About

Power Systems Research Scholar | Hyperscale Data-Center Grid Impacts | Grid Resilience | Energy Storage

Chandan Chaudhary
IEEE Student Member CIGRE Student Member ESIG Student Member

Research Scholar. Engineer.

PhD candidate in Electrical & Computer Engineering at Michigan State University with a research focus on the grid impacts of AI data centers and hyperscale compute infrastructure, power-system reliability, resilience, energy storage, and grid readiness for the AI era. My work develops probabilistic, optimization-based, and data-driven models to quantify resilience, assess adequacy risk, and support energy storage coordination under extreme events and emerging large-load conditions. My current research on spatially correlated load behavior in AI data-center-dominated power systems addresses a critical gap in traditional reliability and resource adequacy modeling, where large electronic loads can no longer be treated as independent or conventional demand. This work connects reliability theory, power-system dynamics, resilience assessment, and the operational challenges introduced by hyperscale digital infrastructure. I am an active contributor to the IEEE PES Task Force on Resilience Metrics and the IEEE PES Large Electronic Load Modeling Task Force, an R&D intern at Sandia National Laboratories, and open to research collaborations in power systems, grid modernization, AI data centers, resilience, cyber-physical systems, and energy storage.

Power System Reliability & Resilience Energy Storage Systems Hyperscale Data Centers Probabilistic Methods Stochastic & Grid Optimization Cyber-Physical Power Systems

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering Jan. 2024 – Present

Michigan State University — College of Engineering

East Lansing, MI, USA  ·  ERiSe Research Laboratory

Coursework: Power System Analysis, Reliability & Stability, Genetic-Algorithm-Based Optimization & Decision Making, Operation of Modern Electric Grids, Linear & Nonlinear Systems, Data-Driven Science & Engineering, Bayesian Statistics

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics Engineering Aug. 2018 – May 2023

Kathmandu University — School of Engineering

Dhulikhel, Nepal  ·  Specialization: Power & Control

Coursework: Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Power Electronics, Control Systems & Engineering, Power System Planning & Operation, Industrial Electrification & Control, Engineering Capstone Projects

Experience

Graduate Research Assistant Jan. 2024 – Present

ERiSe Research Laboratory, Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI, USA  ·  Grid Reliability, Resilience & Security; Energy Storage; AI/Data Center Load Modeling

  • Lead research on Reliability Foundations for Operating Strategies for Long Duration Storage, contributing to a technical report deliverable for the project sponsor.
  • Investigate emerging grid challenges from concentrated large loads (AI compute clusters and hyperscale data centers), including spatial load correlation, resource adequacy risk, and sub-hourly volatility; contributed multiple publications on data center load modeling and grid impact.
  • Serve as contributing member of the IEEE PES Task Force for Resilience Metrics; maintain technical documentation and lead working group contributions.
  • Contribute to the IEEE PES Large Electronic Load Modeling Task Force (Power System Dynamic Performance Committee), addressing modeling challenges introduced by hyperscale AI data centers and large electronic loads at the grid interface.
  • Developed probabilistic and Bayesian outage models integrating Eagle-I data (2014–2023) with NWS weather metadata across 50 US states.
  • Built a SCIP/Gurobi/CPLEX-based resilience optimization model for networked microgrids with rolling-horizon recovery, black-start support, and critical load prioritization.
  • Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications and reports; presented at IEEE PESGM, PMAPS, NAPS, ICPS, KPEC, CIGRE Grid of the Future, Resilience Week, and other conferences.
Teaching Assistant Jan.–May 2025  |  Aug.–Dec. 2025

Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI, USA  ·  Power Systems Laboratory

  • Instructed and supervised two laboratory sections per week for undergraduate power systems coursework.
  • Evaluated lab reports and delivered structured, actionable feedback to improve student performance.
  • Collaborated with faculty on course logistics, grading rubrics, and instructional material development.
Research Assistant Intern (R&D) May 2024 – Aug. 2024

Sandia National Laboratories

Albuquerque, NM, USA  ·  Grid Reliability, Security, and Energy Storage

  • Surveyed and synthesized reliability assessment methodologies for energy storage systems, producing an internal technical review used by the research group.
  • Developed analytical and Deep Reinforcement Learning models for ESS reliability evaluation within bulk power systems, including two-price Markov models and SOC-based transition matrices.
  • Collaborated with Sandia researchers on active R&D tasks in grid reliability and data center review and modeling.
Electrical & Electronics Engineer Aug. – Dec. 2023

Dept. of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Kathmandu University

Dhulikhel, Nepal  ·  Laboratory Development, Operation, and Maintenance

  • Revitalized the departmental laboratory: audited existing equipment, coordinated repairs, and proposed acquisition of new instruments.
  • Prepared laboratory manuals and facilitated academic sessions for undergraduate students.
  • Guided final-year students on capstone projects involving circuit design, power systems, and instrumentation.
Research Assistant Jun. – Aug. 2023

Green Hydrogen Lab, Kathmandu University

Dhulikhel, Nepal  ·  Nepal Hydrogen Initiative Program (Funded)

  • Executed key deliverables for the Nepal Hydrogen Initiative Program, a nationally funded project targeting green hydrogen adoption.
  • Prepared and submitted a successful grant proposal to WWF Nepal — approved and funded at NPR 500,000 — for feasibility analysis of an Intelligent Power Management System for EV charging stations in Nepal.
  • Redesigned and updated the Hydrogen Technologies Course curriculum for undergraduate engineering students.
  • Organized knowledge dissemination workshops: Green Hydrogen for Nepal: Media Perspective and Business Development from Renewable Energy.
Intern Research Assistant Jun. 2021 – May 2023

Green Hydrogen Lab, Kathmandu University

Dhulikhel, Nepal  ·  Electrical System Analysis in Green Hydrogen Production

  • Designed and validated electrical systems for the green hydrogen laboratory, covering instrumentation selection, sensor integration, and system commissioning.
  • Performed simulations and circuit designs for power management in EVs and hybrid vehicles.
  • Conducted research in hydrogen production and end-use applications; contributed to two IOP conference publications.

Technical Skills

Programming

Python MATLAB / Simulink OpenDSS C / C++

Simulation

RTDS RSCAD Simulink DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Optimization

Gurobi SCIP Pyomo Genetic Algorithms

ML / Data

TensorFlow Scikit-learn Pandas NumPy Jupyter

Tools

LaTeX Git MS Office Suite DIALux

Hardware

RTDS PLCs Arduino / Raspberry Pi Dev Boards

Awards & Achievements

Let's work together

Open to research collaborations, speaking invitations, and discussions on power systems, grid resilience, and AI data center infrastructure challenges.