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PhD Student · IDEAS Lab

Aya Alayli

Aya has a strong passion for grid planning, sustainable development, policy, and energy equity. She earned her Bachelor's from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department here at UW and has previous experience working within different aspects of the electric power industry. Her research interests center around community-led energy transitions, energy justice, and resiliency. Outside of the lab, Aya enjoys exploring Seattle, reading, and spending time outdoors

Professional profile ↗Explore the timeline ↓
Aya Alayli
University of Washington
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Learning · Research · Impact

PhD timeline

Scroll through the milestones, or jump to a year. Scheduled activities are marked below.

2024

  1. Autumn 2024

    Joining IDEAS Lab

    • Admitted to the PhD program in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington
    • Joined the IDEAS Lab
    • Presented senior community engagement engineering project at the North Olympic Peninsula on Energy & Climate Resilience
    • Grainger Foundation fellowship: September–December 2024.

2025

2026

  1. Winter 2026

    Building Microgrid Model & Mentorship

    • Developed microgrid dispatch simulation to understand resilience performance under uncertain climate conditions
    • Mentored undergraduate student through beginning data analysis for Cofán project
    • Teaching Assistant for EE 455: Power System Protection & Dynamics
    • Poster presentation of Cofán project at the annual UW ECE research showcase
    • Served as a faculty mentor for a senior capstone group exploring energy resilience for Darrington High School and Community Center, in partnership with Snohomish County PUD
    Explore community microgrid resilience researchExplore the Cofán project
    IDEAS researchers at the UW ECE Research Showcase, Winter 2026.
    IDEAS researchers at the UW ECE Research Showcase, Winter 2026.
  2. Spring 2026

    Qualifying Exam

    • Passed qualifying exam, presented project titled “Long-term resilience performance of single-load solar and storage systems in the PNW under intensifying climate conditions”
    • Poster presentation for Cofán project at the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute Research Showcase at Mckinstry Engineering
    • Continued mentoring senior capstone group, whose work culminated in multi-load microgrid designs and electrical diagrams
    Explore community microgrid resilience researchExplore the Cofán projectView Cofán CEI poster (PDF)
    Sharing the Cofán project at the UW Clean Energy Institute Research Showcase, Spring 2026.
    Sharing the Cofán project at the UW Clean Energy Institute Research Showcase, Spring 2026.
  3. Summer 2026

    Industry Internship

    • Energy Markets Software Intern with GE Vernova’s Digital Technologies office in Bellevue, WA. Completed a project modeling data center energy consumption for resource scheduling and management
  4. Autumn 2026

    Clean Energy Institute Fellowship

    • University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute Fellow
    • Teaching Assistant for CHEM E 440: Energy Materials, Devices, and Systems
    • Poster presentation for Cofán project at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technologies Conference in Boulder, CO, won an Honorable Mention award for best student poster
    • Expanding project on intensifying climate change and microgrid resilience to explore how microgrids serve interdependent community services
    • Conducting preparatory work for participatory research with Washington communities for expanding microgrid resilience project
    Explore community microgrid resilience researchExplore the Cofán project
    Presenting the Cofán project at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technologies Conference, Autumn 2026.
    Presenting the Cofán project at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technologies Conference, Autumn 2026.

Research in focus

Projects

Energy Resilience for Darrington High School and Community Center

Faculty mentor for a senior capstone team in partnership with Snohomish County PUD, Winter–Spring 2026. The work culminated in multi-load microgrid designs and electrical diagrams.

Sharing the work

Outputs

Poster presentations · 2026

Cofán Tribal Energy Resilience

Presented at the UW ECE Research Showcase in Winter 2026 and the UW Clean Energy Institute Research Showcase in Spring 2026. The Autumn 2026 presentation at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technologies Conference in Boulder, Colorado, received an Honorable Mention for best student poster.

View CEI poster (PDF)
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