A PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, he received both his B.S. and M. Eng. from the University of Louisville in the same field. His research interests include power electronics and controls, as well as engineering education for first-year students.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a holistic and systematic approach, based in key concepts of systems thinking, systems of systems and management science; to completely represent, model and analyze microgrid systems. In this paper we propose a Microgrid Reference Methodology (MRM) that guides the cooperation and mutual benefits between electric utilities and industrial customers for microgrid projects. We sketch a four-level socio-technical system in which the δ (business) level is added to the other three levels that are traditionally analyzed in microgrid design and planning. This MRM clearly specifies the steps and processes necessary for determining actors in the system, their interrelations, interests, goals and undesired effects. Finally, the MRM makes possible the evaluation of the impact of different alternatives on the objectives of both parties through the determination of criteria and factors. These factors can be influenced by the electric utility and customer; or they can be external, but still influenced by other actors such as regulators and government, to incentivize the implementation of microgrid projects.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) have rapidly become a topic of international interest as governments have sponsored their deployment for the purposes of utility service reliability and efficiency, e.g., water and electricity conservation. Two problems plague such deployments. First is the protection of consumer privacy. Second is the problem of huge amounts of data from such deployments. A new architecture is proposed to address these problems through the use of Aggregators, which incorporate temporary data buffering and the modularization of utility grid analysis. These Aggregators are used to deliver anonymized summary data to the central utility while preserving billing and automated connection services.

Teaching calculus, power and energy, and industrial control systems related courses. Research in artificial neural networks, expert systems, and new methods of teaching math/calculus. 15 years in industry control systems and power generation industry prior to academic career.

He is currently a NASA Administrator's Fellow, Cohort 10. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering for more than sixteen (16) years and as Interim Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology from 1990 to 1992. Dr. Liaw has been heavily involved in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for many years. He has planned, directed, and executed more than ten research projects at Alabama A&M University with contract values in excess of two million dollars. His current research interest is to apply nanotechnology in water and air purification systems.