About Me
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Battery Control Group at the University of Michigan. Before that, I was a Staff Cell Engineer at Tesla, where I led projects on battery performance evaluation, systems modeling, and in-house 4680 cell development (2013 to 2024). My training blends elements from dynamic systems modeling, control theory, electrochemical engineering, software engineering, and materials characterization.
My current research focuses on energy storage systems modeling with an emphasis on battery manufacturing process optimization and lifetime prediction. My mission is to build a knowledge base enabling new battery manufacturing technologies to be deployed rapidly, at scale, and sustainably. I am also passionate about battery workforce development and have led research efforts to quantify labor productivity shifts due to the EV transition.
I am actively involved a few projects at the moment:
- University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center: Leading coursework development and delivery for a new online professional course in Battery Cell Manufacturing, Testing and Design; advancing research in battery manufacturing diagnostics and control.
- University of South Carolina, Chemical Engineering: Advancing research in battery digital twin technologies for power and energy system applications.
- Volta Foundation: Serving as Program Director for the 2024 Battery Talent Census: the largest, most comprehensive data collection initiative focused on workforce trends, compensation, and talent gaps within the battery ecosystem.
Getting in Touch
I would love to chat with you about batteries, battery research, or life in industry/academia! You can reach me at my email: “weng [dot] andrew [at] gmail [dot] com.”
Brief Bio
Education
- Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 2024
- M.S. Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2020
- Specializations: Computing systems and artificial intelligence
- B.A.Sc. Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada, 2013
- Options: Physics and management sciences
Professional and Research Experiences
| Date | Position | Employer (Location) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 - Now | Program Director | Volta Foundation (remote) |
| 2024 - Now | EV Center Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Univ. of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) |
| 2024 - Now | Project Engineer | Univ. of South Carolina (remote) |
| 2021 - 2024 | Staff Cell Engineer | Tesla (remote) |
| 2017 - 2021 | Sr. Cell Research Engineer | Tesla (Palo Alto, CA) |
| 2014 - 2017 | Cell Test Engineer | Tesla (Palo Alto, CA) |
| 2013 - 2014 | Cell Technology Intern | Tesla (Palo Alto, CA) |
| 2013 | Research Engineer (organic photodetectors) | US Nano LLC (South Bend, IN) |
| 2012 | Research Assistant (tissue engineering) | Harvard-MIT HST (Boston, MA) |
| 2012 | Research Assistant (soft matter simulation) | UWaterloo Chemistry (Waterloo, Canada) |
| 2012 | Technical Consultant (patents) | Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Toronto, Canada) |
| 2011 | Research Assistant (MEMS) | UWaterloo Mech. Eng. (Waterloo, Canada) |
| 2010 | Mechanical Quality Engineer | Applied Kinetics Inc. (Ancaster, Canada) |
| 2009 | Research Assistant (fuel cells) | UWaterloo Chem. Eng. (Waterloo, Canada) |
Awards
| Year | Award | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Top Poster, Cell Symposia: Technology barriers to EV implementation | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2023 | S.M. and Benjamin Wu Fellowship in Manufacturing | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2020 | Benton, Dwight F. Fellowship | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2020 | Forrest Student Fellowship | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2013 | Best Student Poster, Division of Theoret. Physics, CAP Congress | Montreal, Canada |
| 2013 | NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship | Waterloo, Canada |
| 2013 | President’s Graduate Scholarship | Waterloo, Canada |
| 2011 | NSERC Undergraduate Research Award | Waterloo, Canada |
| 2010 | NSERC Undergraduate Research Award | Waterloo, Canada |