Prof. ahmed al durra

Biography

Prof. Ahmed Al-Durra is Associate Provost for Research and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Khalifa University. He leads the University’s research and innovation enterprise with executive responsibility for strategy, governance, funding, infrastructure, and performance, overseeing a multidisciplinary ecosystem of research institutes, centers, laboratories, and advanced research facilities. Under his leadership, Khalifa University has advanced toward a high-impact, quality-driven research model, strengthening global research competitiveness, research quality indicators, and innovation outcomes.

In parallel with his leadership responsibilities, he is an internationally recognized scholar in electrical engineering and energy systems, with over 445 peer-reviewed publications, more than 10,000 citations, and an h-index of 54 (Scopus-indices). His work has been widely disseminated in top-tier journals, particularly in power and energy systems, and he has three US patents, two edited books, 13 book chapters, and more than 42 Ph.D. and M.Sc. students’ theses. He serves on the editorial boards of prominent IEEE publications, including IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy and IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

His research contributions focus on advanced control and integration of modern energy systems, with emphasis on inverter-based renewable generation, microgrids, and energy storage systems. In particular, his work addresses critical challenges in system stability, coordinated control, and operational reliability in low-inertia and converter-dominated power systems. He has developed advanced control architectures, coordinated and hierarchical control strategies, and predictive energy management frameworks that enhance system performance under dynamic and uncertain operating conditions.

Building on these contributions, he has led and contributed to multi-partner, industry-driven R&D programs exceeding USD 25 million in cumulative funding, delivering deployment-oriented solutions in renewable integration, grid modernization, and industrial energy systems. His work bridges advanced control theory with practical implementation, supporting improved transient stability, enhanced system resilience, and efficient operation of integrated energy systems.

His work has received strong international recognition, particularly within the IEEE community, including the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy Best Paper Award (2025). He has also received multiple Best Paper Awards at leading IEEE conferences, including the PES Power System Committee Prize Paper Award (2025), IEEE IAS Annual Meeting and IEACon & PECon (2024). At the institutional level, he was awarded the Khalifa University Leadership Impact Award (2025) and the Faculty Research Excellence Award (2020 and 2023). At the national level, he has been recognized with the UAE Pioneers Award (2018) and the Khalifa Award for Education – Distinguished University Professor in Scientific Research (2019).

Education

• Ph.D., Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ohio State University, USA, August 2010.
• M. Sc., Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ohio State University, USA, June 2007.
• B. Sc. (With Distinction and Summa Comma Laude), Electrical & Computer Engineering (Control Systems and Power), Ohio State University, USA, December 2005.

Teaching

• Nonlinear Control Systems Advance Linear Systems Advanced Linear Algebra and Its Applications Modern Control Systems Feedback Control Systems Signals and Systems

Affiliated Centers, Groups & Labs

• Advanced Power and Energy Center