By Nick Wheelock
The University of Michigan-Dearborn & Henry Ford College BattChallenge team’s lead faculty advisor Azeem Hafeez is helping mold future leaders of the EV workforce.
Hafeez is also a faculty member at UMD’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
His research focuses on machine learning and artificial intelligence to implement security protocols in vehicles with a focus on safety. He is also the lecturer for a wide variety of courses at UMD and has been instrumental in developing and generating innovative ideas to improve the program.
Hafeez’s past experiences are part of the reason he joined the Battery Workforce Challenge. His interest in the challenge resides in the competition itself, with the ability to make a battery system that works on real vehicles. The practical experience is something he finds to be extremely valuable.
Outside of providing valuable knowledge and wisdom based on his personal experience, Hafeez has several goals he hopes to accomplish throughout this three-year competition.
“As an advisor, I must help develop a team, which is a real challenge,“ Hafeez said. “The experience of orchestrating a team will provide me with the experience to develop relationships with people who will be the future leaders of the electric vehicle industry.”
He also shared that working with this innovative group of students will benefit him when looking at additional projects. Another significant benefit of joining the team was the access to work on the latest battery systems and state-of-the-art technologies.
There are many fantastic reasons for Hafeez to be a part of the Battery Workforce Challenge, but it really comes down to him being aneducator.
“I love to see my students advance and do well in their careers. I want my team to stand out in this challenge, educate students as an advisor, and in the future, I would love to see my students becoming leaders of battery systems in electric vehicles,” he said.
Hafeez’s involvement in the Battery Workforce Challenge not only underscores his dedication to advancing research in electric vehicles but also highlights his passion for educating and empowering the next generation of leaders in the field.
