Rate My Professor Jason Lai

Jih-Sheng (Jason) Lai is the James S. Tucker Professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, part of the College of Engineering. He directs the Future Energy Electronics Center (FEEC), which develops energy-efficient electronic technologies for transportation and industrial automation industries through modeling, simulation, design, and testing of power-electronics devices, components, circuits, and systems. Lai received his B.S. degree in 1975 from National Taiwan Normal University, M.S. degree in 1985, and Ph.D. degree in 1989 in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. His research specializes in power electronics and high-power converters for utility applications.

Lai's distinguished career includes appointment as James S. Tucker Professor in 2012 and reappointment in 2018 for a five-year term by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of his excellence in teaching and research. He was elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2007 for contributions to high-performance high-power inverters and later to Life Fellow. Other major awards include the 2016 Gerald Kliman Innovator Award from IEEE ECCE for efficiency power conversion using soft-switching energy and multilevel inverters, the 2019 Best Technology Award from TECO Green Tech International Competition, election as Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2025, and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research from the College of Engineering. Lai has delivered keynote addresses and serves in leadership roles advancing power electronics technologies for renewable energy and utility systems, significantly influencing the field through his innovations and center directorship.