2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

1. Dr. Hitesh D. Vora http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8504-0455 Oklahoma State University [biography]

   Dr. Hitesh D. Vora is the Jim and Lynne Williams Endowed Associate Professor at the School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He is also the Director of the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC), which is funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), the Director of the Great Plains Center of Excellence (GPCoE), and the Director of the Rural Energy Assessment Center (REAC), funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

   Dr. Vora is leading efforts to enhance the ITAC Program and the GPCoE at OSU, which supports clean energy workforce development and energy efficiency improvements for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across 13 Great Plains states. Under his leadership, the ITAC has performed over 1,140 energy assessments at no cost to clients, saving more than $139 million in energy costs.

   A dedicated educator, Dr. Vora, teaches courses related to Energy Management, Smart Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing, Modeling and Simulations, preparing the next generation of engineers. His research focuses on improving energy efficiency in SMEs, and he has secured over $13 million in federal funding from agencies like the DOE, USDA, and Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

   In addition to his academic and research roles, Dr. Vora was recently appointed as a Regional Vice President of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) South Central Regions (13-states). He is also an Executive Board Member and Student Chapter Director for the Association of Energy Engineers – Oklahoma Chapter (AEEOK). In addition, he is also a faculty advisor for the AEEOK OSU Student Chapter and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME OSU Student Chapter).

   Dr. Vora is committed to the land-grant mission of OSU by training students through real-world energy assessments, ensuring the region's SMEs achieve significant energy savings, which further boosts regional economic development.

2. Abinash Kumar Gupta http://orcid.org/https://0009-0003-7362-9627 Oklahoma State University [biography]

   I am an energy engineer and researcher specializing in digital twins for industrial energy management, building energy modeling, and decarbonization of manufacturing and commercial systems. I hold a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. I have published a peer-reviewed review article in the AEE Journal titled “Decarbonization for a Sustainable Energy Future,” which synthesizes practical and scalable pathways for industrial decarbonization, energy transition planning, and carbon reduction strategies across industrial sectors. My research focuses on integrating digital twin architectures, industrial process design with emphasis on energy efficiency, building energy modeling, HVAC and BAS optimization, and data-driven performance analytics. I am particularly interested in specific energy consumption (SEC) modeling, grid-interactive efficient systems, energy grid management, sustainability metrics, CO₂-weighted renewable integration, and quantitative evaluation of industrial energy performance improvements. In addition to my research, I am currently working with ES2, where I contribute to applied energy engineering projects focused on energy efficiency, system optimization, and performance analysis. This work strengthens my ability to translate theoretical models into practical, real-world energy solutions across industrial and commercial environments. My work bridges applied engineering practice and research methodology to develop scalable, data-driven frameworks for energy optimization and emissions reduction.

3. Kritika Bhandari Oklahoma State University [biography]

   Kritika Bhandari is an energy engineer with a strong background in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, energy management, and sustainability. She earned her master’s degree in industrial engineering and management and her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Her work focuses on industrial energy management, building energy modeling, decarbonization of manufacturing and commercial systems, HVAC and building automation system optimization, and data-driven performance analytics. She has published a paper titled “Decarbonization for a Sustainable Energy Future” in the International Journal of Strategic Energy and Environmental Planning – Journal of the Association of Energy Engineers. The paper emphasizes practical and scalable strategies for energy transition planning, carbon reduction, and improved energy management across industrial sectors. Driven by her passion for clean energy systems, supply chain optimization, and industrial sustainability, Kritika bridges applied engineering practice with research-based methodologies. Her work supports the development of scalable, data-driven frameworks for energy optimization, emissions reduction, and the transition toward clean, equitable, and resilient energy systems.

4. Kyle Robison Oklahoma State University [biography]

   Kyle Robison currently serves as a Senior Research Engineer at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He supports the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) and the Rural Energy Assessment Center (REAC). In this role he recruits clients and supervises on-site energy audits at small to medium-sized industrial and commercial companies. Kyle not only works closely with clients, but he also manages 8 to 10 graduate and undergraduate engineering students as they collect energy site data and prepare reports. Kyle holds a master’s in business administration from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from OSU.

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