Aung Myat, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering


    Muhammad K Akbar, PhD, PE

Office:   ET 138C
Phone: (615) 963-2043
Fax:      (615) 963-5496
Email:  sdixonge@tnstate.edu

National University of Singapore
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering 2012

National University of Singapore
M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering 2006

Yangon Technological University
B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering 2004

Academic & Professional Experience

  • Assistant Professor, Tennessee State University (August 2024-Present)
  • Assistant Professor, Southeast Missouri State University (August 2023-July 2024)
  • Assistant/Associate Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology (July 2016-July 2023)
  • Scientist, Experimental Power Grid Center (May 2012-June 2016)
  • Research Engineer, National University of Singapore (March 2009-April 2012)

Research Interests

  • AI-Driven Thermal-Fluid Sciences
  • Multiphase Heat Transfer
  • Infrastructure Resilience
  • HVAC&R and District Scale Energy System Digital Twins
  • AI/ML Optimization
  • Hybrid Thermal Energy Storage
  • Battery and High Heat Flux Thermal Management

Dr. Myat’s work is built upon three pillars that integrate data-driven intelligence with experimental 
and numerical modeling:

  • Pillar I: Advanced Thermal-Fluid Sciences: Multiphase heat transfer, multi-scale transport phenomena in porous media, and hybrid nanofluid-PCM thermal storage.
  • Pillar II: AI, Digital Twins & Optimization: Real-time predictive control, digital twin-based HVAC systems, and deep learning for cooling load forecasting.
  • Pillar III: Battery Thermal Management & High-Heat-Flux Systems: Advanced thermal management for batteries, power electronics, and other high-heat-flux systemsthrough multiphysics modeling, thermal buffering, and intelligent control.

Research Activities & Accomplishments

Dr. Myat has secured over $4.7 million in external research funding from national and international agencies.

  • Funded Research Leadership:
    • NSF Excellence in Research ($956,696I 2025-2028): Co-PI investigating phonon polaritons for enhanced polymer thermal transport. NSF Research Initiation Award ($298,715| 2024-2026): PI developing Boltzmann based models for porous media transport. TSU
    • Seed Grant ($10,000 | 2024-2025): Principal Investigator investigating nanofluid-based HVAC efficiency enhancements.
    • BCA Singapore R&D Challenge ($738,540 | 2023-2025): PI implementing AI-based optimization of chilled water systems.
    • Green Building Grant ($728,546 | 2020-2023): Lead PI in energy analysis for the design and evaluation of the Dual Passive Displacement Coil System.
    • EDGE Program Grant ($1,924,188 | 2020-2023): Lead PI in thermal integration for the development of AI-driven energy forecasting models for microgrid digital twins.
    • Industry-Sponsored Award ($110,000 | 2018-2019): Principal Investigator for Singapore Power Digital, designing an HVAC Smart Damper for energy-efficient climate control

Teaching Activities

Dr. Myat is dedicated to inclusive, hands-on mechanical engineering education:

  • Courses Taught at Tennessee State University:
    • MEEN 5140 (Convection Heat Transfer),
    • MEEN 4150 (Heat Transfer),
    • ENGR 2010 (Thermodynamics),
    • ENGR 2120 (Dynamics),
    • ENGR 3400 (Numerical Analysis).
    • MEEN 4021 (Thermal Fluid Systems Lab)
  • Course Taught at other universities
    • SIE1109 Heat Exchanger and Heat Pump
    • SIE2111 Fluid Mechanics
    • SIE2117 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning 1
    • SIE3118 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning 2
    • MEC6011 District Cooling Systems
    • MN170 Engineering Materials and Design
    • MN203 Industrial Materials and Processes 1
    • MN220 Engineering Economics
    • MN383 Fluid Power
    • MN412 Industrial Capstone Projects
    • EP361 Engineering Thermodynamics
    • EP363 Fluid Mechanics
    • EP365 Heat Transfer

Publications and Scholarly Activities

  • Book Author:
    • District Cooling Systems: A Practical Approach and Application for Design, Operations, and Best Practice, Routledge (2025).
  • Book Chapter:
    • Application of Artificial Intelligence in air conditioning systems," Recent Updates in HVAC Systems, IntechOpen (2022).
    • Vapor compression cycles for food refrigeration, Comprehensive Food Refrigeration Fundamentals, Elsevier (2025).
    • Thermodynamics, Comprehensive Food Refrigeration: Fundamentals, Elsevier (2025).
  • Patent: "Method and apparatus for the waste-heat-driven desiccant dehumidifier" (PCT-SG2011-000028).
  • Citations: 940+ on Google Scholar with an h-index of 12.

Publications

Journal Publications

  1. Myat, A., Rahman, M. M., & Akbar, M. (2025). Nanofluid-Enhanced HVAC&R Systems (2015-2025): Experimental, Numerical, and AI-Driven Insights with a Strategic Roadmap. Sustainability, 17, 7371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167371
  2. Jeggathishwaran, J., Myat, A., Soh, Y. L., Hui, A., Wang, P. C., & Steve, K. J. (2025). Experimental study of the application of a passive displacement dual coil cooling system in a tropical climate: A case study in a hotel environment. Journal of Building Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112252
  3. Myat, A., Kondath, N., Soh, Y. L., & Hui, A. (2024). A hybrid model based on multivariate fast iterative filtering and long short-term memory for ultra-short-term cooling load prediction. Energy and Buildings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.113977
  4. Kondath, N., Myat, A., Soh, Y. L., & Hui, A. (2024). Enhancing day-ahead cooling load prediction in tropical commercial buildings using advanced deep learning models: A case study in Singapore. Buildings, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020397
  5. Myat, A., Yang, J., Jeggathishwaran, P., Soh, Y. L., Hui, A., Wang, P. C., & Steve, K. J. (2023). Mathematical modeling of Passive Displacement Dual Cooling Coil (PDDCC) system in a tropical climate. Energy and Buildings, 294, 113212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113212
  6. Steve, K. J., Myat, A., Hui, A., Soh, Y. L., Jeggathishwaran, P., Wang, P. C., Soo, J. H., Nicholas, T., Neo, P. H., & George, N. (2023). Experimental and numerical investigation of a novel Passive Displacement Dual Cooling Coil (PDDCC) system in Singapore. Building and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110302
  7. Thangavelu, S. R., Myat, A., & Khambadkone, A. (2017). Energy optimization methodology of multi-chiller plant in commercial buildings. Energy, 123, 64-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.01.116
  8. Thangavelu, S. R., Nutkani, I. U., Hwee, C. M., Myat, A., & Khambadkone, A. (2015). Integrated electrical and thermal grid facility—Testing of future microgrid technologies. Energies, 8(9), 10082-10105. https://doi.org/10.3390/en80910082
  9. Thu, K., Chakraborty, A., Kim, Y.-D., Myat, A., Saha, B. B., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Numerical simulation and performance investigation of an advanced adsorption desalination cycle. Desalination, 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2012.04.021
  10. Myat, A., Ng, K. C., Thu, K., & Kim, Y.-D. (2013). Experimental investigation on the optimal performance of zeolite-water adsorption chiller. Applied Energy, 102, 582-590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.08.005
  11. Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., Myat, A., Chakraborty, A., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Performance investigation of advanced adsorption desalination cycle with a condenser-evaporator heat recovery scheme. Desalination and Water Treatment, 51, 150-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.693659
  12. Shahzad, M. W., Myat, A., Chun, W.-G., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Bubble-assisted film evaporation correlation for saline water at sub-atmospheric pressures in the horizontal-tube evaporator. Applied Thermal Engineering, 50(1), 670-676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.07.003
  13. Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., Myat, A., Chun, W.-G., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Entropy generation analysis of an adsorption cooling cycle. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 60, 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2012.12.055
  14. Kim, Y.-D., Thu, K., Myat, A., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Numerical simulation of solar-assisted multi-effect distillation desalination systems. Desalination and Water Treatment, 51, 1242-1253. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.695044
  15. Myat, A., Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Performance investigation of a temperature cascaded cogeneration system equipped with adsorption desalination unit. Desalination and Water Treatment, 51, 1900-1907. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.714580
  16. Myat, A., Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., & Ng, K. C. (2013). Performance of a temperature cascaded cogeneration system producing steam, cooling and dehumidification. Desalination and Water Treatment, 51, 1915-1921. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.694232
  17. Myat, A., Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., Saha, B. B., & Ng, K. C. (2012). Entropy generation minimisation: A practical approach for performance evaluation of temperature cascaded cogeneration plants. Energy, 46(1), 493-521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.07.062
  18. Myat, A., Thu, K., & Ng, K. C. (2012). Experimental investigation on the performance of a low-temperature waste heat-driven multi-bed desiccant dehumidifier and minimization of entropy generation. Applied Thermal Engineering, 39, 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.01.041
  19. Myat, A., Thu, K., & Ng, K. C. (2012). Entropy generation and genetic algorithm optimization of two-bed adsorption cooling cycle. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 226(2), 142-156.
  20. Myat, A., Thu, K., Kim, Y.-D., Chakraborty, A., Chun, W.-G., & Ng, K. C. (2011). A second law analysis and entropy generation minimization of an absorption chiller. Applied Thermal Engineering, 31(14), 2405-2413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.04.004

Technical Journal Activities

  • Editorial Roles: Book Editor for HVAC Systems (IntechOpen) and Guest Editor for Sustainability and Advancements in Adaptive, Inclusive, and Responsive Buildings.
  • Peer Review: 120 total reviews across 11 Elsevier journals, including 41 for Energy and Buildings.

Honors and Awards

  • Chartered Engineer (UK), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
  • Teaching Excellence Award (2026)
  • Applied Research Excellence Award (2023).
  • Singapore Certified Energy Manager.
  • NUS Research Scholarship (2006)