Mechanical and aerospace engineering Ph.D. student Xuezheng Wang G’21 has been selected to receive an American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Graduate Student Grant-In-Aid for the 2024-2025 academic year.  

A Grant-in-Aid is a grant of funds worth up to $10,000 given to an outstanding full-time graduate student of ASHRAE-related technologies. Funds awarded through the grant are meant to support the student while they pursue an education in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC). The program encourages active and continued engagement with ASHRAE and its research. Part of the award will pay for travel and registration for an ASHRAE winter, or annual meeting held within 18 months following notification of the award.

Wang was selected from a group of highly qualified applicants for his research titled “Data-Driven HVAC Control for Energy and Health Nexus.” The evaluation criteria for candidates includes academic performance, the student’s research and its relevance to ASHRAE, a faculty advisors’ recommendation, and the student’s potential for future involvement with ASHRAE.

“This reward is for my research which focuses on the nexus of energy and indoor environmental quality for future buildings. It is a huge recognition of my research effort because there are only 20 recipients for the whole United States,” says Wang.

In addition to the financial assistance, this achievement has given Wang extra motivation to advance his expertise. A benefit he says he would not have gained without the difference making support he has received from faculty at the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“It is an incentive for me to explore my research field further. I also want to express my gratitude to my advisor, Professor Bing Dong. I could not have earned this reward without his support and guidance.”