Power Engineering Awards 2025
The Power Engineering Awards Program exists to motivate undergraduate and graduate students to pursue academic degrees in the field of power engineering. Each year, new students are chosen to receive the award. The awards hope to bring College of Engineering students together to become highly involved with power engineering faculty, to develop students who are highly qualified to enter the field of engineering, and to encourage students who already have or are likely to make significant research or contributions to the field of power engineering.
Grainger Undergraduate Award
Colton Dombrowski
Colton Dombrowski is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Amherst Junction, Wisconsin. He is active in the Engineering STAR/LEED Advisory Board, Formula SAE Racing, and his church fellowship. Colton has worked with Hoffman Design & Planning, gaining experience in construction projects and exposure to power engineering systems, and he enjoys 3D printing and electronics projects. He hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and a career in research or academia.
Garett Gauger
Garett Gauger is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Wausau, Wisconsin. He has been active with the UW Clean Snowmobile Team, Badger Solar Racing, and IEEE, and has worked as a Controls Systems Intern at Johnson Controls and as a Student Equipment Technician for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. Garett’s work has spanned HVAC control commissioning, generator and UPS systems, and troubleshooting technical equipment. He plans to pursue a career in industry after graduation, applying his skills in power and machines.
Sarah Gerovac
Sarah Gerovac is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She has held leadership roles in Badger Solar Racing, designing solar-powered vehicles, and has contributed as a writer and editor for Wisconsin Engineer Magazine. Sarah’s industry experience includes internships at Lenovo, Tesla, Extreme Engineering Solutions, and Generac, with roles in power supply testing, PCB design, and hardware validation. She hopes to pursue a career in electrical design engineering with a focus on power applications.
Blake Helland
Blake Helland is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from New Brighton, Minnesota. He is a member of the Badger Solar Racing Team, contributing to the low-voltage team, and has interned at Zurich Medical in R&D and at Banner Engineering in sensor development. Blake’s interest in power engineering stems from his fascination with electric vehicles and the interplay of power electronics, motor drives, and energy storage. He hopes to pursue a career in a hands-on lab environment, developing new technologies in power engineering.
Asma Kazi
Asma Kazi is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She has served as co-executive of Engineering EXPO, written for Wisconsin Engineer Magazine, and held leadership roles in Alpha Omega Epsilon. Her experiences include research in materials for semiconductor devices, peer coaching in signal processing, and a machine learning internship developing STEM games for deaf students. Asma hopes to build a career in power systems, renewable energy, or semiconductor technology, with an eye toward graduate school.
Natalie Leuty
Natalie Leuty is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Andover, Minnesota. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, SWE, and WECE, where she served as New Member Director. Passionate about renewable energy, Natalie has interned with AE2S on water treatment facility design. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, running, and playing guitar, and she plans to continue her studies with a master’s degree in electrical engineering at UW–Madison.
Julian Maldonado
Julian Maldonado is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Oak Lawn, Illinois. A Mercile J. Lee Scholar, he mentors incoming students and is active in community engagement. Julian has interned with Yaskawa America, working on drive testing and diagnostics, and with UL Solutions, focusing on industrial controls and safety certification. He plans to pursue a career in power distribution or industrial controls and is considering an offer to return to UL Solutions full-time.
Alec Marshall
Alec Marshall is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a strong interest in power engineering and renewable energy technologies. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, he has worked at WEMPEC as an undergraduate assistant, served as a teaching assistant in mechanical engineering labs, and interned with Leidos on utility data visualization and energy reporting tools. Alec enjoys baking, photography, music, and building his own engineering projects, including an electric bike he has ridden thousands of miles around Madison. He plans to pursue graduate studies in electrical and computer engineering through WEMPEC.
Caden McDaniel
Caden McDaniel is an undergraduate student in electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota. He has interned with Burns & McDonnell, working on large-scale industrial power systems, and with Boston Scientific, where he helped integrate a new pacemaker communication system into medical devices. On campus, he conducts research on high-voltage control systems for electron-beam metal 3D printing and is active in Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity. Caden enjoys hiking, sports, and playing cards with friends, and plans to pursue a career in power electronics and PCB design after graduation.
Michael Plumridge
Michael Plumridge is an undergraduate student double majoring in Electrical Engineering and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Cedarburg, Wisconsin. A drummer in UW’s jazz program and in multiple bands, he balances music with engineering, where he tutors and coaches students in signals and systems. He has interned with Sonoco and CITGO, contributing to safety, plant design, and electrical capital projects. Michael hopes to pursue graduate studies in acoustics and a career in sound and signal research.
Kendall Riddle
Kendall Riddle is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Verona, Wisconsin. Passionate about renewable energy, they studied abroad in Iceland and lead the generator team for WiscWind, building small-scale wind turbines for competition. Riddle has also worked as a co-op at Electronic Theater Controls, testing high-power motor starter boxes. They hope to pursue a career in renewable energy after graduation.
Caleb Sanders
Caleb Sanders is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Madison, Wisconsin. A member of the Wisconsin Hodags ultimate frisbee team, Sanders enjoys chess, staying active, and has worked as a math tutor. Their interest in power engineering is driven by challenges in renewable energy and data center innovation, and they hope to pursue a career in power systems after graduation.
Joshua Schooley
Joshua Schooley is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He serves as Student Exhibits Chair for Engineering EXPO and is a member of the Wisconsin High-Speed Transportation Group. Josh has interned with WEC Energy Group, where he contributed to distribution grid modeling and storm operations planning. He hopes to pursue a career in power systems after graduation.
Ian Waite
Ian Waite is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Janesville, Wisconsin. His interests in engineering were sparked by aerospace and automotive technologies and a fascination with innovation in sustainable power. He participates in intramural sports and enjoys strength training, history, ecology, and hiking. Isaac hopes to apply his skills in renewable energy or aerospace/automotive engineering after graduation and plans to join the Peace Corps before starting his professional career.
Grainger Welcome Award / Novotny Welcome Award
Sangin Bae
Sangin Bae is an MS – Researchgraduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Daegu, South Korea. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and previously developed a 25 kW modular electric vehicle charger as an undergraduate researcher. At UW, his research focuses on modular multilevel converters and advanced control strategies for improving efficiency in high-power energy conversion, with applications in renewable energy and motor drives. Sangin hopes to continue his career in industry, contributing to global advancements in power electronics.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Hardik Chhabra
Hardik Chhabra is an MS-Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from New Delhi, India. He earned his B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Netaji Subhas University of Technology and previously conducted research on GaN-based high-frequency circuits. His graduate research focuses on using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors to design faster, more efficient, and more reliable power electronic circuits. Hardik hopes to continue his career in the power electronics industry, advancing sustainable technologies and bringing research innovations into practice.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Ruben Gasparini
Ruben Gasparini is an MS – Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Miami, Florida. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UW–Milwaukee and spent nearly six years working as a Power Electronics Design Engineer before beginning his graduate studies. His industry experience includes designing high-power chargers at Rivian Automotive, next-generation battery chargers at Milwaukee Tool, and ignition control modules at Wells Vehicle Electronics. At UW, his research focuses on high power density converters, with the goal of enabling more efficient power conversion for automotive applications.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Pourya Javidi
Pourya Javidi is a Ph.D. student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Shiraz, Iran. He earned his B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Kerman and his M.Sc. in Power Electronics and Electric Machines from Sharif University of Technology. His research focuses on developing high-voltage pulsed power supplies for medical and industrial applications, building on prior work in automotive power electronics for hybrid vehicles. Outside of research, Pourya enjoys gaming, hobby electronics, and ping-pong, and he plans to pursue an academic career in power engineering.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Ujjwal Kumar
Ujjwal Kumar is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research aims to make power electronic converters more efficient while reducing energy losses and electrical noise. Originally from Patna, India, he holds a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from VIT University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UW–Madison. He has also worked as a Staff Controls Engineer at BorgWarner, developing control algorithms for high-voltage traction drive applications. Ujjwal hopes to continue driving innovation in the power electronics industry while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Angelina Lesniak
Angelina Lesniak is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her research focuses on integrating renewable energy into the grid through green hydrogen technologies. Originally from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, she earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 2025. Angelina has held internships at KW Mission Critical Engineering, AHEAD Engineered Solutions, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and UW–Madison, gaining experience in energy systems, medical technology, and advanced research. She has been active in Tau Beta Pi, the Society of Women Engineers, and Engineers for a Sustainable World. Outside of engineering, Angelina enjoys hiking, skiing in the American Birkebeiner, playing piano, and baking for friends. She hopes to pursue a career advancing sustainable energy through research or grid operations.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Cameron Little
Cameron Little is an MS-Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Round Lake, Illinois. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and held internships with Northrop Grumman, working on debugging power supplies and PCB power systems. His research explores efficient energy transfer through advanced transformer topologies for dual active bridge converters. Cameron hopes to pursue a career in power and energy R&D, with a focus on defense applications.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Shalini Manna
Shalini Manna is a Ph.D. graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Kolkata, India. She earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from IIEST Shibpur and her M.S.–Research in ECE from UW–Madison. Her research focuses on three-phase power converters for fast charging and isolated motor drives, with an emphasis on high efficiency and lightweight design. Shalini’s industry experience includes internships with Milwaukee Tool and GE Research, where she worked on EMI filters, soft-switching GaN+SiC modules, and MEMS gyroscope controls. She hopes to pursue a career in industrial research or at a power electronics startup.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Albert Rhee
Albert Rhee is an MS-Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research focuses on designing efficient dual active bridge converters for space propulsion systems as part of the SPAR Institute. Born in Texas and raised in Seoul, South Korea, he earned his B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Seoul National University. Albert has held internships at Samsung Electronics and a power electronics lab at SNU, as well as working as a researcher at Korea Electronics Technology Institute. His long-term goal is to continue advancing power electronics either in academia or industry.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Ashwin Shejwalkar
Ashwin Shejwalkar is an MS-Research graduate student in power engineering at UW–Madison whose research focuses on advanced DC-to-AC conversion for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) grids. Originally from Pune, India, he earned his B.E. in Electrical Engineering from BITS Pilani and gained industry experience as an Advanced Inverter Systems Intern at BorgWarner. After graduation, Ashwin hopes to build a career in the power electronics industry, advancing both technology and innovation.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Sahil Shingote
Sahil Shingote is an MS-Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Pune, India. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronics Engineering from BITS Pilani and has held roles including a Battery Systems intern at KTM F&E in Austria and a researcher with WEMPEC. His current research focuses on designing advanced inverters for electric vehicles to reduce electromagnetic interference, making future EVs more compact, efficient, and reliable. Sahil aspires to begin his career in industry and ultimately launch his own startup to advance clean energy technologies.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Gabriel Twohig
Gabriel Twohig is a PhD graduate student (2030) in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Harvard University and has held internships with Vanderweil Engineers, General Motors, and MagLev Aero, where he worked on projects ranging from electric motor fabrication to advanced propulsion systems. His research explores fault-tolerant motor designs and rare-earth-free permanent magnet machines for electrified aerospace applications. Gabriel hopes to pursue a career in industry research and development, with the long-term goal of starting his own company.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Shuaihu Wu
Shuaihu Wu is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Xi’an, China. He earned B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Tsinghua University, as well as additional degrees in engineering and mathematics from the University of Paris-Saclay. Shuaihu has collaborated with Energy de France on wind turbine data analysis and volunteered as an anti-doping chaperone at the 2022 Winter Olympics. His research focuses on motion control and maglev motors, with the goal of advancing precision machine technologies for practical applications.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
Ethan Zenker
Ethan Zenker is an MS – Research graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Hartland, Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from UW–Madison, where he also interned at Eaton Research Labs on projects involving EV charging, power distribution, and power converters. His research explores bidirectional transistors and transformer leakage flux to improve power density in AC–AC converter topologies. Eric plans to pursue a career in industry, advancing innovation in power electronics.
Receiving: Grainger Welcome Award
Peng Zhang
Peng Zhang is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Zhangjiakou, China. He earned a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from North China Electric Power University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, where he also interned at GE Vernova in the Electrification Software–Grid Sector. His research explores optimization and control algorithms for power system operations, bridging theory and real-world engineering challenges. Peng is passionate about advancing the resilience and efficiency of modern power grids and is open to future opportunities in both academia and industry.
Receiving: Novotny Welcome Award
The Grainger Dissertator Award / Novotny Dissertator Award
2025 Winners
Joe Gorka
Joe Gorka is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UW–Madison and has conducted research at Los Alamos National Laboratory on machine-learning techniques for predicting large-scale power system blackouts. His current research focuses on enabling greater renewable energy integration while maintaining grid security and efficiency. Outside of engineering, Joe is a songwriter and performer. He hopes to pursue a research career in the national labs or a carbon-conscious technology company.
Receiving: Grainger Dissertator Award
Laura Homiller
Laura Homiller is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, originally from Austin, Texas. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on sensorless control of electric machines, aiming to simplify designs and improve reliability. Laura’s past experience includes energy audits, internships at MathWorks, and motor control work at John Deere. She hopes to pursue an R&D career in industry in electric machines and mechatronics.
Receiving: Grainger Dissertator Award
Aditya Rangarajan
Aditya Rangarajan is a PhD graduate student in power engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research develops optimization-based methods to improve the reliability and control of power grids with high renewable generation. Originally from Mumbai, India, he earned his B.Tech. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka and has conducted research at IIT Bombay, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Outside of research, Aditya enjoys running and biking. He plans to continue advancing grid resilience and sustainability through a career in power engineering.
Receiving: Novotny Dissertator Award
Jingjie Wu
Jingjie Wu is a PhD graduate student working in the Precision Mechatronics and Control Lab (PMCL) advised by Dr.Lei Zhou at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He received his Master’s Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2020. At PMCL, he focuses on developing high-performance mechatronics systems through novel control and optimization algorithms and self-sensing estimation and control for electric machines. In his spare time, Jingjie enjoys staying at home and listening to music.
Receiving: Novotny Dissertator Award
Past Winners
Please take a look at our previous winners here: