I have been at the Colorado School of Mines off and on since 1996. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering in 2001 and promptly moved to Alaska for four years of military service. I always planned on returning to Colorado, and returned in 2006, earning my masters in 2008. I enjoyed the challenge of research and the opportunities provided by CSM and decided to stay and continue working toward a PhD. As I was always interested in pursuing research into renewables, the opportunity to work at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center was a perfect fit and I have greatly enjoyed the interaction with professors and other graduate students. My area of research is currently in dealing with control challenges stemming from the use of biogas in fuel reforming. Specifically the development and validation of low order models suitable for use in state estimation and model predictive control. The combination of fuel and air flows must be controlled in order to allow load tracking and catalyst temperature regulation. These control algorithms must also allow for noise in the input gas flows as well as possibly large disturbances in the environment temperature, especially during start up/shut down. The systems are non-linear, and involve surface chemistry combined with much slower system temperature response. The developed model is also being tested against the experimental CPOX (catalytic partial oxidation) reactor being developed here at the CFCC. My hobbies include climbing,skiing, biking, and recently trail running. I enjoy the incredible support of my wife and the presence of our new son as well.

Matt Kupilik