Research plays a vital role not only in the classroom
but also in confirming the University’sreputation, says
Dr.
Iqbal Husain, professor of electrical and computer engineering
and
this year’s Outstanding Researcher Award recipient.
“Research gives us recognition and establishes us as a
reputable University,” he said. “At the same time,
it enhances our teaching as we bring material from our research
into the classroom.”
Dr. Husain said winning this award is a great honor. “It
is great to be recognized by the University for my work. It motivates
me to keep going.”
Dr. Husain’s research centers on power electronics and
motor drives. Specifically, he has investigated automotive and
aerospace applications, power converters, as well as modern and
digital control applications to machines and drives. His current
research covers switched reluctance
machines, permanent magnet machines, induction motors, power
electronics for electric vehicles and transverse flux machines.
He has generated more than $670,000 in external research funding
for the University. His primary supporter has been the National
Science Foundation; however, he has also received financial backing
from the Ohio Board of Regents, Delphi Automotive Systems and
Schumacher.
Dr. Husain has a patent pending for a controller for a switched
reluctance motor actuating an electric brake caliper (filed 2002)
and holds three invention disclosures for identification of parameters
for mass-produced switched reluctance motors (2003), a reliable
sensorless scheme for low-cost actuators using switched reluctance
motors (2003) and paramagnetic rotor bars for three phase induction
motors (2002).
Dr. Husain said his students play a vital role in his research,
not only by conducting some of the more time-consuming tasks,
but by offering ideas and input as well.
In the classroom, Dr. Husain specializes in energy conversion
and motor controls, teaching
such classes as Electric & Hybrid Vehicles, Energy Conversion,
and Control of Electric Machines. He also covers Electronic Design,
Industrial Controls, Modern Power Systems, Dynamics of Electric
Machines and more.
He has directed five doctorate and nine mater’s dissertations.
Currently, he is overseeing five doctorate and two master’s
dissertations/thesis.
Dr. Husain has been intrigued by engineering since high school
because of the hands-on opportunities it provides. When it was
time to choose a course of study in college, his choice was clear.
He earned his bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering
in 1987 from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
and his master’s and doctorate degrees in Electrical Engineering
from Texas A&M University in 1989 and 1993, respectively.
He joined The University of Akron in 1994 as an assistant professor.
Five years later, he was promoted to associate professor, a position
he held until last year when he was promoted to professor.
Prior to the University, he worked as a researcher and faculty
fellow for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, assistant lecturer
and research assistant for Texas A&M and as a consulting
engineer for Delco Chassis in Dayton. He also served as a visiting
professor at Oregon State University and has consulted for ITT
Automotive, Delphi Automotive Systems, Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Industries, Graphic Enterprises and Hi-Tech Inc.
Dr. Husain is deeply involved in the University. He serves on
the Department Graduate Policy Committee and the College Graduate
Curriculum Committee, and has been the IEEE Student Section advisor
since 1995. Past services include Department Retention Committee
(chair), University Graduate Curriculum Committee, College Scholarship
Committee, electrical engineering coordinator for the Senior
Design Expo in 1996 and more.
He has served as lead professor for the Future Energy Challenge
Competition team (2002-03) as well as the Electric Vehicle Project
(1997). He is also leading the University of Akron Team to get
selected in the Challenge X competition, which is collegiate
level national competition sponsored by the Department of Energy,
General Motors and various other entities. Additional educational
activities include the development of the Energy Conversion Laboratory
(1997-99) and the Power Electronics and Motor Control Laboratories.
His commitment doesn’t end there. He is a senior member
of IEEE and a member of IEEE Societies — Industry Applications
and Power Electronics. He conducts paper reviews for IEEE and
is an Engineering Research Center reviewer for NSF.
Dr. Husain served as topic chair at the Power Electronics Specialists
Conference in Victoria, Canada in 2001, an international steering
committee member of Electromotion in 2001 and 2003, and lastly
was the session chairman at the IEEE-Industry Applications Society
Conference in
1995. Dr. Husain was the session organizer for the IEEE conference
from 1996-2001.
His dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2000, he received
the IEEE-Third Millennium Medal. He also was named IEEE-IAS Outstanding
Young Member in 1998 and received the National Science Foundation
Career Award in 1997.
He is the author/co-author of 68 reports, journal and conference
papers. Last year he added book author to his credentials with
the publication of “Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Design
Fundamentals.” He is a contributing author to four additional
books.
Local communities as well have benefitted from Dr. Husain’s
knowledge. A strong supporter of energy conservation, Dr. Husain
speaks at schools and community groups, educating people on the
advantages of alternative vehicles and the benefits of their
use.
Dr. Husain and his wife, Salina, have three sons, ages 7, 4
and 1.
