Farzad Ferdowsi, Ph.D. (Senior Member, IEEE), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His research areas include smart and connected energy systems, power system operation and control, energy resilience, and engineering education. Ferdowsi received his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2016 and served as a Research Associate/Lecturer at LSU-Baton Rouge before joining UL Lafayette. He is actively engaged in research, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and 3 patents.