David Boah Gyasi is a Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering at McMaster University, supervised by Dr. Ali Emadi. He earned his B.Sc. in electrical and electronic engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he also became involved in sustainable energy initiatives, university teaching, and technology entrepreneurship. In Fall 2023, David began his graduate studies at McMaster as a M.A.Sc. student and transitioned to the Ph.D. program in Fall 2024 to further pursue his research on coordinated control strategies for Solid State Power Controllers (SSPCs) and Battery Management Systems (BMS) in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
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David Boah Gyasi’s interest in electrified transportation began during his upbringing in Kumasi, Ghana, where poor air quality and unreliable public transit sparked his passion for zero-emission alternatives. He went on to earn a B.Sc. in electrical and electronic engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he focused on electric drives, power systems, and control. As an undergraduate, he led projects including the optimal siting of EV charging stations using evolutionary optimization techniques and the design of a wind-powered seawater electrolysis prototype for hydrogen production.
David is now a Ph.D. student in the department of electrical and computer engineering at McMaster University, supervised by Dr. Ali Emadi. He began his graduate studies in Fall 2023 as a M.A.Sc. student, before transitioning to the Ph.D. program in Fall 2024 to deepen his research in electric distribution systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. His current work focuses on developing a coordinated control framework between Solid State Power Controllers (SSPCs) and Battery Management Systems (BMS) to manage high-power transients and improve fault resilience. His research integrates model predictive control and machine learning to optimize system-level behavior, aligning with certification standards and safety requirements in urban air mobility.
Alongside his academic journey, David has contributed to teaching, research, and entrepreneurial efforts. He served as a teaching assistant at both KNUST and McMaster, supporting courses in programming, electromagnetics, and electronics. He also co-founded Bismuth Technologies, an EdTech startup offering AI and web development solutions in Ghana. At the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre, he has contributed to SSPC design and system modeling in support of advanced electric propulsion systems.
