Areas of research expertise include:
• Systems and Controls: Theory and applications of self-healing controls including reconfigurable and self-repairing designs, on-line decision making, system optimization, and differential game theory for aerospace, energy, and transportation applications. Examples include smart self-healing grid, emergency control of stressed networks and uncertain systems, multi-agent modeling and simulation of energy enterprise, real-time topology estimation, and secure energy information networks.
• Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP): Security, modeling, control and optimization of complex interactive systems for CIP; energy infrastructure and communication systems reliability and security; resilience and efficiency of national critical infrastructures for energy, cyber/communications, transportation and economic networks;
• Development and management of R&D initiatives focusing on national infrastructures for energy, transportation, communication and banking and finance; strategic planning and implementation of science and technology R&D programs in partnership with diverse public/private stakeholders.
• Global transition dynamics to enhance resilience, security and efficiency of national critical infrastructures, including energy, computer networks, communications, transportation and economic systems;
• Research and targeted consulting in technological leadership and management; examples include: Strategic management, science and technology policy, emerging and pivotal technologies, technology scanning, mapping, valuation, and foresight. Identifying new science and technology-based opportunities to meet the needs and aspirations of today’s customers, companies and the broader society, and developing coherence between short- and longer-term R&D opportunities.
Impact Summary:
• Dr. Amin initiated and led R&D toward the smart self-healing electric power grid and the development of more than nineteen advanced technologies to enhance the security of our national critical infrastructures. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota in March 2003, Dr. Amin held positions of increased responsibility including Area Manager of Infrastructure Security, Grid Operations/Planning, Markets, Risk and Policy Assessment at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto. In the aftermath of tragic events of 9/11 he directed all security-related research and development at EPRI. Dr. Amin developed collaborative research initiatives with the electric power industry, EPRI and its members, the US DOD, DOE, NSF, National Governors’ Association, NRC/NAE, and the White House OSTP.
• Direct numerical evidence of his impact includes: His pioneering work in the above area has become a leading concept in sixteen ongoing programs at EPRI, NSF, DHS, DOE and DOD. The resultant initiatives that he pioneered continue to be successful and now amount to over $50 millions per year in the electricity sector (including Intelligrid at EPRI, Gridwise at DOE and the national labs, Modern Grid at SAIC). Defense applications of his work were in Network-Centric Objective Force, which is now part of the Future Combat Systems at $40 billions. The area of self-healing infrastructure, pioneered by Professor Amin, was recommended in 2005 by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as one of three thrust areas for the National Plan for research and development in support of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).
• Dr. Amin leads world-class programs at the Center for the Development of Technological Leadership (CDTL); his students have a very high impact on the State’s economy by supplying the leadership talent pipeline in Minnesota to globally succeed. As an example, one of the courses in the management of technology (MOT) program is the capstone project undertaken by fast-tracked full-time professionals from Minnesota’s high-tech companies. There are about 30 Capstones projects completed each year. The dollar impact resulting from companies’ increased revenues, cost savings, product or process innovations, or new products per project amount to a range of a few hundred thousand dollars to several tens of millions of dollars.
• Dr. Amin’s leadership in higher education, pioneering research, effective management and technology development continues to make broad impacts in industry and government. Through his publications, presentations, keynote addresses, active service on advisory committees and boards he positively influences leaders in business, industry, and government. He has guided technology advancement from universities, research laboratories and industry to the marketplace.
Consulting and Professional Experience:
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, NASA-Ames Research Center, Rockwell International, MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., Electronics & Space Corp., TSI, IBM, United States (US) Dept. of Defense, US Air Force, US Army Research Office, US Dept. of Energy, NSF, National Governors` Association, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the US National Academy of Engineering.
