Message from Dr. Young
It may be the summer break at UNC Charlotte but EPIC is still a hive of activity! Several of our labs are installing new equipment, faculty are participating in
projects
conferences and training, and students are taking advantage of the
break in classes
to work on ground-breaking research. Although we say farewell to one colleague,
David Causey
, we
prepare
to welcome our new Director, Dr. Mike Mazzola. As I transition out of my role as Interim Director of EPIC, I am excited to move back into my role as Interim Associate Director to help ensure a smooth transition for Dr. Mazzola and EPIC. During these past nine months as Director, I have been privileged to work closely with our faculty and staff, and I remain in awe of
their dedication and commitment
to
doing all they can to help the University, the College of Engineering, and EPIC be successful.
The present and the future are brighter and more exciting than ever.
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Welcome Dr. Mike Mazzola!
Power electronics expert, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Jack Hatcher Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship will soon be taking the helm of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) as Director and Duke Energy Distinguished Chair in Power Electronics.
Dr. Mike Mazzola, who will join EPIC on July 10, is an expert in several technical areas including semiconductor devices and their applications in power electronics as well as pulsed power technology. Dr. Robert Johnson, dean of the College of
Engineering
said "Dr. Mazzola's extensive engineering power electronics background and his experience at the Center were a great match for the EPIC Director position".
A professional engineer, Mazzola has conducted research in the areas of silicon carbide device prototyping and semiconductor materials growth and characterization for the last 14 years,
has published more than 100 papers, and has been awarded 14 patents. Currently At the MSU Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, he is the associate director for advanced vehicle systems, where he leads research in high-voltage engineering, power systems modeling and simulation, the application of silicon carbide semiconductor devices in power electronics, and the control of hybrid electric vehicle power trains.
Please join us as we welcome Dr. Mazzola to UNC Charlotte.
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EPIC Affiliates news
We welcome our newest member:
GE Energy Connections designs and deploys industry-leading technologies that turn the world on. They transport, convert, automate and optimize energy to ensure they provide safe, efficient and reliable electrical power. Uniting all the resources and scale of the world's first digital industrial company, they connect brilliant machines, grids, and systems to power utility, oil & gas, marine, mining and renewables customers, that keep our world running.
GE Energy Connections offers a full range of electrical capabilities. Their global teams design industry leading technology to improve the transmission, distribution and conversion of electricity, and to help provide safe, efficient and reliable electrical power.
Click here for more information on how the EPIC Affiliates Program can benefit your company.
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Farewell
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The
Center for Advanced Power Engineering Research (CAPER) is a membership driven consortium among UNC Charlotte, Clemson University, and NC State University, and industry partners in the Southeast region of the US. The main mission of the center is to develop and demonstrate grid modernization technologies and enhance the educational experience for students in electric power engineering. With an aging infrastructure, rising demands for cleaner electricity and extreme weather conditions, the nation's utilities are working to meet these operational and planning challenges while maintaining a resilient and reliable grid. As a collaborative effort, CAPER works to develop research and demonstrate advanced technologies to meet the operational and expansion needs under uncertainties with an increased penetration of distributed renewable generation
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UTC Foundation Grant to EPIC
The UTC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Utilities Technology Council (UTC), presented its first grant to
the Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC)
at UNC Charlotte. The contribution was given at an awards dinner on May 10,
during the UTC Telecom & Technology conference in Charlotte. The UTC Foundation chose EPIC for its inaugural donation due to the outstanding Smart Grid technology and telecommunications work of the school, which aligns perfectly with the charity's vision of supporting and promoting educational institutions and programs that connect students with utilities and critical infrastructure-related interests.
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EPIC Annual Report
EPIC is pleased to present our 2016 Annual Report. EPIC once again saw steady growth in enrollment by undergraduate students with an energy concentration, and graduate students in energy courses. The EPIC Affiliates Program was launched to focus services to our industry partners, and membership is growing. Our support of students is strong with almost 1/3 of our annual budget being used on funding research assistantships, Senior Design projects, student travel to conferences, and seed funding for research projects. EPIC faculty and EPIC Associates continue to pursue and attract important research projects, working with federal and state agencies, industry and other academic institutions. EPIC faculty and staff remain focused on meeting the demands of the energy industry, promoting significant opportunities for collaboration on technical solutions, and preparing our students for accomplishments in their fields of interest.
Click here for the 2016 EPIC Annual Report.
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EPIC in the news
EPIC has received some great attention in the press lately for a variety of work. If you missed them then here you go!
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Get Connected
EPIC wants to help you stay plugged into the news, seminars, events and many activities taking place here and throughout the energy industry. We have revamped many of our sites and invite you to like, follow and link with EPIC today!
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EPIC generates the interest of industries, organizations, and educational institutions from the across the US and countries around the world. Look with whom we visited in the last quarter! If you have a group that would like a tour, they may be scheduled on Fridays between 9:00 a.m -12:00 p.m.
| Afribiz |
| ALEVO |
| BPA |
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B&W Waste to Energy
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Charlotte Area Transport System
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Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
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| CPL Hong Kong with Navigant |
| Dynex |
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ECR Engines
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EPRI
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| Gardner Webb University |
Governors Association of Korea
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Liberty University
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| North Renewable Energy |
| Senator Thom Tillis' staff |
| Siemens Energy |
| South African Consulate |
| TBEA |
| Tesibit |
| UNC Pembroke |
| Utilities Technology Council |
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About EPIC: The Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte, serves as a state-of- the-art research center that provides
education
and applied research opportunities to students with energy related interests. Our industry-education partnerships unite students, faculty and industrial partners to collaborate on interdisciplinary research and learning.
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