Collaborative Research: CyberTraining: Implementation: Small: PowerCyber: Scalable Workforce Development for AI-Enabled Power Grids
USC PI; collaborative project led by Dr. Hantao Cui, NCSU · NSF
Award amount: $200,000
Curriculum Vitae
Academic Curriculum Vitae
Xin Fang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering · Director, IDEAL Lab · University of South Carolina
Power-system researcher and educator developing optimization, dynamics, physics-informed and data-driven AI, grid-planning, and cyber-physical modeling methods for reliable, affordable, renewable-rich electricity systems.
56 journal articles
43 conference papers
9 sponsored research projects
4 current Ph.D. researchers
Research Agenda
Research Focus
Optimization and Markets
Electricity-market design, stochastic and robust optimization, dispatch, pricing, and stability-aware economic operation.
Dynamics and Stability
Frequency response, small-signal stability, machine-learning-assisted stability assessment, grid-forming resources, virtual inertia, and dynamics-informed scheduling.
Grid Planning with Renewables
Capacity expansion, transmission planning, resource adequacy, resilience, and renewable integration.
Cyber-Physical Co-Simulation
Transmission-distribution co-simulation, AI-enabled grid analytics, grid digital twins, distributed energy resources, and electric transportation.
Appointments
Academic and Professional Experience
- 2025-present Assistant Professor University of South Carolina
- 2022-2025 Assistant Professor Mississippi State University
- 2017-2022 Senior Researcher National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- 2016-2017 Power System Engineer GE Grid Solutions
Education
Degrees
- Ph.D., Electrical EngineeringUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville · 2016
- M.S., Electrical EngineeringChina Electric Power Research Institute · 2012
- B.S., Electrical EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and Technology · 2009
Research Leadership
Sponsored Projects
PI and Co-PI contributions span NSF, DOE, NREL, and INL programs in cybertraining, grid stability, digital twins, HVDC education, and renewable integration.
Parallel Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow-based Multiscale Frequency Stability-Constrained Unit Commitment with Inverter-based Resources
USC PI; Co-PI Dr. Yong Fu, Mississippi State University · NSF
Award amount: $571,614
Accelerating Grid Resilience: Foundational Work for Power Distribution Systems Digital Twins
USC Co-PI · INL
Fang's share: $50,000, Total: $500,000
Unlocking Dynamic Thermal Rating Benefits for Distribution Systems
USC Co-PI · NREL
Fang's share: $50,000, Total: $250,000
Digital Twin Addressing Multi-Scale Operational Needs of IBR-rich Grids (DIAMOND)
USC Co-PI · DOE-SETO/NREL
Fang's share: $330,000, Total: $3,200,000
HVDC-Learn: Modular Education & Workforce Training in High Voltage Direct Current Electric Transmission
MSU Co-PI · DOE/WETO
Fang's share: $112,500, Total: $700,000
T&D Dynamic Co-Simulation for Power System Stability Analysis with High Inverter-Based Resource Penetration
MSU Co-PI · NREL
Fang's share: $50,000, Total: $400,000
Collaborative Research: CyberTraining: Pilot: PowerCyber: Computational Training for Power Engineering Researchers
USC PI · NSF
Fang's share: $120,000, Total: $300,000
SAPPHIRE: Stability-Augmented Optimal Control of Hybrid PV Plants with Very High Penetration of Inverter-based Resources
MSU Co-PI · DOE/NREL
Fang's share: $50,000 Total: $3,200,000
Mentoring
Advising and Student Development
Yuxin Deng
Ph.D. researcher in power-system optimization, planning, stability analysis, and renewable integration.
Prasant Basnet
Ph.D. researcher in IBR-aware capacity expansion, dynamics, and cyber-physical power-system modeling; NREL intern.
Bishal Rijal
Ph.D. researcher in distribution planning, transformer replacement, renewable integration, and system strength; INL intern.
Adarsha Chalise
Ph.D. researcher in island power systems, energy-storage sizing, flexible operation, and reliability.
Teaching Portfolio
Courses Taught
ELCT 221Circuits II · Spring and Fall 2026
ELCT 451Power System Design and Analysis · Fall 2025
ECE 5990Power Systems Economics · Spring 2025
ECE 4613/6613Power Transmission Systems · Fall 2023 and 2024
ECE 4633/6633Power Distribution Systems · Spring 2023
ECE 3643Electronic Circuits I · Fall 2022
Recognition
Selected Awards and Honors
- Best Paper Award, IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy, 2025
- IEEE PES PSOPE Technical Committee Prize Paper Award, 2024
- Outstanding Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2023
- Outstanding Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, 2022
- Best Journal Paper Award, Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 2019
- Best Conference Paper, IEEE PES General Meeting, 2018
- Chancellor's Citation Award for Extraordinary Professional Promise, University of Tennessee, 2016
Professional Leadership
Editorial and IEEE Service
- Chair, IEEE PSOPE Bulk Power System Planning Subcommittee, 2026-present
- Vice Chair, IEEE PSOPE Bulk Power System Planning Subcommittee, 2023-2025
- Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy
- Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
- Associate Editor, Energy Internet
- Associate Editor, Energy Conversion and Economics
- Associate Editor, Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy
Scholarship
Selected Journal Publications
Short-Circuit Ratio Constrained Robust Unit Commitment with Grid-Forming Energy Storage: A Filter-Column-and-Constraint Generation Algorithm Permalink
Recommended citation: Tianyou Xue, Tao Ding, Yujie Ding, Wenhao Jia, Xin Fang, and Guobin Fu, "Short-Circuit Ratio Constrained Robust Unit Commitment with Grid-Forming Energy Storage: A Filter-Column-and-Constraint Generation Algorithm," IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, pp. 1-15, 2026, doi: 10.1109/TSTE.2026.3716052. Paper link
Analytical Small-signal Stability Analysis of Low-Inertia Power System Frequency Response Considering Secondary Frequency Regulation Permalink
Recommended citation: Yuxin Deng, Xin Fang, Shuan Dong, Ningchao Gao, Jin Tan, Analytical Small-signal Stability Analysis of Low-Inertia Power System Frequency Response Considering Secondary Frequency Regulation, Electric Power Systems Research. Paper link
On the decomposition of locational marginal hydrogen pricing: Problem formulation and theoretical analysis Permalink
Recommended citation: Q. An, G. Li, X. Fang, F. Li and J. Wang, "On the decomposition of locational marginal hydrogen pricing: Problem formulation and theoretical analysis," CSEE Journal of Power and Energy Systems, pp. 1-10, 2026, doi: 10.17775/CSEEJPES.2025.04160. Paper link
Distributed Optimization and Control for Autonomous Distributed Energy Resource Power Dispatch and Frequency Regulation Considering Communication Failures Permalink
Recommended citation: Prasant Basnet, Xin Fang, Wenbo Wang, Weijia, Liu, Distributed Optimization and Control for Autonomous Distributed Energy Resource Power Dispatch and Frequency Regulation Considering Communication Failures, Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks. Paper link
Energy Equity-Aware Load Shedding Optimization Methodology Permalink
Recommended citation: Xin Fang,Energy Equity-Aware Load Shedding Optimization Methodology, Energy Internet. Paper link
Virtual Inertia Synthesis and Control: Informative and Relevant Permalink
Recommended citation: Xin Fang,Virtual Inertia Synthesis and Control: Informative and Relevant, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine. Paper link
Dynamics-incorporated Modeling Framework for Stability Constrained Scheduling Under High-penetration of Renewable Energy Permalink
Recommended citation: Jinning Wang, Fangxing (Fran) Li, Xin Fang, Hantao Cui, Buxin She, Hang Shuai, Qiwei Zhang, Kevin Tomsovic, "Dynamics-incorporated Modeling Framework for Stability Constrained Scheduling Under High-penetration of Renewable Energy," in IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. Paper link
Stable Relay Learning Optimization Approach for Fast Power System Production Cost Minimization Simulation Permalink
Recommended citation: Zishan Guo, Qinran Hu, Chong Qu, Tao Qian,, Xin Fang, Renjie Hu, Zaijun Wu, "Stable Relay Learning Optimization Approach for Fast Power System Production Cost Minimization Simulation," in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. Paper link