Saeed Manshadi, PhD
Associate Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
San Diego State University 
Director, Smart Grid Lab (E220)
Co-Director SDSU SCEIN -Southern California Energy Innovation Network
Email: smanshadi AT sdsu DOT edu
Office: E202D
Open Positions
🎓 We are recruiting PhD students for Fall 2027 through the SDSU–UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Candidates with a background in power system optimization, machine learning, and power system modeling are encouraged to learn more and apply here.
News
10/2026: We have open PhD positions for Fall 2027 through the SDSU–UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program (JDP)! See the open positions and apply here.
10/2026: I am serving as Chair of the Startup Showcase for the 2027 IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies Conference & Exposition (April 19–22, 2027, Salt Lake City, UT). Startups are invited to apply to the Grid Edge Innovation Challenge by November 20, 2026.
07/2026: Our paper, entitled "Data-Driven Mean Robust Optimization for Optimal Distribution Switching to Enhance Grid Resilience Against Wildfires" has been accepted in Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy.
05/2026: Our senior design team HydroGlow, sponsored by Watts on Water, presented "HydroGlow: Geospatial Pipeline for Floating Solar Feasibility" at SDSU Senior Design Day.
03/2026: I was a panelist on the "Energy for AI" panel at the AI Ă— Energy Summit at SDSU.
02/2026: Welcome to our new senior design team, Michael Devere, Amarjot Sandhu, Scott Sears, and Johnathan Truong, who kicked off the "Smart Embedded Water Heater" project with ZNRG Innovations to develop AI-driven demand response for smart water heaters!
12/2025: Our paper, entitled "Powering tomorrow’s farms: A roadmap for hydrogen energy systems in off-grid rural agricultural decarbonization" has been published in Energy Reports.
09/2025: I co-authored the IEEE PES Technical Report PES-TR135, "AI for Power System Resilience: Resources Toward Various Extreme Events and Operation Issues", published by the IEEE PES Bulk Power System Operation, Planning and Economic Committee.
09/2025: I was featured in SDSU Global Campus's article "Smart Cities and the Engineers Behind Them".
02/2025: I interviewed European Research Media Center " Before the storm: how microgrids can future-proof our power supply "
05/2024: I am promoted to Associate Professor with tenure!
03/2024: Our Farm Electrification Project is featured at Engage + Innovate " The future of farms: It’s electric! "
03/2024: I was on NPR Here and Now show on " Old power lines spark vulnerability to wildfires "
08/2023: I am elevated to IEEE Senior Member.
07/2023: I interviewed Steve Price of CBS8 San Diego on " Tips to prevent your electricity bill from spiking during heat wave "
06/2023: I have received the NSF ERI award entitled "ERI: Resilient Operational Planning of Electricity Grid under the Risk of Wildfire. "
06/2023: Our paper, entitled "Carbon-Aware Operation of Resilient Vertical Farms in Active Distribution Networks " has been accepted in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid.
06/2023: Our paper, entitled "Coordinating flexible ramping products with dynamics of the natural gas network" has been accepted in Sustinable Energy, Grids and Networks.
06/2023: Our paper, entitled "Unleashing Grid Services Potential of Electric Vehicles for the Volt/VAR Optimization Problem" has been accepted in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology.
10/2022: I gave a talk on "Decarbonizing Electricity" at Electricity Working Group Workshop held by County of San Diego.
08/2022: Our paper, entitled "Strategic Competition of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in a Regulated Retail Electricity Market" has been selected as a Best Paper Award Finalist at the IEEE PES GM 2022 Conference in Denver, CO.
05/2022: I gave a talk at IEEE PES/PELS San Diego Chapter Meeting titile "The Dynamic Response of the Natural Gas Network due to the Volatility of Renewable Generation."
10/2020: I gave a talk at IEEE PES/PELS San Diego Chapter Meeting titile "Challenges and Opportunities of Transportation Electrification."
07/2019: I gave a talk at IEEE PES/PELS San Diego Chapter Meeting titile "Economics of Rooftop Solar."
External Funding
National Science Foundation: "ERI: Resilient Operational Planning of Electricity Grid under the Risk of Wildfire"
Southern California Gas Company: "Harvesting Hope with Hydrogen: A Community-Powered Agricultural Renaissance"
Southern California Gas Company: "Climate Champions Program"
California Energy Commission: "Southern California Energy Innovation Network"
Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute, North America: "Toward an Efficient Optimal Power Flow"
California Air Resource Board: "Imperial Valley Community-Focused Collaborative Research Plan"
