Sai Sowmya Nagam
Role: Final Year PhD student in Control and Power research group at Imperial College London.
Subject area: Enhancing stability of power systems with integrated renewable resources
Nationality: Indian
I’m a final year PhD student in Control and Power research group at Imperial College. My research focuses on improving stability of wind energy systems. I come from India where I’ve studied till Master’s level, and I moved to London in 2020 to pursue my PhD.
Education
GCSE and A-level equivalent) High school equivalent (Maths, Physics and Chemistry) in India
Degrees:
• BTech Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, India
• MTech Power Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
• PhD (ongoing) Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Imperial College London
Details about Sai
![SiA My research icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-research-icon-for-T4.jpg)
My research
While it is important to increase renewable energy generation to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel-based generation, we should do it without compromising the stability and reliability of existing power system. I work on ensuring stable and efficient integration of wind energy systems with the existing power system.
![SiA my inspiration icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-inspiration-icon-for-T4.jpg)
My inspiration
I chose electrical engineering (EE) at Bachelors’ level simply because I loved solving electric circuit problems. With time I realised EE’s impact on energy transition and climate change, which led me to pursue advanced degrees with emphasis on renewable energy.
![SiA My STEM Hero icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-Stem-Hero-Icon-for-T4.jpg)
Who is your STEM hero?
Edith Clarke, the first female electrical engineer to be professionally employed in United States. She specialised in AC circuit analysis and is well-known for the Clarke calculator and Clarke transformation. She persisted against all odds and was a trailblazer in electrical engineering field.
![view of the Earth from space, blue planet and deep black space](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/shutterstock_296927024.jpg)
Most significant discovery/invention?
Discovery of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) impact on ozone layer depletion (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1995). This theory led to the landmark Montreal Protocol in 1987; the only UN environmental treaty ratified by all member nations, which in-turn gave us a fighting chance against climate change and saved millions of lives.
![coal power station](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/coal_power_station_main_074317_001.jpg)
Career options after study
Personally, I’d like to work in power system industry where I can translate research into real-life solutions. There’re numerous other career opportunities in research labs, academia, policy and governance.
![concept of geopolitics or worldwide economy. chess figures placed on map banner](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/shutterstock_1950356014.jpg)
My hobbies
Reading, cooking, badminton and frisbee. Also, I follow geopolitics, which in my mind is the most incredible and complicated narrative, which happens to hold the power to make or break the world as we know it.