Newsmakers at KTH – May 2023

Mathematics researcher receives sizeable grant

Gaultier Lambert , Associate Professor in Mathematical Statistics, has received an SEK 14 million starting grant from the Ragnar Strömberg Foundation. Lambert’s research focuses on complex systems and how we can better understand the physics of certain materials. Gaultier Lambert is the recipient of two awards and also received the ‘Small Prize’ for young researchers from The Göran Gustafsson Foundations.

Medal for professor of energy

Björn Palm , Professor in Energy Technology, has been awarded the Science and Technology Medal by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) for his scientific contributions in the field of applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, refrigeration and heat pump technologies. Every four years, the IIR offers a series of scientific awards that recognise those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of refrigeration.

Five young researchers awarded

Five researchers from KTH have been awarded prizes by the Göran Gustafsson Foundations. The ‘Major Prize’ went to Georg Oberdieck , Mathematics and Wei Ouyang , Applied Physics. The ‘Small Prize’ went to Erica Zeglio , Nanobiotechnology and Martina Scolamiero  and Gaultier Lambert, both Mathematics. The Gustafsson prize is aimed at young researchers, aged 36 or younger, at KTH and Uppsala University.

Four KTH projects on IVA’s list

Four projects from KTH have been included by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences’ (IVA’s) ‘100 list’ of 70 selected projects with high potential for business or societal benefit. Researchers Qianwen Xu  and Mengfan Zhang  have developed a system for sustainable electricity, a microgrid that is a small interactive energy system that can use both wind and solar power. In the GeneNova project led by Johan Rockberg , researchers and experts from various disciplines are working together to develop gene therapies that can revolutionise the treatment of many diseases.

Within the Sentry project led by Panos Papadimitratos , technology is being developed that can detect and mitigate mild attacks on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that are used by smartphones, cars, trucks, boats and large machines, for example. The final project on the list is the Recovering the Lost Energy project, which has three researchers from KTH: Christophe Duwig , Kai Zhang  and Danish Ansari . This project focuses on intensifying heat exchange at low operating temperatures in order to harvest heat – for direct use, or for storage and later use.

Climate research for young people

KTH Climate Action Centre has been granted funding from Formas for the three-year communication project Climate Qs. The project aims to increase knowledge of climate action among young people. The project is based on co-creation and knowledge production together with upper secondary schools in the Stockholm area. The Centre is working with upper secondary school students and their teachers to investigate the conditions and need for knowledge about climate issues, and they are developing content together.

Victory for train motor

Roberto Messina, a student at KTH, has won the ABB Motions Student Competition 2023. The focus of the competition is to create sustainable solutions with energy- and resource-efficient motors and drive systems. Messina won with his entry about a new type of high-performance energy and cost-efficient train motor. Joint second place was awarded to a team from KTH for the entry ‘Closing the loop – recycling centers’ by Jithin Jomy and Siddharta Pandit.

Award for new cellulose pulp

Yuanyuan Li , Assistant Professor at the Division of Biocomposites, has been awarded the Competence Development Award 2023 from the Gunnar Sundblad Research Foundation. She won the award for developing a brand new cellulose pulp – Aero-pulp. The pulp combines ordinary pulp fibres with nanocellulose to create a material with strong water absorption and good insulating ability.

Text: Christer Gummeson