Jessie Ma (She/Her)
Assistant Professor, Ontario Research Chair in Future Energy Systems
Email: jessie.ma@uwaterloo.ca
Biography
Professor Jessie Ma is an Assistant Professor and Ontario Research Chair of Sustainable Energy at the University of Waterloo in the Department of Systems Design Engineering (Faculty of Engineering) and the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development (Faculty of Environment).
Professor Ma was awarded her PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2020. In her dissertation, she created a new demand response market, which she co-optimized in concert with the traditional energy market. She graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration program in 2009 and the University of Toronto’s Engineering Science program in 2001.
Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, Dr. Ma spent two decades in the Ontario electricity sector. Dr. Ma was a research fellow at the Centre for Urban Energy at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), conducting research in energy storage, conservation, and reactive power optimization. Dr. Ma spent over a dozen years at Hydro One and was the driving force behind the launch of the corporate responsibility program. Her diverse roles at Hydro One spanned technical and business functions, including generation connections, transmission approvals, and government relations.
Professor Ma was awarded her PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2020. In her dissertation, she created a new demand response market, which she co-optimized in concert with the traditional energy market. She graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration program in 2009 and the University of Toronto’s Engineering Science program in 2001.
Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, Dr. Ma spent two decades in the Ontario electricity sector. Dr. Ma was a research fellow at the Centre for Urban Energy at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), conducting research in energy storage, conservation, and reactive power optimization. Dr. Ma spent over a dozen years at Hydro One and was the driving force behind the launch of the corporate responsibility program. Her diverse roles at Hydro One spanned technical and business functions, including generation connections, transmission approvals, and government relations.
Research Interests
- Power systems economics
- Electricity markets
- Demand response
- Distributed energy resources
- Renewable energy
- Energy storage
Education
- 2020, Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Canada
- 2009, Master in Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School, USA
- 2001, Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science, University of Toronto, Canada
Professional Associations
- Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario
- Senior Member, IEEE
Teaching*
- ENBUS 475 - Special Topics in Environment and Business
- Taught in 2023, 2024
- SYDE 262 - Engineering Economics of Design
- Taught in 2024
- SYDE 534 - Electric Energy Systems
- Taught in 2024
- SYDE 599 - Special Topics in Systems Design Engineering
- Taught in 2023
* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.
Graduate studies
- Currently considering applications from graduate students. A completed online application is required for admission; start the application process now.