New Lab Powers Research and Experiential Learning at Stony Brook

Spellman Power Electronics Lab Opens in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences opened a new engineering teaching lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, thanks to generous funding from industry partner Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation. In a special ceremony on April 12, 2022, the Spellman Power Electronics Lab was dedicated as a facility to accelerate research and educational programs in alternative energy and power conversion systems.

Dr. Loren Skeist, President and CEO, Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corp. (at microphone) and Petar Djuric and Fang Luo officially open the Spellman Power Electronics Lab]

A foundational research focus for students and faculty in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) includes alternative energy and power conversion systems such as wind power generators, fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicles and all-electric ships and aircraft propulsion systems. The new lab offers students the hands-on experiential training that will give them a competitive edge for internships, graduate school, future jobs and purposeful careers. Many career opportunities may be found at Spellman, about 20 miles away, in Hauppauge, New York. Furthermore, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering explores advances in power electronics that will contribute to dramatic improvements in the performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness of a wide range of equipment and electric energy processing systems. The new Spellman Power Electronics Lab is on course to becoming a Center for Excellence for New York State, with a central role in the creation of a future powered by sustainable energy. 

Dr. Loren Skeist, President and CEO of Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation, spoke at the dedication ceremony and performed the official ribbon cutting with Petar Djuric, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor Fang Luo, Director of the Spellman High Voltage Power Electronics Lab. They were then joined by guests to see the new lab space, tools and equipment, and get a sense of what the students will be experiencing in the new lab.

The ceremony was attended by Jon Longtin, Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook, members of the CEAS Dean’s Council and members of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial Advisory Board. Faculty, staff and students attended too, in addition to leadership and staff of Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation.

Dr. Skeist said the lab would provide the opportunity to educate students in the areas of STEM and provide hands-on experience designing, building, and testing  their innovations. He emphasized the expanding relationship and potential synergies with Stony Brook University.

“High voltage is an enabling technology for an expanding list of high-tech applications. With this high voltage research and training laboratory program, we can work together toward our vision to power progress in health, safety, and quality of life,” Dr. Skeist said. “This lab and our growing relationship with Stony Brook will fuel Spellman’s future success which is dependent upon retaining, attracting, and developing exceptional electrical, digital, and mechanical engineering talent, who can collaborate with experts and integrate the latest developments in related areas, such as computer, materials, and mechanical engineering.”

Fang Luo with Dr. Loren Skeist and Petar Djuric (above) in the Spellman Lab

Future collaborations between Spellman High Voltage Corporation and Stony Brook include a new project with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  to determine how to eliminate the use of SF6, an insulating gas with a very high CO2 footprint, in addition to potential opportunities for Computer Sciences students to gain experience preserving IT system security (Spellman is pursuing ISO 27001 certification), rapidly recovering data, and developing data analytics to improve supply chain management.

Dr. Skeist also invited students to apply to Spellman’s expanding internship program in engineering, which offers a wide range of opportunities in many areas, including medical diagnostic imaging, security, industrial process controls, semiconductor manufacturing, and undersea data transmission. 

“High voltage power saves lives through its use in medical imaging; it ensures safe travel at airport security screenings; and through underwater data transmission, it keeps us connected to our colleagues, families and friends abroad,” said Fang Luo, Lab Director and SUNY Empire Innovation Associate Professor. “In the Spellman Lab, our students receive theoretical training and real-world experiences while learning how to safely control and harness electrical power.”

“This partnership will help Stony Brook accelerate our work in alternative energy and power conversion systems, a focus that is central to the preservation of our climate, our cities, our waters – of the key components of our lives,” said Petar Djuric, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “We are so grateful to Dr. Skeist and the leadership team at Spellman for their vision, enthusiasm, and trust in Stony Brook University. We look forward to building on this partnership and finding new ways to work together to advance technology for high voltage energy conversion.”

More information about Stony Brook’s power electronics program and partnership with Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation is available in the Stony Brook Matters article: Powerful Partnership Supercharges the Future

For additional information, visit: 

SBU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences: www.stonybrook.edu/ceas/

Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation: https://www.spellmanhv.com