PEOPLE
Tim Thacker received his BSEE degree from Virginia Tech in 2003, thereafter joined the Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) for his Master's and PhD degrees as a Direct PhD student, earning each in 2005 and 2009 respectively. During his graduate studies at CPES, Dr. Thacker focused his research efforts on Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems, Grid Interfacing Power Electronics and Control Algorithms, Power Electronics Building Blocks (PEBBs) for industrial and defense applications, Parallel Inverter Modeling and Control, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) charging with Ancillary Services for V2G applications. He was the recipient of three separate PhD Fellowships from NSF, GE, and VPTES (PowerHub Systems). Additionally, he taught and mentored undergraduate students in the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program as part of CPES's NSF-ERC program for two summers during his PhD studies, as well as was the CPES Student Council Vice President and Co-Chair for the Center's Annual Conference in 2007.
After graduation he joined VPT Energy Systems (PowerHub Systems) as their Chief Engineer, where he developed bi-directional chargers for Community Energy Storage (CES) systems utilizing large format Li-Ion Battery modules for transformerless grid interfacing and control algorithms. He successfully oversaw hardware development and fabrication teams as well as working closely with the software team to implement the proprietary, advanced control algorithms for these systems which alleviated issues where there was an "over installment" of renewable energy resources in residential areas causing back-feeding issues which disrupted utilities transmission protection schemes.
In 2015, Dr. Thacker joined a specialized motor company, Motion Control Systems, Inc, as their Director of Engineering & Research and Development. There he led a team of Electrical, Mechanical and Embedded Systems Engineers to design, develop and manufacture PMSM motors and their drive electronics for applications where absolute minimalization of torque ripple and structure borne noise is critical, which includes semiconductor wafer manufacturing and handling, precision motion and multi-axis gimble systems, high speed air-bearing spindles, high precision grinding, and underwater propulsion systems for commercial and defense applications. Through the incorporation of SiC technology in drive designs and proprietary control implementations as well as motor design improvements, Dr. Thacker spearheaded the engineering team to improved performance in several key customer industries' metrics by increasing efficiencies, reduced operational costs, longer life and increases in MTBF, reduced noise (electrical EMI/EMC as well as mechanical vibrations), removal of liquid cooling systems, and longer duration/mission times to name a few.
Upon his returned to Virginia Tech, in the Spring of 2024 to join CPES as a Research Associate Professor, he now focuses his research efforts on PMSM motor and drive design, vehicular propulsion systems, multi-phase/multi-level converter modeling and control, energy conversion and storage, grid interconnected systems and micro-grid applications, control theory and simulations, EMI/EMC mitigation, and power quality and stability analysis.
Dr. Thacker has authored numerous journal and conference papers, holds a patent, and has developed numerous proprietary/trade-secret technologies during his tenure in industry.
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