Robert Pilawa-Podgurski

For More Information

• Pilawa Research Group

Education

• Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012)
• M.Eng. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007)
• B.S. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005)
• B.S. Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005)

Biography

Robert Pilawa-Podgurski is currently an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and is affiliated with the Power and Energy Systems group. He performs research in the area of power electronics. His research interests include renewable energy applications, electric vehicles, energy harvesting, CMOS power management, high density and high efficiency power converters, and advanced control of power converters. Dr. Pilawa-Podgurski received the Chorafas Award for outstanding MIT EECS Master’s thesis, the Google Faculty Research Award in 2013, and the 2014 Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award of the IEEE Power Electronics Society, given annually to one individual for outstanding contributions to the field of power electronics before the age of 35. In 2015, he received the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award, and in 2016, the UIUC Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research. Since 2014, he serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, and for IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics. He is co-author of six IEEE prize papers.

Academic Positions

• Assistant Professor (100%-time appointment), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research Interests

• Energy solutions for the developing world
• Advanced packaging and cooling of power conversion systems
• Power supply on-a-chip
• Advanced control techniques for power electronics
• Data center power delivery
• Renewable energy systems (with a focus on photovoltaics)
• CMOS integrated circuits
• Energy harvesting systems (thermoelectric, thermophotovoltaic, vibrational, etc.)
• Electric vehicles
• Power electronics

Selected Articles in Journals

• S. Qin, Y. Lei, C. Barth, W.-C. Liu, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A High Power Density Series-Stacked Energy Buffer for Power Pulsation Decoupling in Single-Phase Converters", IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, in press
• M. Schuck, A. Ho and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “Asymmetric Interleaving in Low-Voltage CMOS Power Management with Multiple Supply Rails,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 715-722, January 2017
• S. Qin, C. B. Barth, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, "Enhancing Micro-inverter Energy Capture with Sub-module Differential Power Processing," IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 3575-3585, May 2016
• E. Candan, P. S. Shenoy, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, "A Series-Stacked Power Delivery Architecture with Isolated Differential Power Conversion for Data Centers," IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 31, No. 5, pp 3690-3703, May 2016
• S. J. Kim, R. K. Nandwana, Q. Khan, R. Pilawa-Podgurski, P. K. Hanumolu A 1.8V 30-to-70MHz 87% Peak-Efficiency 0.32mm^2 4-Phase Time-Based Buck Converter Consuming 3µA/MHz Quiescent Current in 65nm CMOS, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 50., No. 12, pp. 2814 - 2824, December 2015
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, W. Li, I. Celanovic, D.J. Perreault, “Integrated CMOS Energy Harvesting Converter with Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator,” IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 1021-1035, December 2015
• Y. Lei, R. May, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “Split-Phase Control: Achieving Complete Soft-Charging Operation of a Dickson Switched-Capacitor Converter,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 770-782, January 2016
• M. Schuck, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “Ripple Minimization through Harmonic Elimination in Asymmetric Interleaved Multiphase dc-dc Converters,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 30, No. 12, pp. 7202-7214, December 2015
• Y. Lei, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A General Method for Analyzing Resonant and Soft-charging Operation of Switched-Capacitor Converters", IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 30, No. 10, pp. 5650-5664, October 2015
• C. Barth, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Dithering Digital Ripple Correlation Control for Photovoltaic Maximum Power Point Tracking", IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 30, No. 8, pp. 4548-4559, August 2015
• S Qin, S.T Cady, A.D. Dominguez-Garcia, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A Distributed Approach to Maximum Power Point Tracking for Photovoltaic Sub-Module Differential Power Processing", IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 30, No.4, pp.2024-2040, April 2015
• W.R. Chan, P. Bermel, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, C.H. Marton, K.F. Jensenf, J.J. Senkevich, J.D. Joannopoulos, M. Soljacic and I.Celanovic "Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 25, 2013.
• R.C.N Pilawa-Podgurski, D.J Perreault "Sub-Module Integrated Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking for Solar Photovoltaic Applications," IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 28, No. 6, June 2013
• A. Latham, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, K.F. Odame, C.R. Sullivan, "Analysis and Optimization of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms in the Presence of Noise," IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 28, No. 7, July 2013
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, D.J. Perreault, "Merged Two-Stage Power Converter with Soft Charging Switched-Capacitor Stage in 180 nm CMOS," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 47, No 7, pp. 1557-1567, 2012
• R.C.N Pilawa-Podgurski, A.D. Sagneri, J.M. Rivas, D.I Anderson, and D.J. Perreault, "Very High Frequency Resonant Boost Converters," IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 24, No 6, pp. 1654-1665, 2009.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Z. Ye and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “A Power Supply Circuit for Gate Driver of GaN-based Flying Capacitor Multi-level Converters,” IEEE Workshop on Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA), Fayetteville, AR, 2016.
• J. Colmenares, T. Foulkes, C. Barth, T. Modeer, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “Experimental Characterization of Enhancement Mode GaN Power FETs at Cryogenic Temperatures,” IEEE Workshop on Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA), Fayetteville, AR, 2016.
• E. Candan, A. Stillwell, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A Reliability Assessment of Series-Stacked Servers with Server-to-Bus Differential Power Processing” IEEE INTELEC, Austin, TX , 2016.
• D. Skarlatos, R. Thomas, A. Agrawal, S. Qin, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, U.R. Karpuzcug, R. Teodorescu, N.S. Kim, and J. Torrellas “Snatch: Opportunistically Reassigning Power Allocation between Processor and Memory in 3D Stacks”, MICRO, 2016.
• S. Qin and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “Power Density Optimization for Active Decoupling Buffer in Single-phase Converters,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Milwaukee, WI 2016
• Z. Liao, Y. Lei and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “Interleaved 1-to-6 Step-Up Resonant Switched- Capacitor Converter Utilizing Split-Phase Control,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Milwaukee, WI 2016 [Best Paper Award]
• A. Stillwell, D. Heeger and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “Interleaved 1-to-6 Step-Up Resonant Switched-Capacitor Converter Utilizing Split-Phase Control,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Milwaukee, WI 2016
• C.B. Barth, T. Foulkes, W.H. Chung, T. Modeer, P. Assem, Y. Lei, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski“Design and Control of a GaN-based, 13-level,Flying Capacitor Multilevel Inverter”, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL), Trondheim, Norway 2016 [Best Paper Award]
• A. Stillwell, Y. Lei and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A Method to Extract Low-Voltage Auxiliary Power from a Flying Capacitor Multi-level Converter”, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL), Trondheim, Norway 2016
• T. Modeer, C. Barth, Y. Lei and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “An Analytical Method for Evaluating the Power Density of Multilevel Converters”, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for PowerElectronics (COMPEL), Trondheim, Norway 2016
• Y. Lei, C. Barth, S. Qin, W.-C. Liu, I. Moon, A. Stillwell, D. Chou, T. Foulkes, Z. Ye, Z. Liao and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A 2 kW, Single-Phase, 7-Level, GaN Inverter with an Active Energy Buffer Achieving 216 W/in^3 Power Density and 97.6% Peak Efficiency”, IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2016
• C. Barth, I. Moon, Y. Lei, S. Qin and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “Experimental Evaluation of Capacitors for Power Buffering in Single-Phase Power Converters,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• Y. Cao, Y. Lei, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski and P. Krein “Modular Switched-Capacitor Dc-Dc Converters Tied with Lithium-ion Batteries for Use in Battery Electric Vehicles,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• E. Candan, D. Heeger, P.S. Shenoy and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A Series-Stacked Power Delivery Architecture with Hot-Swapping for High-Efficiency Data Centers,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• S. Qin, R. Serna and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A Data-driven Approach to the Design of Photovoltaic Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques Using Field Transient Data,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• S. Qin, Y. Lei, C. Barth, W.C. Liu and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A High-Efficiency High Energy Density Buffer Architecture for Power Pulsation Decoupling in Grid-Interfaced Converters,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• Y. Lei, Z. Ye and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A GaN-based 97% Efficient Hybrid Switched-Capacitor Converter with Lossless Regulation Capability,” IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• A. Stillwell and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A Resonant Switched-Capacitor Converter with GaN Transistors for Series-Stacked Processors with 99.8% Power Delivery Efficiency," IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, 2015
• Y. Lei, W-C, Liu and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "An Analytical Method to Evaluate Flying Capacitor Multilevel Converters and Hybrid Switched-Capacitor Converters for Large Voltage Conversion Ratios," IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) Vancouver, BC 2015
• S. Qin, Y. Lei, C.B. Barth, W-C, Liu and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “Architecture and Control of a High Energy Density Buffer for Power Pulsation Decoupling in Grid-Interfaced Applications" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) Vancouver, BC 2015 [Best Paper Award]
• E. Candan, P. Shenoy and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski “A Distributed Bi-directional Hysteresis Control Algorithm for Server-to-Virtual Bus Differential Power Processing” IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) Vancouver, BC 2015
• S. J. Kim, R. K. Nandwana, Q. Khan, R. Pilawa-Podgurski, P. K. Hanumolu “A 1.8V 30-to-70MHz 87% Peak-Efficiency 0.32mm^2 4-Phase Time-Based Buck Converter Consuming 3µA/MHz Quiescent Current in 65nm CMOS” IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2015
• Macy, Y. Lei, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, “A 1.2 MHz, 25 V to 100 V GaN-based Resonant Dickson Switched-Capacitor Converter with 1011 W/in^3 (61.7 kW/L) Power Density” IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference 2015
• E. Candan, P. Shenoy and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A Series-Stacked Power Delivery Architecture with Isolated Differential Power Conversion for Data Centers" IEEE INTELEC, Vancouver, BC, 2014
• J. McClurg, P. Shenoy and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A Series-Stacked Architecture for High-Efficiency Data Center Power Delivery" IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Pittsburg, PA, 2014
• A. Ho, M. Schuck and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Asymmetric Interleaving in Low-Voltage CMOS Power Management With Multiple Supply Rails" IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Pittsburg, PA, 2014
• R.C. Bell and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Asynchronous and Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking of Series-Connected Photovoltaic Sub-Modules Using Differential Power Processing" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) 2014
• Y. Lei, R. May and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Split-Phase Control: Achieving Complete Soft-Charging Operation of a Dickson Switched-Capacitor Converter" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) 2014 [1st Prize Best Paper Award]
• Y. Lei and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Soft-charging Operation of Switched-capacitor DC-DC Converters with an Inductive Load" IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference 2014, Fort Worth, TX, 2014
• S. Qin, A. Morrison, and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Enhancing Micro-inverter Energy Capture with Sub-module Differential Power Processing" IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Fort Worth, TX, 2014
• C. Barth and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Dithering Digital Ripple Correlation Control with Digitally-Assisted Windowed Sensing for Solar Photovoltaic MPPT" IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Fort Worth, TX, 2014
• M. Schuck and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Ripple Minimization in Asymmetric Multiphase Interleaved dc-dc Switching Converters" IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Denver, CO 2013
• S. Qin, S.T. Cady, A.D Dominguez-Garcia and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "A Distributed Approach to MPPT for PV Sub-Module Differential Power Processing" IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Denver, CO, 2013
• M. Schuck and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Input current ripple reduction through interleaving in single-supply multiple-output dc-dc converters" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) 2013
• Y. Lei and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Analysis of Switched-capacitor DC-DC Converters in Soft-charging Operation" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) 2013
• C. Barth and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Implementation of Dithering Digital Ripple Correlation Control for PV Maximum Power Point Tracking" IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) 2013 [Best Paper Award]
• S. Qin, K.A. Kim and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Laboratory Emulation of A Photovoltaic Module for Controllable Insolation and Realistic Dynamic Performance" IEEE Power and Energy Conference at Illinois (PECI 2013).
• M. Schuck and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Current Ripple Cancellation for Asymmetric Multiphase Interleaved dc-dc Switching Converters" IEEE Power and Energy Conference at Illinois (PECI 2013) [Best Paper Award].
• J. McClurg, Y. Zhang, J. Wheeler, and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Re-Thinking Data Center Power Delivery: Regulating Series-Connected Voltage Domains in Software" IEEE Power and Energy Conference at Illinois (PECI 2013).
• C. Barth and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski "Dithering Digital Ripple Correlation Control for Photovoltaic Maximum Power Point Tracking" IEEE Power and Energy Conference at Illinois (PECI 2013).
• S. Qin, and R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, "Sub-Module Differential Power Processing for Photovoltaic Applications" IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2013.
• R. Serna, B.J. Pierquet, J. Santiago, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, "Field Measurements of Transient Effects in Photovoltaic Panels and its Importance in the Design of Maximum Power Point Trackers" IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2013.
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, D.J. Perreault "Sub-Module Integrated Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking for Solar Photovoltaic Applications" IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Raleigh, NC, 2012
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, D.J. Perreault "Integrated Two-Stage Power Converter with Soft Charging Switched-Capacitor Operation in 180 nm CMOS," IEEE European Solid-State Circuits Conference Helsinki, Finland, 2011.
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, W. Li, I. Celanovic, D.J. Perreault "Integrated CMOS DC-DC Converter with Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator," IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, Phoenix, AZ, 2011.
• W. Chan, P. Bermel, R. Pilawa-Podgurski, C. Marton, K. Jensen, M. Soljacic, J. Joannopoulos, I. Celanovic "A High-Efficiency Millimeter-Scale Thermophotovoltaic Generator," TPV-9 World Conference at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, Valencia, Spain, 2010
• R.C.N Pilawa-Podgurski, N. Pallo, W. Chan, D.J. Perreault, and I. Celanovic, "Low Power Maximum Power Point Tracker with Digital Control for Thermophotovoltaic Generators," IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Palm Springs, CA, 2010.
• D.J. Perreault, J. Hu, J.M. Rivas, Y. Han, O. Leitermann, R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, A. Sagneri, and C.R. Sullivan, "Opportunities and Challenges in Very High Frequency Power Conversion," IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, Washington, D.C. 2009.
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, D.M. Giuliano, and D.J. Perreault "Merged Two-Stage Power Converter Architecture with Soft Charging Switched-Capacitor Energy Transfer," IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference, Rhodes, Greece, 2008.
• R.C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski, A.D. Sagneri, J.M. Rivas, D.I. Anderson, and D.J. Perreault, "Very High Frequency Resonant Boost Converters," IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference, Orlando, FL, 2007.

Teaching Honors

• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with distinction of 'outstanding') - ECE 598 Advanced Power Electronics (2016)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with distinction of 'outstanding') - ECE 469 Power Electronics Laboratory (2015)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with distinction of 'outstanding') - ECE 464 Power Electronics (2015)
• List of Teachers ranked as Excellent by Their Students - ECE 598RPP - Advanced Power Electronics (2014)
• Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising (2014)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students - ECE 464 Power Electronics (2013)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with distinction of 'outstanding') - ECE 469 Power Electronics Laboratory (2012)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with distinction of 'outstanding') - ECE 464 Power Electronics (2012)

Research Honors

• Best Paper Award, IEEE Energy Conversion Congress & Exposition (ECCE) (2016)
• Top Innovation Award, IEEE Future Energy Challenge (Advisor) (2016)
• Best Paper Award, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) (2016)
• UIUC Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2016)
• Google/IEEE PELS Little Box Challenge Finalist (2015)
• Best Paper Award, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) (2015)
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research - Young Investigator Award (2015)
• 1st Prize Best Paper Award, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) (2014)
• Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award from the IEEE Power Electronics Society (2014)
• Google/IEEE PELS Little Box Challenge Academic Award (2014)
• IEEE Energy Conversion Congress & Exposition - Emerging Technology Program, Student Demonstration. First Prize Winner (advisor to students Shibin Qin and Andrew Morrison) for students Shibin Qin and Andrew Morisson) (2013)
• Best Paper Award, IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL) (2013)
• Best Paper Award, IEEE Power and Energy Conference at Illinois (2013)
• Google Faculty Research Award (2013)
• Best Presentation Award, IEEE Energy Conversion Congress & Exposition (2011)
• Best Presentation Award, IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference (2010)
• Analog Devices Outstanding Student Designer from MIT (2010)
• Inventor Recognition Award, Semiconductor Research Corporation (2008)
• Chorafas Award for outstanding MIT EECS Master's thesis. (2007)
• Joseph Lewin Morris Award for best thesis presentation, MIT EECS Masterworks Symposium (2007)

Other Honors

• Associate Editor, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (2014--)
• Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (2014--)
• Outstanding Commitment Award for "AffordaSol - A Low Cost Solar Charger for the Developing World", Clinton Global Initiative University (2010)
• Siebel Scholar (2007)