image: Groundbreaking electrical engineer Bilal Akin, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering from TAMEST. He was chosen for his cutting-edge advancement of sustainable and high-efficiency energy conversion systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and industrial automation.
Credit: TAMEST (Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology)
Groundbreaking electrical engineer Bilal Akin, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering from TAMEST. He was chosen for his cutting-edge advancement of sustainable and high-efficiency energy conversion systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and industrial automation.
Dr. Akin’s research focuses on making power electronics systems more efficient, reliable and sustainable, with major impacts on EVs, factories and energy infrastructure. He has developed significant and innovative contributions to the field of power electronics diagnostics and failure monitoring, developing novel approaches that enable early warnings and enhance system safety – methods now adopted worldwide.
He has collaborated with major industry leaders such as Texas Instruments (semiconductors), SLB (oil & gas) and Nexteer (automotive) on more than 40 research projects, translating innovative ideas into real-world technologies. For example, his tools for oil well applications have been deployed at hundreds of sites and have earned five technology awards. His work continues to shape the future of energy and transportation.
“Dr. Akin’s unique ability to translate high-level research into solutions with global industrial relevance is what sets him apart,” said nominator Inga H. Musselman, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at The University of Texas at Dallas. “His interdisciplinary work has helped to create safer, smarter and more energy-efficient technologies across multiple sectors and he is helping to move the needle forward on the prevalence of EV options around the world.”
Dr. Akin is one of five Texas-based researchers receiving the TAMEST 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards. Each is chosen for their individual contributions addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness.
Since the inception of the O'Donnell Awards in 2006, nearly $2.2 million has been awarded to more than 85 recipients in the categories of medicine, engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences and technology innovation. Eighteen past recipients have gone on to be elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, including six elected to more than one National Academy.
“The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards have shone a spotlight on Texas’ brightest emerging researchers who are pushing the boundaries of science and technology for the past 20 years,” said Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Committee Chair Margaret A. Goodell, Ph.D. (NAM, NAS), Baylor College of Medicine, who herself received the O’Donnell Award in Medicine in 2011. “Each year, these awards celebrate not only exceptional individual achievement but also the profound impact that innovative research has on communities, industries and our future. It is inspiring to witness the next generation of trailblazers making Texas a global leader in transformative discovery.”
Dr. Akin will be honored at the 20th Anniversary Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Dinner and Ceremony on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and will present his research at the TAMEST 2026 Annual Conference: Pioneering Climate Innovations, taking place at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
All are welcome to register to attend the ceremony and the conference. Nominations for the 2027 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards will open Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and close Monday, March 30, 2026, at 6 p.m. CT.
Interview opportunities with Dr. Akin are available. Please contact:
Katherine Morales
Associate Vice President of Media Relations
The University of Texas at Dallas
Phone: 972-883-4321
Email: kmorales@utdallas.edu