Excellence of Computer and Electrical Engineering highlighted in Fellowships
Friday, September 5, 2025
Media Contact: Tanner Holubar | Communications Specialist | 405-744-2065 | tanner.holubar@okstate.edu
The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University is home to tremendous faculty who instill their world-class expertise into the next generation of engineers.
In honor of this level of dedication to their students and research, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering recognizes early career faculty members with fellowships named after prior faculty who impacted ECE.
This year, ECE has named Dr. Ying Zhang the Jack H. Graham Endowed Fellow of Engineering and Dr. John Hu the Lynn T. Miller Faculty Fellow. Dr. Hamid Pouya is in the second year as a Distinguished Fellow of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
All three received these fellowship honors due to exemplary excellence in contributing to both research and education for ECE students. The department strategically allocates foundation funds in advance to recognize faculty excellence in teaching, research, student advising and academic achievement.
“This support is directed toward early career tenure-track assistant professors or recently tenured associate professors,” said Dr. Guoliang Fan, professor and ECE school head. “The award is presented to an exceptional, innovative and highly productive faculty member, selected at the discretion of the school head.”
Dr. Ying Zhang
Zhang was named the Jack H. Graham Endowed Fellow of Engineering in spring 2025 and is deeply honored for the recognition.
“This recognition affirms the value of my efforts in research, teaching, and scholarship, and it is an encouragement to continue striving for excellence,” Zhang said. “To me, this appointment is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the strong support I have received from ECE and CEAT at OSU.”
Her impactful research focuses on developing innovative solutions at the convergence of power systems, artificial intelligence and grid resilience in the face of disasters. Her research is geared toward making the electric grid smarter, more sustainable and more resilient to disruptions caused by climate change.
Students are beneficiaries of Zhang’s ability to combine the fundamental theories with applied, hands-on problem-solving regarding power and energy systems. They also gain experience researching issues that address urgent needs, such as how the climate and energy interact, renewable integration, and critical infrastructure resilience.
"This prepares them not only for academic success but also for impactful careers in industry, government and research institutions,” Zhang said. “Equally important, they learn to think independently, adapt quickly and collaborate across disciplines, skills that are invaluable in today’s rapidly evolving engineering landscape.”
Zhang is thankful to the ECE department and CEAT leadership for providing a supportive environment that allows early-career faculty to thrive.
“This appointment underscores the strong reputation and dedication of our ECE faculty,” Zhang said. “It signals that our contributions — whether in teaching, research or service — are valued and recognized beyond the department. It also reflects the collaborative environment at OSU, where faculty members support one another and collectively advance knowledge to address global challenges in energy and AI.”
Dr. John Hu
Hu was named the Lynn T. Miller Faculty Fellow in spring 2025, a title that leaves him honored and excited.
“ECE is willing to go out of its way to support junior faculty in their professional development,” Hu said. “This is particularly precious when the federal government is shrinking its research budget.”
Hu’s research efforts include developing generative artificial intelligence technology to improve engineering productivity. One example is microelectronics debugging, which used to be a manual and tedious process that teachers or their students did not enjoy.
"We are now developing Gen-AI technologies that can assist human engineers to troubleshoot circuits with an eye on 10-100x improvement in productivity while reducing human error rates, fatigue and cognitive overload,” Hu said.
Due to this fellowship, undergraduate students can join Hu’s research team and get paid for their work. This creates a more meaningful and immersive research experience without time and financial support limitations.
Since first coming to OSU in 2019, Hu has developed a network of dedicated support in ECE that has helped him reach this point.
“I would like to thank our former department head, Dr. Jeffrey Young, for mentoring me throughout my career development," Hu said. “I would also like to thank our current department head, Dr. Guoliang Fan, for his support of my research and educational activities. I would also like to thank many of our ECE senior colleagues, particularly Dr. Gary Yen and Dr. Martin Hagan, for giving me advice on specific topics throughout my academic journey.”
Dr. Hamid Pouya
Pouya was named a Distinguished Fellow of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2024, an honor recognizing junior faculty who demonstrate exceptional performance in teaching and research early in their careers.
Pouya’s research centers on modernizing power systems and power electronics, with a focus on making energy systems more sustainable, resilient, efficient and adaptable to new technologies. He leads a portfolio of externally funded projects that aim to design, develop, and demonstrate innovative solutions in power and energy systems, smart grids, and power electronics.
At OSU, Pouya directs the Power Grid Modernization Lab, where cutting-edge research and student training go hand-in-hand. Through real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulation and cyber-physical energy systems, the lab provides students with a rare opportunity to move beyond theory and work directly with emerging technologies in realistic settings.
His vision for research is rooted in building multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations that extend beyond ECE and engineering, engaging with faculty across diverse fields as well as industry experts. These partnerships not only strengthen his projects but also help create new capacities within the department and the college, opening opportunities for broader innovation and impact.
Central to Pouya’s work is his commitment to student learning and mentorship. The research initiatives he leads expose students to the latest methods in artificial intelligence, advanced control, and optimization, while also grounding them in practical skills through power electronics and smart grid technologies. Students are actively involved in designing, testing, and demonstrating solutions to real-world challenges, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the energy sector and beyond.
“Watching students evolve from understanding the basics to contributing fresh perspectives and breakthroughs is incredibly rewarding and continuously inspires my own work,” Pouya said.
Since joining OSU in 2020, Pouya has guided the research of several doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students, helping them grow into future leaders and innovators.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of Electrical and Computer Engineering,” Pouya said. “I am sincerely grateful to the ECE Department and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) for this recognition and for their continued support.”