Nor Farida Harun, a research scientist at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), received the Special Recognition Award for her contribution to developing a smart electrical grid at the 2021 Women of Color in STEM Conference.
Dr. Harun expressed her pride in working alongside some of the most talented scientists and engineers who are addressing essential issues globally. She also hopes that her award will inspire others.
NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that aims to drive innovation and provide solutions for a sustainable and prosperous energy future.
Dr. Harun is a leading expert in cyber-physical systems research, seamlessly integrating computational algorithms and physical hardware to impart "intelligence" to physical systems.
Cyber-physical systems have provided hope in the medical field through the design of "smart" artificial hearts and have recently been used in the energy field to accelerate critical technology development.
As NETL moves into a future with increased penetration of intermittent renewable assets, the real-time modeling methods developed by Dr. Harun will be incorporated into various hybrid power assets to create intelligent systems and ultimately a smart U.S. national electric grid.
Dr. Harun is part of the Leidos research team supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
She worked closely with NETL to build a new cyber-physical test facility for research and development in energy, which creates an opportunity to accelerate the deployment of novel energy systems.
The cyber-physical test facility at NETL tests power plant configurations, including hybrid energy systems, to facilitate discovery and control development, leading to an optimal pilot plant at reduced risk and cost.
Dr. Harun also serves as a technical mentor for fellowship programs, helping to strengthen a diverse pipeline of future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals from underrepresented communities.
She is a mentor to interns within programs such as the Department of Energy's Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship, which provides students with educational opportunities to gain real-world, hands-on research experience with the DOE Office of Fossil Energy, and the Consortium for Integrating Energy Systems in Engineering and Science Education, which aims to increase the pipeline of graduates ready to pursue a career in energy-relevant fields.
Dr. Harun's dedication to mentoring post-docs, graduate, and undergraduate students in the hybrid energy field was recognized at the Women of Color STEM Conference.
