Vaibhav Donde
About Vaibhav Donde
Vaibhav Donde is a Principal Investigator and Project Manager at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, with over 15 years of experience in electric power systems and grid modernization. He has held various engineering and leadership roles in multiple organizations, including Pacific Gas and Electric Company and ABB, and has a strong academic background with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
Work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Vaibhav Donde has been employed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) since 2017, where he currently serves as Principal Investigator and Project Manager. His role involves managing a diverse portfolio of projects, including initiatives funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD). He has also held various leadership positions at LLNL, including Group Leader for the Energy Delivery and Utilization Group and Grid Integration Lead. His work focuses on power grid modeling, distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), microgrid design, and field pilot implementation.
Education and Expertise
Vaibhav Donde holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from V.J.T.I., which he completed from 1994 to 1998. He furthered his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (1999-2000) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the same field (2001-2004). His extensive education underpins his expertise in electric power systems and grid modernization, which he has applied throughout his career.
Background in Electric Power Systems
With over 15 years of experience in electric power systems, Vaibhav Donde has worked in various capacities across multiple organizations. Prior to his tenure at LLNL, he served as a Senior Electrical Engineer and later as a Senior Advising Electrical Engineer at Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 2013 to 2017. He also worked as a Principal Scientist Engineer at ABB for seven years, focusing on research and development in electric power systems. His early career included roles at Tata Consulting Engineers and as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois.
Achievements and Contributions
Vaibhav Donde has made significant contributions to the field of electric power systems, holding 10 US patents related to this area. He has authored numerous publications that address advancements in electric power grid technology. His leadership in R&D projects has resulted in a $10 million portfolio focused on innovative solutions for grid modernization, including microgrid design and integration of distributed energy resources. His work has been recognized within the industry for its impact on energy infrastructure.
Management and Leadership Experience
In his current role at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Vaibhav Donde manages a team of 12 full-time employees. His leadership extends to various projects and programs, including serving as Lab Manager for the Cyber-Physical Systems Testing Laboratory and Associate Program Lead for the Energy Infrastructure program area. His management experience is complemented by his ability to lead complex projects that involve collaboration with government agencies and industry stakeholders.