Strategic Advisor
Strategic Advisor

Biography

Sonja Glavaski serves as a strategic advisor for the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). In this role she has developed an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Energy Systems Strategy and is leading several efforts developing data-driven methodologies for control and automation of critical infrastructure, power generation, and urban transportation. At the same time, she is managing a portfolio of multi-disciplinary projects developing high-risk, high-reward technologies that impact applied energy programs with several government sponsors.

During her career in industry and government, Glavaski has made significant contributions to scientific advancements in fields of data science and control systems in a range of application areas. Most recently, she was a program director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), where she established and supported pioneering programs, co-led OPEN 2015 and OPEN 2018, and initiated ARPA-E program clusters in wind power and sustainable aviation. Prior to joining ARPA-E, Glavaski was a Control Systems group manager at United Technologies Research Center, and has led key project portfolios at Eaton Innovation Center and Honeywell Labs.

Glavaski is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow. She is a member of IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) Board of Governors. She previously served as IEEE CSS liaison to Environmental Engineering Initiative, IFAC Executive Industry Committee Member, and IEEE CSS Women in Control Committee Chair. Glavaski has been serving on various advisory and review committees.

Disciplines and Skills

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Control and Dynamical Systems
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Urban Mobility Systems
  • Wind and Hybrid Power Plants
  • Renewables and Power System

Education

  • PhD in electrical engineering, California Institute of Technology
  • MS in electrical engineering, California Institute of Technology
  • Dipl. Ing in electrical engineering, University of Belgrade

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • IEEE Fellow
  • Member of IEEE Control Systems Society Board of Governors
  • IEEE Control Systems Society Women in Control (past Committee Chair)