Dr. Jonathan Bird -New Faculty Member Brings Renewable Energy Expertise

Dr. Bird’s education includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and a master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. His doctoral research was in the field of magnetic suspension for high-speed vehicles.

“Current high-speed ground transportation technology is extraordinarily expensive,” Dr. Bird said. “My research involved radically reducing the cost, to where it would be comparable to freeway construction. This would make point-to-point ground transportation at 300 miles per hour economically and environmentally feasible.”

Following graduation, Dr. Bird went to work in 2007 and 2008 at General Motors’ Advanced Technology Center in Torrance, California. As a senior project engineer, he designed traction motors for the next generation of hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.

“There is a huge need to change to more efficient sustainable technologies and more renewable technologies,” Dr. Bird said. “Engineers with education and experience in electromechanical and electromagnetic devices, power electronics and power systems are in big demand. When I left G.M., they asked me to stay in touch, because they are looking for a pipeline to good students.”

Dr. Bird is looking forward to the educational environment, where he can continue to work on his research, but also share his knowledge and experience in the classroom. “I enjoy teaching,” he said, “and I am eager to prepare students for the power careers that may lie before them.”

One of these career areas will be in power systems, where there is great advancements to be made because of materials development. “The development of new magnetic and semiconductor materials leads to making new innovative power designs possible,” Dr. Bird said. “That will always be the case, which means there will always be demand for power engineers.”

For more information, contact Dr. Bird at jbird4@uncc.edu