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College of Design 
Building Energy Technology Laboratory (BETlab)

Soolyeon Cho, Ph.D.

SC

Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs and Global Engagement; Professor of Architecture; Director of Building Energy Technology Lab (BETlab)

Architecture, PhD in Design

Brooks Hall 200C

919-513-8061

Bio

In 2011, Dr. Cho joined the architecture faculty at NC State University after teaching building energy and technology courses in the Master of Science in Sustainable Design (MSSD) program at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC for three years.

Dr. Cho’s expertise lies in energy modeling and performance simulation for sustainable building design and development. He teaches courses in Energy Modeling & Simulation, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, and Building Energy Optimization. His research and work experience encompasses energy savings calculation, high-performance building design, energy-efficient systems design, renewable energy systems integration, and Performance Measurement and Verification (M&V).

Dr. Cho’s research is interdisciplinary and involves architectural, environmental, and engineering subjects to design and develop a sustainable built environment. He extensively employs energy modeling and simulation technologies, notably the advanced program EnergyPlus developed by the US DOE. These technologies help predict potential energy benefits from the early design phases through the life of a building, facilitating optimal design/development decisions in terms of energy efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort conditions. Dr. Cho also utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) technologies to develop algorithms for optimal controls of HVAC and energy systems.

In 2020-2021, Dr. Cho served as the president of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA, https://www.ksea.org/), the most prestigious professional organization representing Korean-American scientists and engineers in the US. With over 30,000 professional members, many holding doctoral degrees and working in academia and research institutes, KSEA is recognized for its commitment to excellence. The organization hosts over 300 regional, national, and international events annually, making it a key player in promoting collaboration and advancing research in the field.

Currently, Dr. Cho holds the position of Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs, and Global Engagement at the College of Design. He also directs the Building Energy Technology Lab (BETlab, https://research.design.ncsu.edu/betlab/), a research group focused on Building Energy Technologies and Design Issues related to Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy in buildings for the development of a Sustainable Built Environment.

Focus Areas

• Building Energy Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization
• Building Performance Measurement & Verification (M&V)
• HVAC Control Optimization using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) technologies
• Sustainable (High-Performance) Building Design
• Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) & Performance Monitoring
• Energy Efficiency & Renewable

Professional Experience

2021–pres.    Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs, and Global Engagement, College of Design
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2020–2021.  President, Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association
                        Washington, DC.
2020–pres.   Professor, School of Architecture, College of Design
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2015–pres.    Director, PhD in Design Program, College of Design
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2014–2020   Associate Professor, School of Architecture, College of Design
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2011–pres.    Director, Building Energy Technology Laboratory (BETlab)
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2011–2014    Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, College of Design
                        North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
2008–2011    Associate Director, Center for Building Stewardship
                        The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
2008–2011    Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
                        The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
2010–2010    Research Faculty, Summer Fellowship Program
                        Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA.
2000–2008    Research Associate/Assistant, Energy Systems Laboratory
                        Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
1998–1999    Research Assistant, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
                        University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
1994–1997    Mechanical Design Engineer, Ship Building Division
                        Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea.
1990–1992    Airport Operations Crew, Foreign Aircraft Operations Division
                        Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), Busan, South Korea.

For more information about Dr. Cho and his research laboratory, visit the BETlab website HERE.

Link to Website:

http://academics.design.ncsu.edu/departments/betlab

Education

Ph.D. in Architecture (Building Science & Engineering) Texas A&M University

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Energy Systems) Texas A&M University

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering University of Ulsan, South Korea

Area(s) of Expertise

Building Energy Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization, Building Performance Measurement & Verification (M&V), HVAC Control Optimization, using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) technologies, Sustainable (High-Performance) Building Design, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) & Performance Monitoring, Energy Efficiency & Renewable

Groups