ENLITEN Lab Home
The ENLITEN (Electric Network Laboratory for Intelligent Transactive ENergy) Lab is a research group led by Professor Fangxing “Fran” Li at the University of Tennessee. Our goal is to enhance the secure and economic operation of electric power systems using cutting-edge machine learning, optimization, and control techniques.
Our lab develops mathematical optimization models for generation scheduling and flexible load management. We apply state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for power flow calculation, contingency screening, voltage stability analysis, and cyber security vulnerability mitigation. We also develop large-scale power system testbeds for research verification and demonstration (see Projects).
We are with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), UTK, which is located within driving distances to Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains. We are part of CURENT, an Engineering Research Center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE).
We have openings for new PhD students, Postdocs, and Master students! (details)
We are grateful for funding from NSF, DOE, ORNL, EPRI, ISO-NE, GEIRI-NA, ESTCP, NREL, AR, RTX, RevV and multiple funding sources. See the list of funded projects here.
News
21 Jul 2026Dr. Fran Li received the 2026 IEEE PES Roy Billinton Power System Reliability Award and the IEEE PES Prize Paper Award! Congratulations to Dr. Li and his co-authors!
Press releases
Chenchen Li defended her dissertation on July 14th. Her topic is “Toward Affordability, Vulnerability, and Economic Efficiency in Power System Planning and Operation”. Congratulations to Dr. Chenchen Li!
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Vince Wilson, advised by Dr. Fran Li, received the 2026 Handong Gui Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award in power systems. Congratulations to Vince Wilson!
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Chenchen Li received the EECS Outstanding Graduate Research Assistants Award. Congratulations to Chenchen Li!
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Dr. Fran Li received the Moses E. & Mayme Brooks Distinguished Professor award at the Tickle College of Engineering Annual Award Banquet. Congratulations to Dr. Fran Li!
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Vince Wilson defended his dissertation on April 7th. His topic is “Control and Optimization of Heterogeneous Flexible Demand and Generation Resources for Grid Support”. Congratulations to Dr. Vince Wilson!
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Four group members were hooded by Dr. Li at the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony, followed by a joyful group celebration.
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Haoyuan Sun defended his dissertation on Nov 3. His topic is “Natural Oscillation Cancellation and Sinusoidal Waveform Processing”. Congratulations to Dr. Haoyuan Sun!
Jingzi Liu defended her dissertation on July 11. Her topic is “Data-driven Solutions for Power Systems During Energy Transition”. Congratulations to Dr. Jingzi Liu!
Press releases