OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Feb. 10, 2016 – Yilu Liu, the Governor’s Chair for Power Grids, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. The Governor’s Chair is a joint appointment at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee.
Being elected to the academy is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Liu was elected “for her innovations in electric power grid monitoring, situational awareness and dynamic modeling," according to the NAE. She is one of 80 engineers chosen from across the United States.
"To be recognized by the National Academy of Engineering is confirmation of the value that our work holds for the modern society," Liu said. "Not only that, but it validates all of the hours, effort and research put in by people at UT and ORNL.”
Liu, who serves as a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, becomes the fifth member of the College of Engineering to receive this honor.
She joins John Fisher Distinguished Professor Mark Dean and University Distinguished Professor Jack Dongarra, both of computer science; fellow UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Nuclear Materials Steven Zinkle of nuclear engineering; and George Pharr, Chancellor's Professor and McKamey Professor of Engineering, director of the Joint Institute of Advanced Materials, and joint faculty scientist in the materials science and technology division at the ORNL.
Liu is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and deputy director of the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area-Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks Engineering Research Center at UT.
Liu's research at UT, ORNL and CURENT focuses on smart-grid technologies in electrical power production and distribution, with an eye on developing new and better ways to monitor and understand the flow of electrical energy through the nation’s power grid.
"This prestigious honor highlights the immense value of Yilu’s efforts to understand and enhance the flow of electrical energy through the nation’s power grid," said ORNL Director Thom Mason. "A reliable, efficient grid is essential for the nation’s security, economy, and way of life, and her exceptional work illustrates the benefit of combining the strengths of the university and a national laboratory.
"Yilu’s research is of vital importance, and her recognition by the National Academy of Engineering is well deserved."
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy's Office of Science. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
