There are many different ways in which UM-Dearborn Difference Makers make an impact on the communities that surround them. For Difference Maker Isaiah Oyewole, not only is he making an impact on his community, but he is discovering ways to positively impact the world.

Isaiah is a Ph.D. student at UM-Dearborn pursuing a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering. His research focuses on state estimation and optimization of lifetime performance for battery systems for electric vehicles, i.e., improving the performance and lifespan of electric vehicle batteries.

“The impact of this research is significant for the environment and for people's lives,” Isaiah says. “By improving the performance and lifespan of electric vehicle batteries, we can help make electric vehicles more practical and affordable for everyday use.”

Making transportation more sustainable

According to Isaiah, electric vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. However, a major concern from consumers has been the lifespan and performance of EV batteries. “Through my research, I developed a state estimation algorithm that could accurately predict the remaining lifespan and performance of an electric vehicle battery using a controllable deep transfer learning mechanism,” he says.

This algorithm could then be used to extend the lifespan of an EV battery as well as improve its overall performance.

Many other professionals in the engineering community have been made aware of Isaiah’s findings. He has presented his research at multiple conferences, both locally and internationally, explaining why battery optimization for electric vehicles is important.

“Through these talks, I hope to inspire others to take action toward a more sustainable future and promote the use of electric vehicles as a means of reducing our carbon footprint,” he says.

In addition to presenting his work, Isaiah has published three peer-reviewed research papers in high-impact journals as well as received the best student paper award at the IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference & Expo (ITEC).

“The recognition of the potential impact my work could have on people's life and contributions to improving the sustainability of transportation is a truly rewarding experience, and it made me feel proud to be part of the EV battery systems engineering community,” he says

Passing down the knowledge

While conducting research can be, at many times, an individual experience, this Ph.D. student has found ways to pass down his years of experience.

He spent two semesters teaching an undergraduate engineering class titled: Introduction to Statistics and Probability for Engineers. “It was my first-time teaching and mentoring undergraduate students in such a capacity, and I was excited to share my knowledge and expertise with them,” he says.

The class he taught expressed both enthusiasm for the subject matter as well as dedication to the work they were doing. Seeing his students make discoveries of their own reminded Isaiah of the passion and excitement he felt as an undergraduate student himself, providing motivation for his own future.

As a result of his experiences, Isaiah’s future career goals are to work in the automotive or renewable energy industry while also pursuing a position in academia where he can continue to conduct cutting-edge research and mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“These experiences have left a lasting impression on me and have helped shape my perspective on research and education,” he says. “They have reminded me of the importance of sharing knowledge, collaborating with others, and pursuing research that has the potential to make a positive impact on society.”