Zhirui's headshot

Dr. Zhirui Liang

Pronouns: She/her

Contact information

I'm looking for...

Research assistants

I am looking for fully-funded students joining through the Masters/Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics or Masters/Ph.D. in Geoscience programs, starting Winter 2026 or Fall 2027

Research partners

I am looking for industrial or academia partners that could collaborate on power system modeling and optimization, electricity market design, and machine learning applications in different fields. 

Background

Educational Background

Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Michigan, 2026

PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2025

MSc Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2020

BSc Electrical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, 2017

Research

Areas of Research

Data-Driven Modeling and Optimization for Clean Energy Systems

My research lies at the intersection of power system engineering, operations research, machine learning, and energy economics. My work focuses on addressing the challenges of increasing uncertainty, data complexity, and information asymmetry in modern power systems. 

My group will develop rigorous mathematical models, data-driven methods, and trustworthy AI algorithms to support the integration of variable renewable energy and surge electricity demand (e.g., from data centers), while improving the reliability, efficiency, robustness, and transparency of power and energy systems. Our research lies at the intersection of optimization, game theory, machine learning, power system engineering, and energy economics. Current topics include:

  • Power/energy system modeling under uncertainty and strategic human behavior
  • Decision-support tools for power system and market operators
  • AI-integrated power system operation and planning
  • Optimization and control of distributed energy resources
  • Data center–grid coordination and energy-efficient computing

Publications