New Minds, New Momentum: PhD Trio – Melisa, Mariola & Laia Join the HPT team!
There’s a spark of new energy in the Division of Heat and Power Technology as three talented PhD researchers – Melisa, Mariola, and Laia, have recently joined our growing community. Each brings unique expertise, international collaboration, and a passion for driving the next wave of advancements in industrial decarbonization and advanced thermal systems. We’re excited to welcome them and share the impactful work they are beginning with us.
Meet Melisa
Melisa Gounesher is a PhD candidate at the Division of Heat and Power Technology at KTH, supervised by Rafael and Silvia . Her research focuses on system-level modelling and optimization approaches for the decarbonization of industrial clusters. In close collaboration with international partners, including DTU, she investigates techno-economic optimization and operational strategies to support flexible, low-carbon industrial energy systems, incorporating AI-based methods.
Meet Mariola
Mariola (Maria Dolores) has joined the HPT team to further explore the development of innovative cold and high temperature Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technologies for industrial decarbonisation within the EU co-funded BREAD project . The project aims to develop a sub-MW integrated heating and cooling system delivering heat above 250ºC (up to 400 ºC) and cooling down to -15 ºC, combining an air/nitrogen High Temperature Heat Pump (HTHP), heat exchangers, and TES to decarbonise industrial processes in the 200 - 350 ºC range, with additional cooling needs. Mariola will closely collaborate with Rafael and Silvia on TES optimisation through CFD modelling, experimental testing, system simulations, and techno-economic analysis to ensure effective integration into industrial applications.
Meet Laia
Laia has recently joined our research group as part of the I-UPS project, carried out in collaboration with industrial partners such as Enerin and Kyoto Group. The project aims to develop an advanced hybrid energy system that combines Stirling-based high-temperature heat pumps with molten salt thermal energy storage. This approach seeks to support the wider adoption of renewable energy in industry by providing a flexible solution for the on demand decarbonization of industrial heat, with process temperatures reaching up to 400 °C. Within the project, Laia will be involved in experimental activities related to the system and in assessing the technical and economic performance of the heat pump technology.
Bringing together diverse expertise and a warm sense of enthusiasm, Melisa, Mariola, and Laia are valued additions to our team. We look forward to watching their contributions develop and take shape over time. If you’d like to know more about their research or connect with them, please feel free to reach out.
As we continue to grow and strengthen our research environment, we are also happy to share that several opportunities are currently open within our division.
If you’re considering joining our team, you can find the available positions below: