César Gallardo, Ph.D.

01

About

I am an Electrical Engineer and researcher with a Ph.D. from the University of Concepción, Chile. My work focuses on analytical and FEA-based design of synchronous reluctance and permanent magnet machines, from mathematical modelling through to prototype validation.

At the PEMC Research Institute, University of Nottingham, I design high-performance machines for clients including Alstom, BAE Systems, Changan, and Jaguar Land Rover. In parallel, I co-founded EMDA Corp, developing eMDesigner — a SaaS simulation platform engineered to make electric machine design faster and more accessible than traditional FEA workflows.

Machine Topologies

SynRM – Synchronous Reluctance Machine PMa-SynRM – PM-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance IPM / PMSM – Permanent Magnet Synchronous IM – Induction Machine EE – Electrically Excited Machine DC – Direct Current Machine BLDC – Brushless DC Machine Radial Flux Axial Flux Inner Rotor Outer Rotor

Simulation Tools

ANSYS MaxwellMotor-CAD MATLABJMAG COMSOLPython

Applications

Traction / EVAerospace Heavy-Duty MiningIndustrial Drives

02

Education

2019
— 2024

Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences — Electrical Engineering

University of Concepción · Chile

Thesis: Development of design techniques to optimize the performance of synchronous reluctance machines with anisotropic rotor structure.

2011
— 2016

B.S. in Electrical Engineering — Five-year programme

Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas (UCLV) · Santa Clara, Cuba

Thesis: Efficiency of Grounding Systems Drive.

03

Experience

Sep 2024
— Present

Current

Research Fellow — Electric Machines

PEMC Research Institute · University of Nottingham · U.K.

Electromagnetic design and FEA analysis for Alstom, BAE Systems, Changan, and Jaguar Land Rover — traction, aerospace, and automotive applications.
Drive full design cycles: concept, material selection, winding technology, and thermal integration.
Author peer-reviewed manuscripts and present at leading international conferences.

2024
— Present

Current

CEO & Co-Founder

EMDS Corp — Atlanta, U.S. · EMDA Solutions — Biobío, Chile

Co-founded two complementary deep-tech ventures: EMDS Corp (U.S.) developing eMDesigner — a cloud-based analytical simulation platform for rapid electric machine design — and EMDA Solutions (Chile) delivering diagnostics, digital twins, and proprietary fault-analysis software for industrial electric machines.
eMDesigner provides a faster, more affordable alternative to traditional FEA tools — supporting SynRM, PMSM, and IM topologies — with cloud collaboration, winding design, and parametric optimisation.
EMDA Solutions combines non-invasive diagnostic services (rotor fault detection, demagnetisation analysis, misalignment identification) with technical training and consultancy for industrial manufacturers.
Secured early-stage investment via YC-style post-money SAFE (Fusen Fund I, LP), competitive public grant SUC250018, and 2nd place at the GEAR Challenge 2024.
Lead technical strategy, software architecture, and R&D roadmap across a three-founder team in partnership with the University of Concepción and University of Nottingham.

Aug 2023
— Aug 2024

Project & Innovation Engineer

Komatsu Chile · Santiago, Chile

Led electromagnetic design of induction and SynRM machines for heavy-duty mining applications.
Managed full project lifecycle and cross-functional coordination with external R&D partners.

Oct 2019
— Present

Ongoing

Associate Researcher

University of Concepción · Chile

Led research in analytical and FEA-based electric machine design — 6+ journal publications, 15+ conference papers.
Contributed to four nationally funded projects (FONDECYT, FONDEF) totalling multi-million CLP in awarded grants.
Presented at ICEM, IEMDC, ECCE, and IEEE CHILEAN; mentored doctoral and undergraduate students.

Mar – Jul 2023

Visiting Associate Researcher

PEMC Research Institute · University of Nottingham · U.K.

Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams on electric machine design studies; contributed to conference publications.

Sep 2016
— Jul 2019

Assistant Professor & Energy Management Technician

Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas (UCLV) · Santa Clara, Cuba

Developed and delivered lectures, seminars, and workshops in Electrical Circuits Theory to undergraduate and graduate students; mentored student research projects through to thesis completion.
Monitored and optimised campus energy usage; implemented and maintained energy management systems to meet institutional sustainability targets.
Conducted energy audits and recommended energy-saving measures across university facilities.

04

Entrepreneurship Project

🏆 2nd GEAR Challenge Award · 2024 📄 Grant SUC250018 · 2025

eMDesigner

SaaS Simulation Platform for Rotating Electric Machines

eMDesigner is a cloud-based analytical simulation platform for electric machine design — a faster, more affordable alternative to tools such as ANSYS Motor-CAD. Built on physics-based analytical models validated against FEA, it enables engineers to perform rapid machine sizing, parametric sweeps, and performance evaluation without full finite-element workflows.

Analytical modelling — SynRM, PMSM, and IM topologies

Parametric design sweeps, orders of magnitude faster than FEA

Cloud-native SaaS — accessible from any browser

Venture-funded · Fusen Fund I SAFE

Open Software eMDesigner.software EMDA Chile

Software Demo

Watch full demo