Ph.D. student Pejman Fatehi has received a $5,000 Thornton Tomasetti Student Innovation Fellowship for his project “Optimizing shapes of aerodynamic mitigators for solar trackers by leveraging machine learning.”

“Winning the Thornton Tomasetti Student Innovation Fellowship is a tremendous honor and a key milestone in my research. This award highlights the significance of my work on optimizing aerodynamic mitigators for solar trackers with machine learning and emphasizes the impact of innovation in renewable energy,” said Fatehi. “The fellowship will support the advancement of my project, allowing for deeper analysis and development. It underscores the importance of applying cutting-edge methods to mitigate this system against strong winds and shows how wind engineering can influence diverse structures, from skyscrapers to solar panels.”

Originally from Sanandaj, Iran, Fatehi chose Colorado State for the outstanding reputation and vibrant research environment. Fatehi is advised by Associate Professor Yanlin Guo, who was awarded $2.3 million from the Department of Energy last year to work on solar tracker resilience.

“I am especially excited about the opportunity to work with Dr. Guo, whose expertise and guidance are crucial to the success of my Ph.D. research,” said Fatehi.