ABQ Times

Rachid Darbali-Zamora, an electrical engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, has been recognized with a Luminary Award by Great Minds in STEM. This accolade honors professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics who make significant contributions to the Hispanic technical community as leaders and role models. Darbali-Zamora will receive the award at the 2024 Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference in November.

Reflecting on his achievement, Darbali-Zamora said, “To me, this award is a call to action. There is more that should be done to help support others in their careers, to make a difference. This is just the beginning of what I hope to accomplish.”

Darbali-Zamora's interest in renewable energy began during a high school outreach event in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. His career path was further shaped by internships at various national laboratories and institutions before joining Sandia National Laboratories after completing his doctorate from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus (UPRM) in December 2019.

“The internship I did at Sandia showed me that here is where I could have the biggest impact,” he stated. The devastation caused by Hurricane Maria further fueled his commitment to developing solutions for communities affected by natural disasters.

At Sandia, Darbali-Zamora has taken on mentoring roles through programs like the Consortium of Hybrid Resilient Energy Systems and other internship initiatives. He expressed his dedication to helping others achieve their goals: “I am very passionate about my job and research, but where I see the real impact is helping others achieve their goals.”

His involvement extends beyond professional work into community engagement through Sandia’s Hispanic Outreach for Leadership and Awareness group. He participates in bilingual family science events aimed at encouraging minority students' interest in STEM fields.

Darbali-Zamora's research projects include the Wind Hybrid Integration Platform (WHIP), funded by the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office. The project focuses on managing power systems with renewable resources like solar and wind energy. He also works on designing microgrid controllers using artificial intelligence to ensure equitable access to electricity.

In addition to Earth-based projects, Darbali-Zamora contributed to designing a DC microgrid for NASA's future Artemis lunar base. With over 100 published research papers and several patents under his belt, he continues supporting students as an adjunct professor at UPRM.