Originally from Patras, Greece, Nikolaos Gatsis comes to UTSA because it is one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation and has a strong program in his areas of interest—communication networks, smart grids, and engineering optimization. Specific research topics he has worked on include robust and risk-constrained renewable energy management, demand response scheduling for the smart grid, cross-layer optimization of wireless multi-hop networks, and power control for dynamic spectrum access networks. Currently, his focus is on robust and risk-constrained renewable energy management, where he hopes to effectively integrate more renewable energy sources into future smart grids.
Victor Maldonado was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, but grew up among the vineyards of Napa Valley, California. He’s always had a desire to become a university professor and after several interviews with other universities, he knew he’d found a home at UTSA. The reason for coming here: he felt he had the greatest opportunity to make a positive impact in the rapidly growing mechanical engineering department and the student community. Within the department Maldonado teaches experimental fluid mechanics, flow control, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and aircraft design. His research interests and activity lie primarily in multi-scale flow control; a discipline of fluid mechanics and a technique that he uses to improve the performance of aerodynamic systems, or systems where fluid flow is involved. When he isn’t in the lab, he cultivates his love of travel with his passion for photography. He’s visited and photographed remarkable structures like the Roman Coliseum and the Athenian Acropolis.