving of this recognition.”
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2/7/2020
Contact: Leah Russell