2024 Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Projects
Institution: University of Calgary
About: The project aims to investigate the role of demand response for grid resilience to extreme weather events, with a focus
on the Alberta region. The undergraduate researcher, working in tandem with a PhD student, will engage in several key
tasks to support the project's goals:
- Data Collection and Analysis: The fellow will gather and analyze historical data on Alberta's weather patterns, wildfire occurrences, and cold spells, alongside their impact on grid operations and renewable energy performance. These include open-access datasets such as those by Environment Canada and AESO, as well as datasets offered by Prof. Stull and his team at UBC. I will attempt to obtain more granular datasets from AESO.
- Scenario Analysis: The fellow will create and analyze scenarios in which demand response mechanisms are deployed during extreme weather events. This will include evaluating the potential of different demand response strategies to mitigate the adverse effects on the grid and renewable energy sources. The work will also involve categorizing the province load and estimating the availability for immediate or scheduled demand response.
- Simulation Development: Under the PhD guidance, the undergraduate will assist in developing simulation models that replicate the grid's behavior under stress from extreme weather conditions. They will test various demand response strategies to assess their effectiveness in maintaining grid stability. The simulations will be top-level, focusing on the temporal aspects of events and responses and ignoring the grid’s dynamics and power flow model.
- Research Documentation and Dissemination: The fellow will assist in documenting the research findings, contributing to reports, and preparing materials for dissemination at conferences or local events. Through this project, the fellow will gain hands-on experience in energy systems research, data analysis, and simulation modeling. The fellow will perform the analyses in Python and will use project management and collaboration platforms including Git.
The fellow will contribute to innovative solutions for the resilience of electrical grids against extreme weather events. The undergraduate and PhD student collaboration will foster a mentorship environment, facilitating skill development and academic growth.
Dates: May to August 2024
Institution: University of Utah
PI: Rajesh Menon
About: We are developing a technology that can convert a low-cost Go Pro Hero 8 camera into a Low Size, Weight, and Power (L-SWAP) hyperspectral camera, which will enable small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) at the local government level to be capable of generating hyperspectral imagery, and segmented semantic (fuel type, soil moisture, etc.) maps easily, often, and in real-time during incident response. The core technology, which we refer to as a COmpressive Snapshot Spectral Semantic imager (COS3I) employs an optical compression process to encode spectral and semantic information into intensity images, significantly reducing telemetry bandwidth requirements, unlocking the ability to transmit data in real-time with existing Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) telemetry systems used for sUAS. Work is done in collaboration with NASA Langley and the Naval Research Laboratory. Specific work tasks for the fellow include:
(1) Optical modeling of the system.
(2) Deep-learning-based image reconstruction.
(3) Collection of training data.
Dates: May 15 to August 15, 2024
Institution: University of Utah
PI(s): Matthew Fry and Marissa Greer
About: The Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) is a voluntary market composed of 22 members in the U.S. portion of the Western Interconnection that serves approximately 46.7 million customers. This collaborative initiative aims to balance supply and demand dynamics, crucial for integrating renewable energy sources, fortifying grid resilience, and reducing electricity costs. By delivering real-time responses to customer demand across the expansive West, WEIM plays a pivotal role in the energy landscape. Demand-side management (DSM) strategies aim to modify demand-side energy consumption to foster better energy efficiency and grid reliability to create a smarter grid. DSM strategies often focus on energy efficiency (EE) or demand response (DR). Energy efficiency strategies are engineered to optimize the utilization of each unit of electricity, fostering a systemic reduction in demand throughout the day. Demand response strategies encourage consumers to curtail their electricity usage during peak demand intervals. These strategies often leverage a mix of financial incentives, new technologies such as smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances, and educational outreach programs to elicit desired behavioral changes. As WEIM strives to align consumer demand more effectively, and with DSM strategies gaining popularity for managing rising electricity demand, we aim to pinpoint which WEIM members are implementing DSM strategies and detail their specific strategies and programs. To identify DSM strategies and programs, we will conduct a content analysis using information from utility websites, integrated resource plans (IRPs), company statements, and other relevant documentation. The research fellow will assist with document and data collection, data processing and organizing, and coding the documents using MaxQDA software. This research aims to examine better and understand the complex array of demand-side management strategies within the Western Energy Imbalance Market, providing crucial insights into how electricity providers are cultivating a more resilient and sustainable grid in the West.
Dates: May 20 to August 1, 2024
Institution: University of California San Diego and WIFIRE Lab
PI(s): Ilkay Altintas and Kate O’Laughlin
About: The fellowship undergrad student project will assist the WIRED Data Hub by integrating more external sources into the data catalog that are relevant to the power grid, utilities, weather, and/or wildfire data. This process will develop the student’s data engineering, transformation, and ingestion knowledge while improving the Data Hub catalog’s robustness. Secondly, the student will utilize the National Data Platform to perform an ML or statistical analysis utilizing the Interagency Tracking System utility-based treatments (1995-Present) and one or more of the exterior datasets ingested into the Data Hub.
Dates: May to August 2024
Meet the Fellows
Sofia Moeinvaziri
Hi! My name is Sofia Moeinvaziri and I am currently a rising sophomore at Stanford University studying either electrical or mechanical engineering. I’m fascinated by the intersection of math and sustainability, and I’m eager to explore electrical engineering through my fellowship.
During my freshman year at Stanford, I lived in the energy-themed dorm and joined Stanford Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW). As a member of ESW, I’ve worked in a lab environment, gone through the research process, and learned about the importance of long-term reliability for engineered products. I specifically worked on building a miniature wind turbine and designing a renewable energy proposal for a local farmer that considered the logistics of using solar power, wind energy, and hydropower.
In high school, I co-founded the nonprofit Compost Utah, an organization that implements composting programs in elementary, middle, and high schools in Utah. Through this experience, I learned how to best advocate the importance of climate change to younger generations.
In my free time, I enjoy watching Formula 1, skiing, gardening, and playing the piano. I’m excited to work at the University of Utah this summer and I look forward to learning more from Professor Parvania.
Edie Raines
Edie Raines is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah currently studying English literature and geology with an emphasis in environmental geoscience. They are passionate about environmental sustainability, and particularly passionate about working towards a future fueled by renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources. They have worked as a copy editor and arts writer for the Daily Utah Chronicle and as a peer advisor for the University of Utah’s LEAP Program.
Edie is also working towards a minor in French and hopes to utilize the skills taught through studying language and the humanities to facilitate authentic communication between environmentalists and scientists across the globe.
This summer, Edie will be working with University of Utah Department of Geography PhD student Marissa Greer and Professor Matthew Fry, researching demand response programs used within the western power grid.
Jack Allerton Doughty
Originally from Boston, MA, I came to the University of Utah to pursue a degree in Data Science with a minor in Mathematics. My research, under the guidance of Dr. Rajesh Menon, focuses on the co-optimization of optical systems and machine learning algorithms.
As a senator for the College of Engineering, I actively engage in student government, advocating for educational advancements and student welfare. Nothing fulfills me more than being able to serve my peers. I also aspire to become a leading engineer in AI development and aim to shape policies that harness AI’s potential responsibly.
Outside of my passion for tech and policy, I am an avid skier, weightlifter, and book worm. I also spent two transformative years in Mexico as a missionary where I became fluent in both Spanish and the indigenous language Chol.
Saud Amjad
My name is Saud Amjad and I am currently pursuing an Electrical Engineering undergraduate degree with a minor in Mechatronics Engineering. I have done all my work and education in Calgary, Alberta with deep roots of family back in Pakistan.
During my time selecting my post-secondary path in high school, I knew it was important that my choice must allow me to make a positive impact on society and to begin working on something that directly impacts our future. As I got older, my passion for engineering led me into a passion for robotics. This had allowed me to chase numerous opportunities such as being an essential part of the Schulich Space Rover Team at the University and being able to judge the VEX Robotics Provincial Competition for high school and middle school students earlier this year.
Eventually, I became intrigued with energy power systems where I searched for novel problems that, when researched, could allow for a better future for individuals, organizations or even entire industries. I am extremely honored and grateful for the work that will be done alongside Dr. Mostafa Farrokhabadi, will allow for a more rounded and positive impact on society, something I will continue to strive for as an engineer.
