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Power Electronics and Drives Research Lab
Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue University
We advance efficient electric energy conversion for a sustainable future - from wide-bandgap power semiconductors to electric machines and their integration - for transportation electrification, aerospace, distributed energy resources, and AI data centers. The lab is led by Prof. Matt Woongkul Lee, and our work is supported by NSF (CAREER), DOE ARPA-E (IGNIITE), DOE VTO, USDA, US Army, NASA, and industry partners. Explore our research, publications, and team.
We are recruiting new lab members.
Openings are available for Ph.D. and M.S. students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate researchers passionate about power electronics and electric machines.
Latest News
Announcements, publications, awards, grants, and team updates from the lab.
2026
- People Visiting scholars Tae-hu Kim and Donghyeok Jang (Incheon National University) joined the team
- People Dr. Kangbeen Lee completed his Ph.D. and is joining Siemens, Congratulations Kangbeen!
- Award ARPA-E Director's Award for IGNIITE 2024 Awardees (OPUS project plus-up funding)
- Award Best Poster Presentation Award @ IEEE APEC 2026, Congratulations Junghoon!
- Publication Three papers presented @ IEEE APEC 2026 (San Antonio, TX)
- Publication IEEE TIE journal paper accepted, Congratulations Avinash!
- Publication IEEE TIE journal paper accepted, Congratulations Mikayla!
- Publication Two IEEE TPEL journal papers accepted, Congratulations Mikayla and Ali!
- Publication IEEE TTE journal paper accepted, Congratulations Hyunwoo!
- Publication IEEE OJIA review paper on partial discharge published, Congratulations Kangbeen!
- Grant Hyundai Motors - Integrated zero-sequence filter for open-end winding traction drives
- Grant SJ Global - Rare-earth-free integrated motor drive for data center and aerial mobility
- People Dr. Taehoon Chin, Dr. Juwon Lee, and Dr. Yongmin Ju joined the team
- Talk San Diego State University, UIUC, and KIAT Symposium
2025
- Award ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering @ IMECE 2025
- Award IEEE IAS Industrial Drives Committee Transactions First Paper Award @ ECCE 2025
- Publication Six papers presented @ IEEE ECCE 2025 (Philadelphia, PA)
- Publication Six papers presented @ IEEE ITEC 2025 (Anaheim, CA)
- Publication IEEE TPEL journal paper accepted, Congratulations Kangbeen and Mikayla!
- Grant Grainger CEME - Bioinspired electrohydraulic pump using hydrogel rotor
- Grant Blueflite - High-power density electric propulsion for electric drones
- Grant SJ Global - Line-start PM-assisted synchronous reluctance machine
- People Dr. Yuming Yan joined the team
- People Sachin Srinivasa Murthy, Mohammed Thushar Imran, Benjamin Schuchardt, and Fahmy Navid Rahman joined the team
- People Visiting scholars Dongin Lee and Junhyuk Heo (Incheon National University) joined the team
- Talk Seoul National University, Incheon National University, Jeonbuk National University, Hyundai Motors, Sunchon National University (short course), MathWorks, and Amazon
- Publication Two APEC paper presented
- Award Oral presentation award @ IEEE APEC 2025, Congratulations Ali!
- Publication IEEE TMAG journal paper accepted, Congratulations Kangbeen and Hyunwoo!
- Publication IEEE TMAG journal paper accepted
- People Dr. Taewoo Kim joined the team
- Grant BorgWarner Research Grant
- Publication IEEE JESTIE journal paper accepted
- Publication IEEE TIE journal paper accepted, Congratulations Haitao!
2024
- Grant Microelectronics Commons SCMC Hub research grant
- Grant USDA NRCS
- Publication Three papers presented @ IEEE ECCE 2024
- Publication IEEE TPEL journal paper accepted
- Publication IEEE JESTIE journal paper accepted
- People Karen Reyes joined the team
- People Junghoon Kim joined the team
- People Dr. Junhyuk Im joined the team
- People Dr. Hyunwoo Kim joined the team
2023
- Grant ARPA-E ULTRAFAST Research Grant
- Publication Four papers accepted @ IEEE APEC 2024
- Publication Three papers presented @ IEEE ECCE 2023
- Publication IEEE TPEL journal paper accepted
- Grant DOE VTO Research Grant
- Grant BorgWarner Research Grant
- Publication IEEE TTE journal paper accepted
- People Ali Halawa joined the team
- People Gavin Gardner joined the team
- Grant MTRAC Full Grant
- Publication Two papers presented @ IEEE ITEC 2023
- Publication Three papers presented @ IEEE APEC 2023
- Publication One paper presented @ IEEE SLED 2023
- Grant NASA USRC Research Grant
- People Avinash Dornala joined the team
2022
- Grant US Army GVSC Research Grant
- Grant DOE VTO Research Grant
- Grant MTRAC Starter Grant
- Grant BorgWarner Research Grant
2021
- People Mikayla Benson joined the team
- People Mostafa Fereydoonian joined the team
- People Kangbeen Lee joined the team
- Grant MTRAC Award
- Grant NASA USRC Research Grant
- Grant Project GREEEN Research Grant
- Grant Huppert Engineering Research Grant
Sponsors and Partners
Join Us
We seek motivated students and researchers who want to grow as independent scholars and build the future of electric energy conversion.
Ph.D. / M.S. Students
Work on funded projects spanning WBG power electronics, electric machines, and drives - from topology concept to hardware demonstration.
- Hands-on hardware experience with WBG converters and machine testbeds
- Publish at leading venues (APEC, ECCE, ITEC, IEEE Transactions)
- Collaborate with national labs and industry partners
Postdoctoral Researchers
Lead research thrusts with strong academic and real-world impact, with opportunities to define independent directions.
- Independent research leadership on federally funded programs
- Proposal development and mentoring experience
- Pathway to academic and industry research careers
Undergraduate Researchers
Join research projects and student competition teams to build hands-on skills in power electronics and electrification.
- Mentoring from graduate students and faculty
- Student teams: GoAERO Prize and Purdue IEEE Racing
- Pathway to graduate research
How to Apply
Email your CV, transcript, and a brief statement of research interests to Prof. Matt Woongkul Lee.