Alumni profile: Ayman El-Refaie
“At UW-Madison, I learned the true meaning of diversity”
Ayman El-Refaie (MSEE ’02), PhDEE ’05 Lead Engineer, GE Global Research Center Niskayuna, New York (large image) |
Ayman El-Refaie describes coming to Madison from Egypt as “the experience of a lifetime.”
“The world-class education I received at UW provided me with a jumpstart in my professional career,” he says. “You get automatic respect everywhere as a UW graduate.”
El-Refaie is the catalyst behind a new project to make environmentally friendly vehicles more readily available to consumers. Funded by the Department of Energy, the $5.8 million project aims to develop smaller, lower cost and higher performing motors. Another goal is to improve the power electronics used for plug-in hybrid vehicles. In looking for high-tech partners for the project, El-Refaie turned to his alma mater at UW-Madison.
As a lead engineer at GE Global Research Center, El-Refaie also develops advanced generators for next-generation aircraft and explores renewable energies such as wind. His ability to combine innovative thinking with practicality has earned him several GE awards for excellence.
El-Refaie has contributed to several international publications and patent applications, and he’s an elected senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Sigma Xi. His proudest accomplishment, however, is earning his PhD in electrical engineering at UW-Madison.
“I interacted with students and professors of various backgrounds, and experienced firsthand how people can treat each other with great respect regardless of their various differences,” he says. “I made a lot of friends and learned the true meaning of diversity”.
That diversity is what he misses most about the UW-Madison campus, along with drinking coffee at the student unions and walking along Lake Mendota.
El-Refaie lives in Niskayuna, New York, but still considers Madison a home. He tries to visit Wisconsin whenever he can, but his free time is now filled with the activities of his two daughters, ages 4 and 2.
He taps the university when it’s time to recruit interns and employees at GE, where Wisconsin graduates have earned a great reputation. In El-Refaie’s experience: “You get automatic respect everywhere as a UW-Madison graduate.”
In his own words ...
What do you most miss about campus?
Diversity on campus. Drinking coffee at Union South and Memorial Union. Enjoying the scenes by the lake.
What was your favorite class?
ECE 511, Synchronous Machines, with Professor Donald Novotny. My discussions with him both professionally and socially were very enjoyable.
What is one thing every UW student must do?
Attend a football game and the commencement. Also, walk on the hiking trail by Lake Mendota.
What is the greatest benefit of a UW degree?
World-class education as well as learning the true meaning of diversity. Also the automatic respect you get everywhere as a UW graduate.
What was your first job?
Lead engineer at GE Global Research Center.
Who or what inspires you?
My parents. Hard work, high ethics, friendship.
What are you reading now?
A book about psychology.
What’s your proudest UW achievement?
Getting my PhD.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Necessity is the mother of all invention.”
What occupies your free time?
My two daughters (ages 4 and 2).
What would you be if you hadn’t chosen your current career path?
I would have chosen to become a physician.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Always stay positive and look at the glass as half full.