On 28 March 2025, the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (IEEE ICIT 2025) concluded in Wuhan. Among the many outstanding contributions, Sara Ibrahim, a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), stood out with her paper ‘Optimal LQR/LQG Output Feedback Control of Three-Phase Grid Connected Inverters with LCL Filters in dq Frame’, winning the "Best Student Paper Award".
IEEE ICIT 2025 attracted research teams from 17 countries and regions, including Canada, Russia, and the United States. A total of 227 papers were presented, covering fields such as control systems, robotics, mechatronics, artificial intelligence (AI) and industrial informatics. Sara’s award-winning research was supervised by Professor Giampaolo Buticchi, a “World Top 2% Scientists” and Chair Professor in Electrical Engineering-Power Electronics at UNNC. This accolade not only recognises Sara’s academic excellence but also highlights UNNC’s robust research capabilities in electrical engineering and renewable energy.
In recent years, UNNC has strengthened its high-level academic talent team and disciplinary development, with seven subjects ranked in the 2024 Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects and six entering the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) global top 1%. Over 40 scholars have been listed among the "World’s Top 2% Scientists". The Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme, accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), focuses on fields such as electronic design, communications, software engineering, and computer modelling. It is supported by a diverse faculty team of 19 international experts, including Fellows of the IET and the Royal Aeronautical Society, dedicated to cultivating talents to drive global electrical and electrical industry development.
Breaking grid integration barriers: a stable transmission solution
As the global energy transition accelerates, renewable energy such as wind and solar power embrace developing chances. According to Renewables 2024, challenges remain, such as inadequate grid infrastructure, limited power system integration capabilities, and harmonic interference, leading to reduced power quality. Sara’s research addresses these issues by proposing a novel control model that integrates Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) algorithms. This "intelligent stabiliser" minimises total harmonic distortion (THD) while maintaining stable power output, effectively enhancing grid compatibility for renewable energy sources.
Sara explained, "Through extensive simulations and experiments, we validated the model’s reliability and durability. It significantly reduces harmonic distortion, acting as a filter to improve energy purity and provide a robust foundation for clean power supply." The research is expected to be applied in photovoltaics, energy storage, wind power, and other fields, offering critical scientific insights for advancing the global energy transition.
Mentorship and scholarships: fueling research excellence
Sara attributed her success to comprehensive guidance from her supervisory team. ‘My supervisors are Professor Giampaolo Buticchi, Dr Daniele Garrisi, Dr Jiajun Yang, and Dr Salman Ijaz. They provided expertise in technical strategy, experimental design, data analysis, and presentation skills, enabling me to excel in a highly competitive environment. I am proud to have this supervision’ she remarked.
Student-orientation has been UNNC's consistent principle. UNNC provides students with advanced research facilities, strong industry partnerships, and diverse scholarship opportunities. The inclusive campus environment and international academic setting allowed Sara to engage in cross-cultural, interdisciplinary exchanges and utilise cutting-edge laboratory equipment to translate innovative ideas into practice.
As a recipient of full-scholarship from the Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, Sara highlighted how the financial support enabled her to focus entirely on her doctoral research and participate in global conferences. "In international conferences, I engaged with experts in computer science, AI, and bioengineering at these events has broadened the boundaries of my research through interdisciplinary collaboration," she added.
Holding the award certificate, Sara expressed her determination: "I hope my research will contribute to building a smarter and greener energy future."