Eigenergy Group
The Eigenergy Group is a new research group led by Samuel Talkington, starting Fall 2027 in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. We build the next generation of computational tools for operating and planning the electric power grid. See what we're already building on GitHub.
Join us
I look forward to the opportunity to work together with 1-2 PhD students starting Fall 2027. If you are interested in working together, I encourage you to consider applying to the Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD program at the University of Michigan by December 15, 2026, and indicating me as a prospective advisor.
Every student is unique, but these are some general indicators that we might be a good fit to work together:
you are interested in studying the fundamentals of power flow algorithms and making them more efficient, reliable, secure, and beneficial to society.
you believe everyone around you has something to teach you;
you find satisfaction in connecting ideas across disciplines.
What to expect from me
As your advisor, I am solely interested in supporting your intellectual and professional goals. For a PhD student, that usually means conducting meaningful research, discovering your own independent vision for your career, and finding a job after your PhD that you're excited about. I look forward to working as hard as I can to support each of my students.
Michigan offers one of the premier power and energy programs in the United States, and can provide you with a cohort of brilliant peers at the Institute for Energy Solutions (IES). I encourage my students to consider the option of being co-advised by other faculty members: as a young faculty member, I will be learning with you, so it matters to me that you also have a senior advocate.
Eligible incoming students should also consider applying for the IES Graduate Student Fellowship Program, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP), and the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF).
Before you apply
The best way to express interest in working together is the application itself. Please write authentically about who you are, what you are passionate about, and the experiences that inform your goals.
You are welcome to email me at talks@umich.edu. I read everything. While I cannot promise a reply, I will do my best. There is no downside to emailing me.