Sharafuddin earns Ryland Graduate Fellowship for control theory research
Evan Sharafuddin, a first-year electrical engineering PhD student, has been selected as the recipient of the Dwight E. and Jessica D. Ryland Graduate Fellowship for the 2025-26 academic year.
Established by Dwight and Jessica Ryland, this fellowship supports a full-time PhD student in their first year of studies at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Dwight Ryland, a 麻豆免费版下载Boulder School of Education graduate, and his late wife Jessica endowed the fellowship to invest in the next generation of engineering researchers.
鈥淓arning this fellowship is an incredible honor and privilege,鈥 Sharafuddin said. 鈥淭his is an indispensable opportunity to help me pursue wind turbine control research as a first-year PhD student.鈥
His research focuses on applying control theory to wind turbines specifically for floating wind turbines using wind speed previews from lidar.
Sharafuddin joined the Control Systems, Sensor Fusion and Robotics lab led by听Professor Lucy Pao in the Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering Department.听
鈥淚 am passionate about applying control theory to meaningful applications such as renewable energy and medicine,鈥 Sharafuddin said. 鈥淥ur lab does a lot of applied work across industries and I hope my research produces tangible impacts.鈥澨
With wind energy playing an increasingly critical role in the transition to renewable power, Sharafuddin鈥檚 work on wind turbine control could have significant real-world impact. Beyond research, Sharafuddin is committed to making control theory more accessible.听
鈥淐ontrol theory, like many areas in electrical engineering, is quite abstract,鈥 he said, 鈥渁nd I hope to help others get excited about control theory through STEM outreach and being a teaching assistant.鈥澨
As he looks ahead to continuing his studies, Sharafuddin remains grateful for the mentors and peers who have supported his journey.
鈥淚 would like to thank my advisor Dr. Pao and lab mates Sofia and Mandar for their support,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 would also like to thank Dr. Janet Sorrells at Washington University in St. Louis, for her guidance with the application process, and my family for always being there for me!鈥澨