Walter Gutierrez Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Email: walgutie@ttu.edu
Phone: (806) 224-4718
Dr. Gutierrez received his Bachelor’s degree with honors in Mechanical Engineering from the Technological University of Havana. He earned his Master’s degree (2016) in Data Science and his Doctorate degree (2017) in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University. He also earned certificates in wind energy in both the technical and the managerial tracks.
Dr. Gutierrez has ample experience researching, designing or executing projects in numerous fields, including: nuclear power, fossil fuels, wind energy, solar energy, information technologies, Big Data and statistical analysis. He has taught information technology courses to more than 1,000 students.
His research interests are focused on the study of low-level jets and their impacts on the production of wind energy and on the structural responses of wind turbines. His work has been published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and have also been presented in many scientific conferences. He is a member of the American Physical Society (APS), the Golden Key International Honor Society and the College of Engineers of Peru (CIP).
He believes a teacher’s role is to serve as both instructor and mentor, and that the more a teacher sparks challenging exchanges, the better the outcome.
Research Interests
- Low-level Jets and Wind Turbines: Study of atmospheric low-level jets and their impacts on the production of wind energy and on the structural responses of wind turbines. Low-level jets conceptual models, combining theoretical analysis, empirical statistics from the 200-m Met tower, and wind tunnel simulations. Impacts of negative shears on mechanical loading.
- Energy-Water Nexus: Study of the relations between energy consumption and water withdrawal, and their impacts on economic development and social indicators.
- Big Data analysis: Application of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analysis in Physics and Engineering problems.
- Electric Power Flow: Optimization of electric power flows in electrical networks. Smart grids.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering. Texas Tech University, Whitacre College of Engineering, Lubbock, Texas, USA. Dissertation: “Low-Level Jet — Wind Turbine Interactions and their Impacts on Performance, Power Production and Mechanical Responses: A Numerical Approach.” 2017.
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Data Science. Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business, Lubbock, Texas, USA. 2016.
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) with honors in Mechanical Engineering. Technological University of Havana, College of Energy, Havana, Cuba. Thesis: “Computer Program to Calculate Thermal Balances of Power Plants in Personal Computers.” 1986.
- Academic Certificate in Wind Energy Graduate Credential – Technical Track. Texas Tech University, National Wind Institute, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A., 2015.
- Academic Certificate in Wind Energy Graduate Credential – Managerial Track. Texas Tech University, National Wind Institute, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A., 2015
Teaching
| Undergraduate |
|---|
|
Awards & Honors
- eFellows Fellowship of the American Society for Engineering Education (USA), 2022.
- Annual Prize of the National Academy of Science (Cuba) in Technical Sciences. Research: “Technology for the use of national heavy fuels by means of emulsion in water. Project Varamulsion.” Role: coauthor, 1992.
- Medal “Builders of the Future”, Youth Technical Brigades (Cuba), 1989.
- Golden Diploma in Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, 1986.
Renewable Energy
-
Address
1009 Canton Ave., MS 3155 Lubbock, TX 79409-3155 -
Phone
806.742.6284 -
Email
renewableenergy@ttu.edu