2025 Top 40 Under 40: Dr. Kashif Nawaz
Dr. Kashif Nawaz
Dr. Kashif Nawaz’s involvement in the HVAC industry began while pursuing graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he joined the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC).
“Being part of this collaborative environment helped me develop a strong foundation in fundamental heat transfer, refrigerant behavior, and system-level design,” Nawaz said. “More importantly, it offered early exposure to industry priorities and decision-making frameworks, which shaped my approach to applied research. The ability to interact directly with OEMs and understand the practical constraints they face was instrumental in aligning my technical work with market-relevant outcomes.”
After earning his Ph.D, Nawaz sharpened his industry perspective at Johnson Controls (JCI) as a senior heat transfer engineer. During that time, Nawaz became part of their Heat Transfer Center of Excellence, where he worked on advancing HVAC component-level and system-level technologies. He contributed through optimizing condenser and evaporator designs, exploring alternative refrigerants, and developing compact heat exchangers — deepening his appreciation for manufacturability, cost-performance trade-offs, and regulatory implications.
In 2016, Nawaz joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory initially with the focus of high-impact R&D in advanced building equipment. Eventually, his responsibilities expanded, and now he leads or co-leads several teams and projects, including high-temperature heat pumps, advanced thermal storage, and non-metallic heat exchangers.
He’s built partnerships with OEMs, utilities, material suppliers, and other national labs to accelerate innovation and adoption. He’s supported Department of Energy initiatives through technical program development — and for he’s entire career, he’s “remained deeply committed to ensuring that research translates into deployable solutions,” Nawaz said.
When asked about his biggest HVAC accomplishments, Nawaz pointed to three: pioneering the development of advanced heat exchanger technologies; advancing heat pump water heaters with embedded thermal storage; and driving industry-relevant research at ORNL — enabling the next-generation of HVAC and industrial thermal systems; designing and demonstrating a flexible heat pump water heater with embedded phases change materials; and helping shape a portfolio of over 70 projects spanning water heating, building equipment, and HVAC.
“My primary career goal is to contribute to the advancement of high-performance HVAC technologies that enhance energy efficiency, reliability, and affordability across residential, commercial, and industrial applications,” said Nawaz.
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At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he’s been able to do just that with the opportunities he’s had to lead and support a broad range of research efforts — ranging from developing high-temperature heat pumps and innovative heat exchangers to exploring advanced system integration strategies.
“I am particularly focused on translating early-stage innovations into practical solutions through strong engagement with manufacturers and other stakeholders,” said Nawaz. “Looking ahead, I aim to continue driving impactful research that supports modernization of the HVAC sector, fosters U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and addresses emerging challenges related to performance optimization, equipment flexibility, and system-level resilience.”
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