Prof. Akiko Kumada

Vice Dean, School of Engineering

The University of Tokyo

Akiko Kumada received the B. Eng., M. Eng., and Dr. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1994, 1996, and 1999, respectively. After working as a research associate in the same university from 1999 to 2001, she joined the Tokyo Electric Power Company as a researcher from 2001 to 2003. Since April 2017, she has been in the University of Tokyo as a professor of electrical engineering.

 

Her research focuses on high voltage and discharge phenomena. High voltage engineering is a fundamental technology for electric power systems, which are social infrastructure. In recent years, electric power systems are undergoing a period of great technical and institutional change with the massive introduction of renewable energy and distributed power sources, high ageing of existing equipment, and the separation of power transmission and distribution. She directs high voltage laboratory in the University of Tokyo, and is conducting research related to high-voltage insulation and current interruption technology for the development of high-voltage DC transmission networks and the upgrading of existing AC transmission networks.