(4ck) Control of Stochastic Interacting Systems

Uncertainties and disturbances are ubiquitous in real interconnected systems, where interactions among several systems increase the overall complexity of the integrated system dynamics. System stochasticity (due to uncertainties and disturbances) can have significant economic and safety implications for system operation. Advanced control strategies with the capability to remain effective in the presence of system stochasticity and component (e.g., actuator and/or sensor) failures set new horizons for high-performance and cost-effective operation of complex dynamically interacting systems. I intend to establish a research group in control of stochastic interacting systems with a particular focus on energy and healthcare applications. Addressing the system-wide control challenges of interconnected systems that are prone to severe uncertainties and systematic failures will be my primary research interest.   

During my Ph.D. in the Delft Center for Systems and Control at Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands), I investigated model predictive control of nonlinear, distributed systems. I developed a control strategy based on a full population balance modeling framework for real-time control of batch crystallization systems. The effectiveness of the developed control algorithms in terms of increased system productivity and improved product quality was demonstrated experimentally. Furthermore, I developed a new methodology for closed-loop performance monitoring and diagnosis, which is a crucial step in the maintenance of model-based controllers to sustain their life-time performance.

Throughout my postdoctoral work at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I have been expanding the scope of my research towards model predictive control of continuous manufacturing systems. I have been developing generic formalisms to facilitate the quantification of system stochasticity for model predictive control of complex systems in the presence of uncertainties. I have also been working on optimal failure-tolerant control of multi-objective control systems.    

As a faculty member, I will utilize my systems and control expertise to conduct leading research at the intersection of control theory, applied mathematics, and process systems engineering towards the development and application of control algorithms for complex systems.