SPEARS Research Lab
SPEARS: Security, Protection, and Electrification of Advanced Renewable-rich Energy Systems
We develop data-driven and physics-informed methods for protection, monitoring, and control of renewable-rich power Grids, with a focus on Security.
Dr. Amir Ameli
Dr. Ameli is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Lakehead University and a licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in 2019, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship.
His research focuses on cyber-resilient protection of renewable-rich power grids, leveraging data-driven methods, AI-based analytics, and cyber-physical system modelling. He is a Senior IEEE Member and recognised for research excellence and top reviewer contributions.
Read Full BiographyBridging Innovation & Real-World Grid Security
SPEARS Lab develops tools and methods that address the evolving cyber-physical landscape of modern power systems — from advanced cyber-physical security to AI-enabled demand management.
Read more about our researchSelected Publications
Published in top-tier IEEE journals and conferences. Click any paper to view on IEEE Xplore.
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Latest News
Updates on research milestones, awards, publications, and lab events.
New Paper Published in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
A new research paper titled “Defending Against FDIAs on the Measurements of WAMS-based Damping Controllers via Augmented Autoencoder and Cooperative Control,” co-authored by M. B.
New Paper Published in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement
A new research paper titled “A Communication Failure and Cyber-Attack Resilient Wide-Area Out-of-Step Prediction Scheme Using Dynamic State Estimation,” co-authored by A. Dadashi, S. Riahinia,
CFI JELF Funding Awarded for Cyber-Secure Grid Protection Research
The SPEARS Lab has been awarded funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to support the development of advanced research
New Research Initiative: Quantum-Enabled Cyber-Security for Protection Systems
A new research project on quantum-enabled cyber-security for power system protection has been approved by the NSERC Alliance program. The project aims to enhance the resilience and trustworthiness
Shahin Riahinia Successfully Defended His PhD Thesis
Shahin Riahinia successfully defended his PhD thesis, marking a significant milestone in his doctoral research at the SPARES Research Lab.
New NSERC Alliance Grant Approved: AI-Based Autonomous Agent for Battery Energy Storage Management
A new research project titled “Artificial-Intelligence-Based Autonomous Agent for Battery Energy Storage Management”, led by the SPARES Research Lab in collaboration with Edgecom Energy, was
Chirag Tiwari Rao Successfully Defended His MSc Thesis
Chirag Tiwari Rao successfully defended his MSc thesis, completing his graduate studies at the SPARES Research Lab.
Mohammadmahdi Asghari Successfully Defended His PhD Thesis
Mohammadmahdi Asghari successfully defended his PhD thesis, achieving a major milestone in his doctoral research at the SPARES Research Lab.
New Paper Accepted in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
A new journal paper titled “Wavelet-Facilitated Resonance Attack Detection in Inverter-Based Resources” was accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.
Conference Paper Accepted at IEEE SmartGridComm 2025
A conference paper titled “Data-Driven Security Monitoring System for Cyberattacks on SSDCs in DFIG-Based Wind Parks” was accepted for presentation at the IEEE International Conference
Interested in Joining the Lab?
We welcome motivated graduate students and researchers with a passion for power system protection, cyber-security, and AI-driven solutions. Fill out the form below and we will be in touch.
