Welcome

The Pilawa Research Group is very pleased to introduce our 2025 cohort! Harry Choi and Khalid Durani come from strong research backgrounds in their respective fields, and we are delighted to see what problems they tackle over the course of their graduate careers. Please see their bios below:

Seokwon (Harry) Choi received his B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Seoul National University, South Korea, in 2025. Before joining BPEC, he was a graduate student researcher in the Electric Energy Conversion Lab at Seoul National University. His research interests include the design and control of switched-capacitor converters and high-frequency power conversion. Harry is a recipient of the Berkeley Fellowship and the KFAS Overseas PhD Scholarship.

Khalid Durani received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley in December 2023. His research interests include the dynamic modeling and control of power converters.

Once again, a very warm welcome to our new students!

We are pleased to introduce the newest members of our PhD cohort at the Pilawa Group: Emmi Wyttenbach, Dennis Woo, and Shuyu Zhang.

Emmi Wyttenbach joins us from Cornell University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2024. During her time at Cornell, she conducted power electronics research under Prof. Khurram Afridi, focusing on the development of active energy buffer solutions. Outside of her academic pursuits, Emmi is an avid soccer player and enjoys running and swimming.

Shuyu Zhang completed her Bachelor’s degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in China in 2023, followed by Master’s studies at Stanford University before joining Berkeley. With a passion for Anime, comics, and games (ACG), Shuyu has been an active cosplayer at anime conventions since 2016. She also has a keen interest in photography.

Dennis Woo graduated from Stanford with a Bachelor’s degree in 2023 and a Master’s degree in 2024. His research background includes high-frequency power electronics and wide-bandgap semiconductor materials. Outside of work, Dennis enjoys exploring the outdoors,
and he spends his time with photography, soccer, volleyball, and climbing.

We look forward to supporting their growth and contributions to the group and are excited for the perspectives they bring!

We are delighted to introduce Tahmid Mahbub, who joins our research group at Cal after six years of invaluable industry experience at Apple. Tahmid’s journey from his undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where he was recognized as the Best Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, to his tenure at one of the world’s leading tech companies, underscores his passion for excellence and innovation.

Originating from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tahmid’s early adventures in electronics, documented on his blog, reflect his innate curiosity and drive for exploration. Despite his demanding schedule, Tahmid finds joy in sports, particularly soccer (number 9), cricket, and tennis, as well as friendly competitions in games like Catan and FIFA.

Tahmid’s palate is as diverse as his interests, as he seeks out the best burrito spots in Berkeley and indulges in his love for Kacchi biryani. His affinity for the unconventional extends to his favorite getaway, Death Valley National Park, embodying his adventurous spirit and appreciation for the extraordinary.

As Tahmid embarks on this new chapter with us, we extend our warmest welcome and look forward to the exciting collaborations and discoveries that lie ahead. Please join us in welcoming Tahmid to our research family at Cal!