20
December
2016
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00:00 AM
Europe/Amsterdam

Pitt Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Emma Raszmann Awarded Second IEEE Scholarship

PITTSBURGH (December 20, 2016) … The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power and Energy Society (PES) recognized Emma Raszmann, a senior studying electrical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, with her second IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Award. Raszmann also received the award in October 2015, and she is the ninth Pitt student to be named a PES Scholar since the award’s inception in 2011.

“Pitt lengthens its streak of having a student awarded a PES Scholarship each year since the program started,” said Gregory Reed, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of Pitt’s Center for Energy and the Electric Power Systems Lab. “Emma has shown remarkable commitment to power engineering and the desire to use her education to truly impact the field. We at the Center for Energy are happy to encourage that passion in our students.”

Raszmann will graduate this semester with a B.S. in electrical engineering and a minor in computer science with a concentration in electric power. This spring she will intern with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, where she will be working with the power electronics and controls group for distributed grid integration. Raszmann also worked at NREL over the summer with the residential group on battery modeling for home energy management. She is currently in the process of applying to graduate school and would like to pursue a PhD in electrical engineering with a focus in power electronics.

“I chose to study electrical engineering because I knew it would allow me to solve complex yet rewarding problems and lead me to create an exciting, lifelong career,” says Raszmann. “Although there is a theoretical side to electrical engineering, we also have a hands-on side to our design problems, such as soldering circuits and using test equipment. I love the balance between both theoretical problem solving and hands-on engineering problems. It’s challenging and fun at the same time. I hope to someday pursue a career in a research and development environment such as a national lab. My goal is to contribute to electrical engineering research for renewable energy integration and energy efficiency applications.”

After enrolling in Dr. Reed’s Power System Analysis class, Raszmann worked in the Electric Power Systems Lab for two semesters. She designed a DC-DC dual active bridge converter circuit and performed exploratory research on high power density converter circuit design considerations and applications. When she began studying grant and proposal writing to help prepare her for a future career in research, the Center for Energy staff helped her network with energy related non-profits to get experience writing technical grants.

“I worked with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council to get practice grant writing by working on a proposal for on the PEC’s energy efficiency initiatives in Pennsylvania,” said Raszmann. “The support from the Center for Energy has been outstanding, and I hope more Pitt students take advantage of such a great resource that we have at Pitt.”

About the IEEE Power Engineering Plus Scholarship
The IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative encourages undergraduate students to pursue careers in power and energy engineering. The program provides scholarships and facilitates internships and co-op experience, but also offers many opportunities to gain experience and build knowledge in power and energy engineering careers, including mentoring opportunities and special recognition as a PES Scholar.

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Photo (from left): Dr. Brandon Grainger, research assistant professor and Pittsburgh Power Electronics Society Chapter Chair, Dr. Gregory Reed, Emma Raszmann, and U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering Gerald Holder in the Swanson School's Electric Power Systems Laboratory.

Author: Author: Matthew Cichowicz, Communications Writer

Contact: Paul Kovach