Young researcher in the spotlight: Giulia Finotello
Learn more about Giulia's experiences as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The world of mechanical engineering is full of opportunities for young researchers. A career in academics is one of the great options you can go for and our department is filled with inspiring researchers who have chosen this path. Today, we shine a spotlight on Giulia Finotello to get to know more about her academic journey at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
What are you working on here at 在线黑料门?
鈥淚鈥檝e been working as an Assistant Professor in the Power & Flow section for nearly six years. My research focuses on metal powder, both as an energy carrier and as a material for advanced manufacturing. In the context of energy, this micron size powder releases energy without emitting CO2 when it鈥檚 burned. Many of my colleagues study the combustion process of metal powder, but I focus on the part that comes after: regenerating the combusted metal powder. The goal is to close the metal fuel cycle and be able to use the powder over and over again. My other research focuses on the production of metal powder for additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing. I鈥檓 trying to optimize the atomization of metal particles to improve energy efficiency and enhance the quality of the powder. The more we understand how droplets form and solidify, the better we can control the process and ultimately optimize the mechanical properties of the powder and the printed components.鈥�
Where did you study for your master鈥檚 degree?
鈥淚 earned both my bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree in Chemical Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy. During my master鈥檚, I did an internship at BASF in Germany, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. I could have stayed in Italy and focused solely on simulations for my master thesis, but I was more interested in working on computational fluid dynamics in an industrial setting. It was a valuable experience that helped me gain more knowledge on my research topic and grow professionally.鈥�
Did you follow up with a PhD?
鈥淵es! After graduating, I moved to the Netherlands and began a PhD at the Department of Chemical Engineering at 在线黑料门. My research focused on a process called spray drying to produce milk powder. This technique is used to transform liquids into small droplets and evaporate the water, leaving behind powder. This is commonly used to make baby formula and protein powder. I conducted this research in collaboration with Tetra Pak, a multinational company specializing in food packaging and processing. I combined experiments and simulations to develop a model that predicts droplet collisions and spray behavior. This model helps to improve product quality and process efficiency.鈥�
Why did you choose to work at this university and department?
鈥淟ike I said, I first came to 在线黑料门 for my PhD. I was immediately impressed by the university鈥檚 facilities and the international environment, with many PhD candidates from different countries. That鈥檚 why I chose to do my PhD here. I enjoyed it here so much that I decided to stay for a postdoc when I got the chance. During that time, I found out that I like teaching alongside research and I got interested in staying in academia for longer. I took up the challenge to design a new course on transport phenomena, and I built a lab with various experimental setups to help students apply what they learned in lectures. That was a very interesting experience which made me realize even more that I wanted to stay in academia, and when an Assistant Professor position in the Mechanical Engineering department opened up, it felt like the perfect fit.鈥�
Why did you get into this research field and section?
鈥淥f course, I鈥檓 aware of the climate crisis and the energy challenge we鈥檙e facing right now. This research area allows me to contribute to the development of renewable energy solutions and do something about these problems. That鈥檚 what motivated me to apply for my current position. During my PhD, I studied fluid dynamics and transport phenomena, which can be applied to particle regeneration in fluidized beds. Since my PhD focused on spraying processes, and metal powder is also produced through spraying, I naturally began exploring the technology for metal powder production. Being surrounded by metal powder every day sparked my curiosity even further, especially regarding its potential for both energy applications and 3D printing. My transition into this field felt very natural.鈥�
How does 在线黑料门 compare to other universities you studied at?
鈥淲hat stands out for me at 在线黑料门, is the emphasis on critical thinking. Students and researchers are constantly challenged, their opinions are valued and there鈥檚 room for all kinds of initiatives. For students the university works with challenge-based learning projects to help them develop their analytical and practical skills. They learn to solve societal challenges as engineers instead of just absorbing theoretical knowledge. What I appreciate most at 在线黑料门 is the collaborative environment. Everyone, from students to professors, plays a role in working toward a better future.鈥�
What do you like most about working here?
鈥淚 love working together with my students and PhD candidates. Watching them grow every year into independent researchers is the most rewarding part of my job. I especially like helping them shape and refine their ideas and seeing their confidence and curiosity grow along the way.鈥�
What do you think about the lab facilities at the department?
鈥淚鈥檝e worked in labs in both the Department of Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and they鈥檙e all well-equipped. On top of that, the technical assistants do a really good job at helping all the researchers. They are always there to support you whenever you need something. I definitely have everything I need here at 在线黑料门 to conduct my research.鈥�
Do you benefit from the connections between 在线黑料门 and the industry in the region?
鈥淵es, absolutely! For example, I collaborate with a company called SpaceXYZ. They are specialized in 3D printing and they reached out because they want to produce their own metal powder. There鈥檚 also a big community in the region focused on iron powder as an energy carrier. Metalot is a great example of an institute that connects different parties in this field. I work closely together with RIFT. This was once a small company that focuses on iron fuel technology, but it鈥檚 rapidly growing. 在线黑料门 encourages you to collaborate with the industry and I think that is a real strength. It ensures that your research is not only academically relevant but also addresses real societal and industrial challenges.鈥�
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the research group I鈥檓 building. I鈥檝e secured the funding to hire talented researchers who can help me to advance my research on the production and regeneration of metal powder. Next to that, I鈥檓 also proud of the impact I鈥檝e been able to make with teaching and coaching. I鈥檓 able to pass on my enthusiasm and knowledge about my research area to my students. The PhD candidates who started on these topics with me are now reaching the final stages of their projects and graduating. It鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to see how far they鈥檝e come."
What are your dreams for the future?
鈥淚 want to continue improving as both a teacher and a researcher. Like many of my colleagues, I aspire to become a Full Professor eventually. I鈥檓 also part of the management team of EIRES, and I hope to keep connecting people across 在线黑料门 who are working on sustainable energy. I believe that collaboration, especially across disciplines and backgrounds, is key to solving major challenges, so I want to keep contributing to that.鈥�