Athanasios Terzakis (M.S. ’19)

Athanasios (Nassos) Terzakis completed his undergraduate degree in power systems and energy from the National Technical University of Athens, which gave him a glimpse into the energy industry and motivated him to delve further into the field.

“[The energy field] is an exciting industry that is experiencing a transition that requires professionals with interdisciplinary backgrounds,” said Nassos.

That perspective led him to pursue an MS degree in the Energy, Science, Technology & Policy program at CMU. Nassos believes EST&P is an excellent professional program that offers a great understanding of the energy industry. He finds the courses flexible, allowing students to choose their field of expertise while experimenting with other topics of interest. He was also able to improve his presentation skills and dive into the field of data analytics, both of which he believes are of prime importance in the industry.

Nassos came to Carnegie Mellon with the idea of pursuing a consulting career, initially concentrating on Engineering and Public Policy (EPP). He believed he would apply his previous technical knowledge with policy ideas from CMU to provide green and sustainable solutions to companies.

However, the most interesting course Nassos completed at CMU was “Smart Grids,” which he took in his first semester. In the course, he completed a project on the integration of wind turbines into microgrids using Simulink. Overall, he gained a deeper sense of the new technologies available to the power industry, as well as the associated challenges to their adoption. That course helped him decide that his preferred impact would be to focus on the technical aspects of power systems industries, and he switched his concentration to Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Nassos’ most valuable experience in CMU was the independent project he took on under Larry Pileggi, a Professor of ECE. His work, some of which was published in an international IEEE conference, focused on designing and developing a new software that utilities can use for transmission planning and for accelerating the integration of renewables in the power grid.

Throughout his time in the program, Nassos enjoyed the project work and skill development in which he was involved. For example, in the core course “Energy Demand and Utilization,” he did a project on optimizing bus routes to increase carpooling and reduce CO₂ emissions. In his last semester he took a data science course, which he believes is a very important skill that has helped him tremendously on projects. One of his best experiences at EST&P was going for the MIT energy hackathon in Boston with the EST&P cohort. This opportunity allowed him to work alongside a team of highly motivated individuals and apply his knowledge and skills to solve problems in the energy industry in the stipulated 48 hours.

“I had a great time at CMU. To be able to learn so much while still having fun is something unique to EST&P,” he said. “I am going to miss my friends, having fun in the lounge after submitting assignments and especially the cheerful atmosphere created by the EST&P staff and faculty which enabled me to fit into the program with ease.”

EST&P helped pave his way into the world of energy and sustainability, wherein he gained a deeper understanding of the technology and careers in the energy field, and developed a clearer picture of his personal goals.

He credits both his projects and his coursework for giving him the skills and knowledge necessary to land an internship in Pittsburgh with Pearl Street Technologies, during which he worked on optimizing algorithms for power systems analysis, simulation and modeling. Upon graduation, he accepted a job with Pearl Street Technologies.

In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, swimming and playing soccer. Nassos is happy to pass on several pieces of advice to incoming students. “Enjoy your time at CMU. Try to strike a balance between academics and extracurriculars.” Also, “Networking is key, especially with EST&P graduates, as it will help you in the long run.” Finally, “Engage with something outside your comfort zone, like a course or an activity, and take full advantage of all the resources available at CMU.”