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Staff Profile

Dr Naayagi Ramasamy

Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

  • Telephone: +65 6908 6069
  • Address: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
    Newcastle University International Singapore
    SIT Building Nanyang Polytechnic
    172A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #05-01
    Singapore 567739
Background


Biography

Dr. Naayagi obtained her Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering securing University I rank with gold medal from Bharathidasan University, India, and her Master’s in Power Electronics and Drives securing University II rank with gold medal from Anna University, India. She has received several merit scholarships, certificates and awards for her outstanding performance in academics. She completed her PhD from the University of Manchester, UK, and her PhD was fully funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK and Rolls-Royce through the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award (DHPA). She is the first recipient of the DHPA from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester. She is an alumni member of the University of Manchester and serves as a Mentor for the Manchester Gold Mentoring Programme.

After completing her doctoral studies, she worked as Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at the University of Greenwich, UK. She has more than 20 years of full-time teaching experience. During her time at the University of Greenwich, she organized the first-ever Kent heat of the IET Present Around the World Competition in 2011. During her time in India, she organized a staff development programme on Electrical Systems for Wind Energy Technologies as Chair in collaboration with the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Government of India.

She is an Associate Editor of IEEE/CSEE Journal of Power and Energy Systems. Her research interests include renewable energy integration and applications in smart grid, power electronics for aerospace, electric vehicle applications, low carbon electrical energy systems, and power electronic solutions to sustainability.

She is a Senior Member of the IEEE and Life Member of ISTE. She was the Chair of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, Singapore Chapter from January 2019 to December 2020 and the Chapter has received the High Performing Chapter Award under her leadership in April 2020.

Educational Qualifications

PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, UK

M.E in Power Electronics and Drives, Anna University, India

M.Sc in Information Technology (part-time), Alagappa University, India

B.E in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bharathidasan University, India                                  


Awards

  • 2024: IEEE PES Outstanding Volunteer Award
  • 2021: IEEE PES Outstanding Engineer Award
  • 2021: Returners Support Programme Fund, UK 
  • 2020: CSEE JPES Excellent Young Subject Editor Award
  • 2019: Education Development Fund, UK
  • 2019: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
  • 2019: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund, UK
  • 2016: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
  • 2016: Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice
  • 2016: Newcastle Teaching Award
  • 2016: Global Excellence Fund in partnership with National University of Singapore
  • 2016 -2017: Biography included in the 12th Edition of Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, USA
  • 2015: Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
  • 2015: Elevated to Senior Member grade of the IEEE, USA 
  • 2014: 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, (8th Edition), International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK
  • 2014: Biography included in 31st Edition of Marquis Who's Who in the World, USA
  • 2012: IET Woman Engineer Award, IET Young Professions Section Chennai, India
  • 2011: University of Greenwich, UK Travel Grant (for papers presentation in IEEE Conference)
  • 2009: Biography included in 26th Edition of Marquis Who's Who in the World, USA
  • 2006: EPSRC–Rolls Royce badged Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award
  • 2005: Institutional Sponsorship for paper presentation in IEEE PEDS Conference
  • 2005: Outstanding M.E. Student Award
  • 2005: Anna University Gold Medal (for securing University II Rank in Master's degree)
  • 2005: Awarded Medallion for securing College I Rank in Master's Degree
  • 2001: V.K.N. Thanthai Periyar Gold Medal
  • 2001: Awarded NSC and Merit Certificates (for securing University I Rank in B.E Degree)
  • 2001: T.R. Rajagopalan Award for Best Academic Excellence
  • 2001: T.R. Rajagopalan Award for Best Outgoing Female Graduate
  • 1996: Obtained School First in HSC (12th Standard) Examination
  • 1994: Eagalaivan Award
  • 1994: Obtained School First in SSLC (10th Standard) Examination


Memberships

  • IEEE, USA – Senior Member (92179677)
  • IEEE Power and Energy Society – Member
  • IEEE Systems Council – Member
  • IEEE Transportation Electrification Community – Member
  • IEEE Smart Grid Community – Member
  • IEEE Young Professionals – Member
  • Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK – Senior Fellow (PR161590), 2019
  • Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK – Fellow (PR117174), 2016
  • British Chamber of Commerce, UK – Sterling Additional Member (ST6541)
  • Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) – Life Member (LM36888)
  • GetSET Women, UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology
  • Alumni Member, The University of Manchester, UK
  • India Manchester Graduate Network
  • NU Women Network – Steering Committee Member
  • Diversity Working Group, NU – Member
  • Chair of NUiS WISE Network



Research

Dr. Naayagi is a member of the Electrical Power Research Group and her profile can be viewed on Google Scholar.

Research Profile

Her research interests include Converters for distributed renewable energy systems, Renewable energy integration and applications in smart grid, Advanced power electronic converters using state-of-the-art and emerging devices and materials, Solid state transformers for the modern grid and in particular


• Power electronic solutions for green energy (solar, wind) 

• Power electronic circuits and systems for the future grid

• Cyber physical systems for smart grid

• Power electronics for aerospace applications

• Modelling and design of power electronic converters for electric vehicle applications

• Power converter design using SiC and GaN devices

• Dual active bridge DC-DC converters, Interleaved boost converters, Switched capacitor converters



Research Grants:

Secured a Research Project grant through the Returners Support Programme (RSP) Fund for the project "Development of Cyber Physical Systems for the Future Grid" from the Newcastle University, UK for the academic year 2021/2022.

Secured an Education Development Fund (EDF) under the category valuing diversity/being inclusive for a project to facilitate inclusive learning through group work for students in Electrical Power Engineering and Marine Technology programmes for the academic year 2019/2020.

Secured an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund (EDIF) for the project “Leadership and Emotional Intelligence - the female perspective” from the Newcastle University, UK, for the academic year 2019/2020. The aims of this project, for each participant, are to:

  1. Understand the link between leadership and EI;
  2. Learn more about one’s own level of EI;
  3. Learn how EI and leadership may be different for women and men and how to manage this effectively.

Secured a Research Project grant through the Global Excellence Fund (GEF) in partnership with National University of Singapore on the title “Fault-Tolerant High Voltage High Power Converter for DC Collection Point of Future Offshore Windfarm HVDC Networks”, for a duartion of two years from 2016 to 2018.

Involved and contributed to Teaching and Learning Grant for students learning and teaching of Multidisciplinary project and collaboration opportunity for students during Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) at Newcastle UK, July 2018.

Three Doctoral Training Award (DTA) research proposals submitted to Newcastle University, UK under the Energy theme have been successful. Each DTA grant, worth GBP 74000 for 4 years, sponsors a full-time PhD student in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Following are my three research proposals which have been selected in the SAgE DTA 2016 scheme of Newcastle University, UK.

  • Renewable Energy Resources Integration using Advanced Power Electronics Converters
  • Solar Energy Harvesting using Switched Capacitor Converters and Self-timed Electronics
  • Efficient Energy Conversion in Smart Grids

Two Newcastle – Singapore PhD Studentship Project proposals submitted to Newcastle University, UK jointly with National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore academics have been successful. Each PhD scholarship, worth GBP 80000 for 4 years, sponsors a full-time PhD student in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Following are my two research proposals which have been selected by the University.

  • High Performance Converter for Future Offshore Windfarm Electricity Networks
  • Advanced Direct AC/AC Converter for Low Frequency AC Transmission Systems

Current Research Projects

  •   Development of Cyber-Physical Systems for the future grid
  •  Fault-tolerant converter for future offshore windfarms
  • Health monitoring of power devices
  • Power dense converter design using emerging devices

Areas for PhD supervision/Potential PhD projects

  • Solid state transformers for smart microgrid systems
  • Advanced Power Electronics for Resilient Active Distribution Networks
  • PE technologies for applying Energy Storage in Resilience Applications
  • Fault tolerant DC-DC converters for mission-critical applications
  • Advanced PE solutions for the future grid applications

Reviewership:

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications

IET Power Electronics

Journal of Power Electronics (Korean Institute of Power Electronics)

International Journal of Electronics (Taylor & Francis, UK)

Electric Power Systems Research (Elsevier Journal)

The 39th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, November 2013, Vienna, Austria

IEEE Business, Engineering and Industrial Applications Colloquium, April 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia

IEEE 5th India International Conference on Power Electronics, December 2012, Delhi, India

IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy, December 2012, Malaysia

IEEE Applied Power Electronics Colloquium, April 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

9th IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems, December 2011, Singapore

IEEE Applied Power Electronics Colloquium, April 2011, Johor Bharu, Malaysia

Guest Editor of the Special Issue on the Electronics Journal on topic of "Applications of Power Electronic Circuits and Systems for Future Grid".

Guest Editor of the Special Issue on the Electronics Journa on topic of " Advances in Low Power and High Power Electronics". Call for papers for the Special issue is advertised which is open for submission until 30th September 2021.

Supervision:

Students Graduated:

Nicola Chiodetto, “High Power Density Propulsion Motor for Hybrid Electric Aircraft”, PhD in EEE, Faculty of SAgE, July 2021, Newcastle University, UK.

Muhammad Bin Mohamad Saifuddin, "Transitioning Power Distribution Grid into Nanostructured Ecosystem: Prosumer-Centric Sovereignty", PhD in EEE, March 2020, Newcastle University in Singapore.

Chaturika Chandraratne, "Development of an Adaptive Protection System for Modern Power Systems", MPhil in EEE, August 2020, Newcastle University in Singapore.

Wesley Poh Qi Tong, "Self-Powered Dynamic System: Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester using Quasi-Impedance Source Inverter", MPhil in EEE, January 2020, Newcastle University in Singapore.

Mabasa-Ashe Richard Mandeya, “In-situ Health Monitoring applied to High Voltage IGBT Power Modules,” PhD in EEE, June 2018, Newcastle University, UK.

He Liu, “Modular DC/DC Converter Topologies for Off-shore DC Collection Point,” PhD in EEE, November 2018, Newcastle University, UK.

Fwa Hua Leong Keith, “A conceptual framework for an Affective Tutoring System using unobtrusive affect sensing for enhanced tutoring outcomes,” PhD, October 2018, Newcastle University, UK.

Mammen Varughese, "Nonlinear Control System Analysis in Power Electronics for Low Carbon Vehicle", MPhil in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Newcastle University, UK, 2016.

Current Supervision:

Zou Yunyang, "Transactive energy optimization of multi-energy microgrid", PhD in EEE, School of EEE, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Since January 2020, Singapore.

Sarvanan S/O Suppiah, PhD in EEE, Faculty of SAgE, Since March 2019, Newcastle University, UKNgiap Tiam Koh, PhD in EEE, Faculty of SAgE, Since February 2019, Newcastle University, UK.

Si Yong Heng, “Developing a Vehicular Energy Network and Integrating it with the Power Distribution System” PhD in EEE, Faculty of SAgE, Since March 2019, Newcastle University, UK

Irfan Mulyawan Malik, “Hybrid Computational Intelligence for Multi-Objective Optimisation of Real Electrical Power System Operation and Maintenance”, PhD in EEE, Faculty of SAgE, Since August 2018, Newcastle University, UK

Weixian Li, “Intelligent Multi-Agent System (MAS) for Smart Home Energy Management,” PhD in EEE, Since September 2015, Newcastle University International Singapore – PGR Progression Panel Member for this candidate.

Tiong Teck Teo, “Application of Computational Intelligence in Energy Management System,” PhD in EEE, Since September 2015, Newcastle University International Singapore – PGR Progression Panel Member for this candidate.

Yang Thee Quek, “Computational Intelligence in the DC Micro-grid Applications in Tropical Urban Landscape,” PhD in EEE, Since July 2014, Newcastle University International Singapore – PGR Progression Panel Member for this candidate.

Mohamed Isa Mohamed Nasser, “Omni-Directional Camera EKF-SLAM using Monocular Cues,” PhD in EEE (part-time), Since September 2015, Newcastle University International Singapore – PGR Progression Panel Member for this candidate.

PGR Progression Panel Member for Mr. Philip Solomon See since April 2018.


10 BEng (Hons) final year project students (2016 - 2017) in Singapore. One of my final year project students under my supervision secured the Best Dissertation Award for her project work in the School of EEE at NUIS in 2016 - the detail is given below:

Tan Hui Ying Felicia, “Advanced Power Converter for Grid-tied Photovoltaic Systems,” BEng (Hons) Electrical Power Engineering, Newcastle University International Singapore, 2016. 

Supervision Successes

Received Best Paper Award for the paper titled "Impedance Source Inverter Wind Turbine and DC Collection System: Fault Ride-Through Analysis" in IEEE International Conference on Energy, Power and Environment - Towards Clean Energy Technologies (ICEPE 2020), March 2021.

Following students received the IEEE PES Singapore Chapter travel grant/Conference support grant for their papers as a result of my PhD/project supervision:

B.M.S. Muhammad Ramadan, R.T. Naayagi, W.L. Yee, “Modelling, Simulation and Experimentation of Grid Tied Inverter for Wind Energy Conversion Systems,” Accepted in the IEEE International Conference on Green Energy and Applications, March 25-27, 2017, Singapore. (Best Presentation Award)

B.M.S. Muhammad Ramadan, T. Logenthiran, R.T. Naayagi, C. Su, “Accelerated Lambda Iteration Method for Solving Economic Dispatch with Transmission Line Losses Management,” Proceedings of IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies – Asia Conference, pp. 138-143, 2016, Melbourne, Australia.

         (B.M.S. Muhammad Ramadan received the IEEE PES Student Travel Grant for attending ISGT 2016)

N.J.L. Lim, T. Logenthiran, R.T. Naayagi, V.T. Phan, “Strategical Studies on Frequency and Voltage Control of an Islanded Microgrid,” Proceedings of IEEE TENCON Conference, pp. 1439-1442, 2016, Singapore.

            (N.J.L. Lim received the IEEE PES Singapore Chapter Conference support grant)

B.M.S. Muhammad Ramadan, T. Logenthiran, R.T. Naayagi, C. Su, “Hybridization of Genetic Algorithm and Priority List to solve Economic Dispatch Problems,” Proceedings of IEEE TENCON Conference, pp. 1471-1474, 2016, Singapore.

           (B.M.S. Muhammad Ramadan received the IEEE PES Singapore Chapter Conference support grant)

7 BEng (Hons) final year project students in (2024-2025) in Singapore

13 BEng (Hons) final year project students in (2023-2024) in Singapore

10 BEng (Hons) final year project students in (2022-2023) in Singapore

6 BEng (Hons) final year project students in (2021-2022) in Singapore

4 BEng (Hons) final year project students in (2019-2020) in Singapore

1 BEng (Hons) final year project student in (2018-2019) in Singapore and 2 students through Industrial Work Study Programme in (2018-2019)

10 BEng (Hons) final year project students (2017-2018) in Singapore

11 BEng (Hons) final year project students (2016-2017) in Singapore

7 BEng (Hons) final year project students (2015 - 2016) in Singapore

6 BEng (Hons) final year project students (2014 - 2015) in Singapore

12 MSc project students (2010 - 2011) in the UK

8 BSc (Hons) project students (2010 - 2011) in the UK

2 M.E project students (2005 - 2006) in India; Also supervised a number of Bachelors student projects.

Teaching

Teaching Experience and Interests: 

Dr. Naayagi is passionate about teaching and has more than 20 years of full-time teaching experience. She has received excellent feedback from students in the UK, Singapore and India for the modules she has taught so far.

Current Role & Teaching:

From September 2024: Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

From August 2021-August 2024: Director of Education

From August 2019-August 2021: Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching

From April 2019 - August 2021: Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

From August 2018: Associate Professor in Electrical Power Engineering

From July 2014- July 2018: Assistant Professor in Electrical Power Engineering

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Newcastle University, Singapore Campus (NUIS)

Undergraduate

  • EPE2300 Control Engineering
  • EPE1303 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
  • EPE2304 High Voltage Engineering
  • EPE3303B Integrated Work Study Programme
  • EPE2205 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
  • EPE2200 Automatic Control
  • EPE3207 Individual Project
  • EPE3210 Integrated Work Study Programme
  • EEE3201 Electrical Machines and Generators
  • EEE2200 Automatic Control
  • EEE2205 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
  • EEE2207 Project and Professional Issues
  • EEE3207 Individual Project

Postgraduate

  • EPE8202 Advanced Power Electronics
  • EPE8203 Advanced Electrical Machines and Drives
  • NUS8302 Electro-Mechanical Systems and Systems Safety

Other Roles and Responsibilites:

Member of Singapore Deans Management Team

Chair of Joint Programme Operations Committee AY22/23, NU-SIT Joint Degree Programme

Chair of Joint Board of Examiners AY23/24, NU-SIT Joint Degree Programmes

Member of Industrial Advisory Board, Newcastle University in Singapore

Member of NewRIIS Quality Committee

Senior Tutor (NUIS), August 2017 onwards

Athena SWAN Academic Lead since August 2017

Chair of the NUiS WIE Network

Equality and Diversity Champion, NUiS

Personal Tutor for Stage 2 and Stage 3 students

Senior Tutor (EPE), January 2016 onwards

IET Accreditation Academic Lead and Coordinator

Member of Board of Studies, NUIS

Member of Board of Examiners, NUIS

Member of Diversity Working Group, NU

Steering Committee Member of NU Women

Past Teaching:

In the UK:

As Lecturer in Electrical Engineering (2010 – 2011) at the University of Greenwich (Medway), UK

ELEC1009 Introduction to Power (Level 5) – Module Leader                                                

ELEC0017 Power Electronics (Level 6 and MSc) – Module Leader

Final Year Project (BEng)

MSc Individual Project

In India:

Courses taught during 2000 – 2006 and 2011 – 2014 at Universities and engineering colleges:

Analysis of Power Converters (PG)

Flexible AC Transmission Systems (PG)

Solid State DC Drives (PG)

Power Electronics (UG)

Power Electronics Laboratory (UG)

Solid State Drives (UG)

Protection and Switch Gear (UG)

HVDC Transmission Systems (UG)

Electrical Machines I & II (UG)

Electrical Machines Laboratory (UG)

Electric Circuits (UG)

Microprocessor and its Applications (UG)

Digital Electronics (UG)

Electronic Circuits (UG)

Electron Devices (UG)

Basic Electrical Engineering (UG)


Publications