Adam Birchfield
I'm an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University in electrical engineering. My research area is in modeling and simulation of the bulk electric grid. This is my personal page.
For my professional page, check out my research group website:
https://birchfield.engr.tamu.edu
Which has information about:
- Publications and Research Articles
- Teaching and Class Materials
- Research Group Members
- The TAMU Electric Grid Test Case Repository
More About Me — Personal
Originally from the community of Powdersville in the foothills of South Carolina, I've been on faculty at Texas A&M since November 2020.
I'm married to Taylor (also of South Carolina origin) and we love living in College Station, spending time outdoors, and visiting family and friends near and far. I like watching college football—where Aggie loyalty only takes a back seat one Saturday a year when they play my Auburn tigers (class of '14). I also enjoy reading great books, hiking, and playing piano, ping-pong, and Texas 42 dominoes.
I'm a Christian and go to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bryan, TX. I really enjoy talking faith, theology, and the big questions of life, and how these ideas fit in with engineering, science, and history. What is life all about? My answer is the same as James Clerk Maxwell, the greatest scientist in electricity and magnetism:
I believe, with the Westminster Divines and their predecessors ad Infinitum, that "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever" [1].Ultimate meaning isn't found in the good things of life—money, cars, food, friendships, family, arts and music, learning and education, good health. Although they are nice, when pursued for man's own glory they are in themselves unsatisfactory, because we are created to enjoy them in the context of fellowship with God, and everything is broken because of sin, including us. But in being reconciled to God through faith, which is possible by the atoning work of his Son, Jesus Christ, we can be restored and made new. Then all of this life, and the life to come, lived for God's glory according to his Word, the Bible, has true purpose and meaning, and there is real peace and joy.
My faith motivates me as an engineer because in engineering we get to develop technology that uses what God has made for the good of the world. Likewise in teaching, I believe each of my students is made in God's image, and I try to treat all my students fairly and with respect and do my best to help them be successful in my class, in their career, and in all of life.
- Westminster Presbyterian Church. We'd love to have you visit sometime!
- Reformed University Fellowship. If you're a TAMU student, Aggie RUF is a campus ministry that welcomes "convinced" and "unconvinced" students from all walks of life.
- Reformed University Fellowship–International. If you're an international student at TAMU, RUF-I is a ministry that seeks to help you find community and navigate life outside the classroom. Reach out to my friend Titus Bagby (titus.babgy@ruf.org) for more information.
- Texas A&M Christian Faculty Network. I'm proud to be part of this group across TAMU's campus, with faculty and staff united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life's most important questions. We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us.
