Faculty Snapshot: Bolun Xu
Tell us a bit about your work.
My research focuses on advancing clean, reliable, and affordable energy systems by developing novel operational strategies and integrating innovative energy technologies, with a strong focus on advanced optimization and machine learning models. I teach two courses: Energy System Economics and Optimization and Environmental Data Analysis. In both courses, I emphasize the application of computational modeling and data analysis to energy and environmental systems. For many students, these courses represent their first structured experience writing programming code to solve complex, real-world problems. I take great pride in supporting them through this critical stage of their academic and professional development.
What’s in your Netflix queue?
"The Three-Body Problem" is at the top of my Netflix queue. It’s a masterful work of science fiction that explores the intersection of physics, civilization, and existential challenges. The author of the original novel, Liu Cixin, followed a career path that blended computer engineering, water systems, and electric power, a path that parallels my own in applying computational models to challenges in energy and the environment. While I write academic papers and he writes bestselling novels, I really appreciate how his writing reflects an engineer’s way of seeing the world, especially the balance between objective logic and human values. Netflix did a great job capturing that in the adaptation.
What advice might you have for a potential mentee about how to succeed in academia?
Don’t be afraid to try and fail! While coursework often focuses on following established methods and avoiding mistakes, research is about forming hypotheses and testing them. In my lab, all ideas are first validated through mathematical theories or computational experiments, and the cost of failure is minimal. In fact, failed attempts often lead to a deeper understanding of the problem and pave the way for better solutions in the next iteration.
To learn more about Dr. Xu's work, please visit his departmental website and personal website.