Members

Current and previous lab members

Current

Post-docs

Note: we have opennings for post-docs.

PhD students

  • Patrick Salter (joined PIC Lab in 2023.01, co-advised with Prof. Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco). Thesis topic: Data-driven modeling and control of grid-interactive buildings and communities
  • Celina Wilkerson (joined PIC Lab in 2023.01). Thesis topic: Modeling, simulation and mitigation of DER cybersecurity (in collaboration with PNNL)
  • Emily Royal (joined PIC Lab in 2023.09, co-advised with Prof. Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco). Thesis topic: District energy system long-term hourly-resolution forecasting and planning
  • Abigail Broscius (joined PIC Lab in 2025.09, co-advised with Prof. Samy Wu Fung. Thesis topic: Fast and Feasible Machine-Learning-Accelerated AC Optimal Power Shutoff for Power-Grid-Related Wildfire Mitigation

Master students

  • Jack Mullen (working on independent research study on large-scale EMT modeling and simulation)

Undergraduate students

Note: We usually support 1-2 student per semester. Contact Dr. Huang if you are a Mines UG student and interested in working PIC lab

Alumni

PhDs:

  • Asmaa Romia (Now with Holy Cross Energy, PhD student in the lab from Jan. 2023 to Dec 2025, graduated in Dec 2025). Thesis topic: Data-driven forecasting and control of DERs for emission-aware community-scale energy management

Post-docs:

  • Xiaolin Chen (Now with CAISO, worked as a post-doc from Feb 2024 to Dec 2025). Research topic: ML-enhanced power system resilience assessment and operation considering natual hazards.
  • Jun Hao (worked as a post-doc from March 2025 to August 2025). Research topic: Weather-wildfire-power system nexus modeling and grid-related wildfire risk prediction.

Masters:

  • Owen Cornmesser (Now with Texas A&M University, worked his master thesis research in PIC Lab from August 2024 to May 2025). Thesis topic: Adaptive distribution system dynamic modeling for transmission system dynamic contingency analysis
  • Jeremy Bakken (Now with GridCare, worked on his independent studies on SCED/SCUC and software development in PIC lab from Feb 2025 to Dec 2025)

Undergraduates:

  • Maverick Savage (worked in the lab from August 2023 to May 2024). Research topics: Building load forecasting and DER energy management system