Thesis: Behaviour of biomimetic particles under acoustophoretic conditions.As part of the European Space Agency - ESA MAP project Whiskies and Graphene Flagship, the thesis aim is to assess the changes in physical properties, such as compressibility and density, efficiently and cost-effectively, using acoustic radiation force fields to evaluate those changes and biomimetic particles to simulate the cells. As PhD researcher, I created this project alone from scratch as my PhD thesis. The project was multidisciplinary, involving modelling and experiments touching different fields like acoustics in fluids, vibration in solid, piezoelectricity and soft matter. As well I followed five students on different topics.Project: “Cost-Effective Metal-Air Batteries for medical applications”. The goal was to develop metal-air (Zinc-Air and Aluminium-Air) batteries using the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS as a catalyst for the electrochemical reaction of oxygen as cathode. For medical sensing devices, such as wound healing patches, it is necessary to provide wearable and long-term usable power supply. This calls for cost-effective, lightweight batteries. As PhD researcher, I was part of a team of two where my tasks were focused on conceptualisation of the battery, design, assembly and characterisation of the battery and materials.Project: “Condensation on Finger-like Condenser” – Low-Gravity project of European Space Agency. The goal was to organise an experimental setup and procedures to stabilise condensate flow in zero gravity, to intensify condensation, to get an experimental benchmark that allows the creation of a class of reference surfaces for modelling evaporation-condensation systems, heat pipes, efficient steam condensers for on-ground and space applications. As PhD researcher, I model the heat transfer physics on the finned condenser.

Project title: Enhanced Evaporator for Loop Heat Pipe Applications by Composite Porous Structures and Functionalization.As part of the Graphene Flagship, the internship aims were building, as part of a team, and testing an open-loop heat pipe setup in ground conditions, assembling a rack for two parabolic flight campaigns and participating in two ESA parabolic flight campaigns. I acquired knowledge of heat pipes, porous medium and thermal management. In addition, I created stainless steel porous media by sintering and characterized their properties.

Project title: Extraction of fatty acids and high-value molecules from microalgaeDuring the traineeship, an interconnected cultivation-extraction system for microalgae was assembled and tested its performance through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence. I acquired knowledge of culture, strains, microalgae biology, and extraction methods for high-value molecules from cells and biomasses.