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Professor Jian Sun Named Director of Center for Future Energy Systems at Rensselaer
NYSTAR-Funded Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute Focuses on Green, Renewable Energy
Technologies
Jian Sun
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Power electronics expert Jian Sun has been named director of
the Center for Future Energy
Systems (CFES) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
As director of CFES, Sun is responsible for overseeing and
developing the center’s research programs, as well as
facilitating strategic growth and securing new industrial
partnerships. The center, funded by the New York State
Foundation for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR),
aims to connect the expertise of academic researchers with
forward-thinking companies to develop and commercialize new,
innovative renewable energy technologies.
“Dr. Sun has a strong background in power electronics,
technology transfer, and research administration,” said Francine
Berman, vice president for research at
Rensselaer. “He will lead CFES at a time when renewable energy
is a top priority both in the U.S. and globally. We look
forward to seeing the Center for Future Energy Systems meet the
challenges of our time and grow in success and impact under
Jian’s leadership.”
“NYSTAR welcomes Dr. Jian Sun as the new director of the
Center for Future Energy Systems at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. Dr. Sun is an internationally recognized researcher
in the areas of electric power generation and distribution,
power electronics, and renewable energy systems. He has
demonstrated outstanding leadership in research programs and
entrepreneurship in business development,” said NYSTAR
Executive Director Edward Reinfurt.
Sun, associate professor in the Department of Electrical,
Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer, is a
well-known researcher in the areas of power electronics and
electric energy conversion. He said strong partnerships between
academic and industry will be critical for advancing New York
as a world leader in green energy, and for meeting the state’s
goal of producing at least 25 percent of its power generation
through renewable energy sources by 2013.
“At CFES, we are actively seeking new energy materials,
devices, and system technologies that will lead to fundamental
knowledge and transformational changes in energy conservation
and efficiency,” Sun said. “Research taking place at CFES spans
the threshold of renewable and clean technologies, from wind
and solar to bioenergy and fuel cells, and also includes
studies in smart building architectures, the smart grid, and
smart lighting. There is no shortage of engineering and
scientific expertise at Rensselaer, and we want to leverage
that collective knowledge to solve key energy challenges while
promoting economic growth and job creation within New York
state.”
Sun joined the Rensselaer faculty as an associate professor
in 2002, and served as acting director of CFES for most of
2010. Prior to joining Rensselaer, he worked as principal
engineer and senior design engineer from 1997 to 2002 at
aerospace and defense contractor Rockwell Collins, at the
firm’s research and development center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sun worked in 1996-97 as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia
Institute of Technology, and in 1995-96 as a research associate
in Germany at the University of Paderborn. He started his
professional career in 1984, designing aircraft electrical
systems at the research and development center of the Xian
Aircraft Company in Xian, China.
A prolific researcher, Sun has written three book chapters
and more than 130 peer-reviewed journal papers and conference
proceedings on topics related to power electronics. He holds
seven U.S. patents related to integrated magnetics and
high-frequency magnetic components design. He is also very
active in his professional communities, currently serving as
the editor-in-chief for the journal IEEE Power Electronics
Letters. Today, Sun’s research focus is primarily in the
areas of renewable energy, smart grids, and autonomous energy
systems. More specifically, his studies include power
conditioning and grid integration of wind and solar energy,
smart and micro grids modeling and control, energy storage, and
system energy management. He said his vision is to make the
power grid as efficient, smart, and reliable as commercial
aircraft power systems.
Sun received his bachelor’s degree in 1984 from the Nanjing
University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and went on earn
his master’s degree in 1989 from the Beijing University of
Aeronautics and Astronautics. He earned his doctoral degree in
1995 from the University of Paderborn. All of his degrees are
in electrical engineering.
CFES is one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT)
designated and funded by NYSTAR. The CAT program was created in
1983 to promote the transfer of technology from New York
state’s top research universities to its industries. The goal
is to enhance commercially viable product development in the
private sector. There are 15 CATs across New York engaged in
the support of university/industry collaborative research and
technology transfer in a range of technologies.
For more information on Sun and the CFES at Rensselaer,
visit:
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Published
February 9,
2011 |
Contact: Michael Mullaney
Phone: (518) 276-6161
E-mail: mullam@rpi.edu |
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