Interview with Prof. Dr. Pooya Davari—Winner of the Applied Sciences 2022 Best Paper Award

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Pooya Davari:

1. Congratulations on winning the 2022 Best Paper Award! Could you briefly introduce yourself and the main content of the winning paper to our readers?

My name is Pooya Davari, and I am an Associate Professor and leader of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) in Power Electronics Research Group at Aalborg University in the Department of Energy. I joined Aalborg University in 2014 as a postdoc after completing my Ph.D. at Queensland University of Technology in Australia. My research primarily focuses on power electronics, specifically on the electromagnetic compatibility of power electronics and the noise generated by power converters.

The winning paper originated from a project on hydrogen production using power electronics and was later expanded to explore other fields like electric steam methane reformer. Given the current interest in hydrogen through electrolyzers and the performance of different power converters, we aimed to provide an overview of various configurations and their potential future advancements. This paper has received positive feedback from the industry for its insights into the current and future states of power electronics.

2. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Applied Sciences?

One of the things I appreciate about Applied Sciences is its efficiency. The journal has a fast peer review process, ensuring quick reviews and publication. While there are article processing charges, there are also opportunities for discounts or free publication. Additionally, Applied Sciences does a great job of increasing the visibility of the authors' work, which is crucial for both academic and industry recognition. The journal's rising impact factor also reflects its growing reputation and the high quality of work it publishes.

3. What is your current research and why did you choose this field?

My current research continues to focus on power electronics, particularly on power quality and compatibility with the power grid. With the shift towards greener technologies, power electronics play a vital role, especially in renewable energy sources like wind and Photovoltaic (PV), as well as emerging applications such as power-to-X. The unintentional noise generated by power electronics is a significant challenge, and my goal is to ensure that power converters are compatible with each other and the power grid. This field is essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions.

4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

Several topics are gaining attention. Power-to-X applications, data centers, and electric vehicles are key areas where power electronics can make a significant impact. Unlocking the full potential of wide band gap devices and their application in these fields is crucial. In my opinion, now we are missing advancements on magnetics. Additionally, improving the reliability and lifetime of power converters is important for sustainability.

5. Have you ever encountered any difficulties conducting research and how did you overcome them?

Research always comes with challenges. High-risk projects may not always succeed, and accurately modeling complex systems remains difficult. Simplifying models can help, but funding and finding the right team members are constant challenges. There is also a trend for researchers to prefer industry over academia due to salary differences and the daily challenges of academic research. Despite these obstacles, perseverance and adaptability are key to overcoming them.

6. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?

My advice is to be patient. Significant results take time and effort. While it may seem like others are achieving quick success, there is usually a substantial amount of work behind those achievements. Focus on your research, put in the effort, and be patient. Over time, your work will gain visibility and recognition. Stay committed to your goals, and don't be discouraged by initial setbacks.

7. Applied Sciences is an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts the authors?

I really like open access because I can see that there are some regions or areas with limitations in accessing some publishers since they have to pay for a membership and so on. Open access helps by, first of all, providing the latest work as soon as it gets published, so we stay aware of what is going on. Additionally, it's easily accessible with no restrictions, benefiting both academia and industry, which may not always afford membership fees for accessing these publications. Many journals like Applied Sciences are flexible by offering discounts or even free access in some cases, which really helps researchers to contribute.

8. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?

I’m really grateful for this award. When I saw the email, I was very surprised. We knew as a team that we did our best, but we didn’t do it just to get awards. I think I should appreciate the Department of Energy at Aalborg University because of the facilities and nice environment they provided, allowing us to conduct research on this topic. I am very grateful. And, of course, Professor Frede Blaabjerg himself has been a great mentor. I have learned a lot from him. Now, I have my own research group running, but from the beginning, I have learned a lot from his advice on how to look into the future strategically.

9. Do you have any suggestions for our journal as to how we could further support researchers and the academic community?

I think you are doing an excellent job, to be honest. Running a lot of Special Issues is quite important. Based on the impact factor increase, it shows that you are already doing great. One suggestion could be to engage more with conferences. This could help because selecting parts of the conference proceedings for publishing as Special Issues in the journal could motivate people to contribute more to Applied Sciences.

More information about journal awards could be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.