Qi Yao received her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia, in 2021. In 2023, she joined the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) at McMaster University, Canada, as a postdoctoral research fellow. Her research interests include battery modeling, state estimation, thermal management, and the optimization of energy storage systems.
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Qi Yao’s passion for physics—especially the electrical phenomena behind how things work—began early in junior high school. She was captivated by how electric current flows through a circuit and how magnets can generate electricity, an interest that inspired her to pursue electrical engineering as her academic and career path.
Throughout her academic journey, Qi has engaged in diverse areas within electrical engineering. Early in her studies, she contributed to a project on fault diagnosis for motors and motor drive systems. During her Ph.D. at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), she expanded her expertise into renewable energy technologies, focusing on photovoltaics, energy storage systems, and power converter applications in clean energy systems.
In 2023, Qi joined the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) at McMaster University as a postdoctoral research fellow. Working under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi and Dr. Phillip J. Kollmeyer on a Stellantis-sponsored project, her research centers on energy storage systems, including battery electrical and thermal modeling, state estimation, and optimization of charging algorithms.
Outside of research, Qi is a lifelong learner who enjoys exploring new topics through videos and online courses. Her interests span a wide range of subjects, including nature, history, and emerging technologies.
