YSU doctoral student earns first place at the Midwest Graduate Research Symposium

Aydin Ulus, a Ph.D candidate in materials science and engineering at Youngstown State University, earned first place at the 2026 Midwest Graduate Research Symposium, held April 11 at the University of Toledo.

Ulus received the top honor among 51 participants for his research poster, “Thermal Analysis and Cooling Performance of Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells under High Continuous Load Conditions.” His work focuses on computational fluid dynamics and thermal management, critical areas in improving the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries.

For the project, Ulus created a detailed computer model to better understand how heat is generated and distributed inside lithium-ion batteries during heavy use. His research identified a hotspot near a key connection point in the battery and showed results that closely aligned with real-world testing, within about 5%, helping validate the accuracy of his model.

“This recognition means a lot to me,” Ulus said, “It represents Youngstown State University, so I am proud to contribute to YSU through my research. It was also a great experience and motivates me to keep improving my work. This project is important to me because it connects simulation with real applications, and I am happy that it was recognized.”

His faculty advisor, Kyosung Choo, associate professor in the Rayen School of Engineering, said the achievement highlights both Ulus’ work and strength of the program.

“Aydin’s achievement is a testament to the high caliber research and academic rigor of our mechanical engineering program,” Choo said. “His research on electric vehicle battery thermal management addresses one of the most critical challenges in the automotive industry – balancing high performance with safety and reliability. We are incredibly proud to see our students earning top honors in such competitive regional forums.”

The Midwest Graduate Research Symposium is a competitive event that brings together graduate students from across disciplines to present original research. Participants are selected through a rigorous abstract review process and evaluated on technical merit, communication and potential impact during poster or oral presentations.

Ulus conducted the research in collaboration with Khaled I. Alsharif and Choo. The project contributes to advancing thermal management strategies for lithium-ion batteries, with implications for improving safety, performance and efficiency in emerging technologies.