2024 GMiS Luminaries

Education:  PhD, Masters, and Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico;  National Laboratories Entrepreneurship Academy,  University of California (Davis)

With a steadfast commitment to high-impact research in the field of renewable and clean energy, Rachid Darbali-Zamora is a strong and capable leader. His work, particularly his research in the areas of wind and solar energy, has advanced the state of the art.

In 2022, Rachid became the principal investigator for the Wind and Hybrid Integration Platform, a project funded by the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO). This platform focuses on developing a distributed energy resource management system for wind-hybrid distributed generation aimed at bringing distributed wind energy solutions to disadvantaged communities in Puerto Rico, Alaska, and New Mexico. 

The next year, Rachid led another WETO-funded project called the Wind Integration System Platform, which developed a versatile tool for automating and accelerating interoperability and interconnection certification procedures for distributed wind power converters.  From this project, Rachid has developed advanced wind technologie  and supported distributed wind power converter manufacturers to facilitate their certification.

He is also actively involved in WETO-funded efforts to study the design of wind, solar, and energy storage microgrids in depressed areas across Puerto Rico. These efforts aim to provide reliable electricity to disadvantaged communities on the island, especially those that have been disproportionately affected by recent hurricanes. 

Rachid’s work contributes to the development of innovative solutions that address pressing environmental and societal challenges. His commitment extends beyond theoretical contributions, as he frequently visits Puerto Rico to provide hands-on technical support and collaborate closely with community leaders to implement sustainable solutions that ensure energy resilience in the face of recurring natural disasters. Rachid undertakes these efforts and activities with skills and confidence far beyond that of his peers.

Rachid’s outreach in Puerto Rico also aligns with Great Minds in STEM’s emphasis on community impact and demonstrates his dedication to fostering positive change within the Hispanic community through applied engineering solutions. His leadership in these projects has helped provide sustainable energy solutions to communities that have historically faced barriers to access. 

In addition to his research, Rachid is committed to workforce development and outreach to minorities. By focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and by mentoring an array of students working on his projects, Rachid is shaping the next generation of STEM leaders and promoting diversity within the engineering and research workforce. 

Rachid has also created inclusive and equitable internship opportunities and provided significant mentoring for students from the University of New Mexico – his local public University – and from a variety of Minority Serving Institutions, including the University of Puerto Rico, Florida International University, and George Mason University.

Rachid’s dedication to diversity and inclusion make him a trailblazer in the STEM community.  To find these characteristics in researchers like Rachid is both admirable and inspiring, but also rare in an engineer at such an early stage of his career.