Dr Vanika Sharma is a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Adelaide University, based at the Mawson Lakes Campus. With more than a decade of experience in teaching and research, she specializes in renewable energy systems, electrical power systems, and their integration. Dr Sharma also serves as the Chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), South Australia Chapter.
Her research interests encompass Renewable Energy Integration with the Power Grid, Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Battery Energy Storage, Household Energy Cost Minimization, Electric Vehicles, Electrical Power Generation & Distribution Systems, Operation & Control of Power Systems, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and Microgrids.
Dr Sharma holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Australia. She is also a Gold Medalist in both her Master of Engineering in Power Engineering from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, India, and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, India.
She has taught a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Power Systems Fundamentals, Renewable and Distributed Power Generation, Operation and Control of Modern Power Systems, Electrical Machines, and Power System Analysis. Dr Sharma has also supervised numerous honours and master’s students, including industry-aligned research projects, and is currently co-supervising a PhD student on a Microgrid project. Her teaching is supported by outstanding student feedback and peer reviews.
Dr Sharma’s research has been widely recognized, with over 365 citations, and strong h-index and i-index metrics. Her journal papers are highly regarded, with most featuring an FWCI above 1.0, placing them in the top 20% of their respective fields, with some even in the top 9%. Her work has been highlighted in 9 News, The Advertiser, and PV Magazine, showcasing her contributions to advancing renewable energy solutions.
Dr Sharma is also deeply involved in professional organizations. She has served in various leadership roles, including IEEE PES South Australia Chairperson (Current), Treasurer for IEEE PES (2021-2022), IEEE South Australia Joint Technical Program (JTP) Representative (2023-2024), and IEEE UniSA Student Branch Advisor (2021-Current). As an active member and now Chair of IEEE PES SA, Dr Sharma has led numerous high-impact events, including seminars, technical site visits, and webinars, strengthening the connections between academia, industry, and the broader engineering community.