Elena Colombo, born in 1994, is a Tenure-Track Researcher (RTT) in Industrial Thermal Engineering at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano. She graduated with honours in Energy Engineering in 2019 and obtained her PhD with honours in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology in 2023.
Her research activity within the MRT Fuel Cell & Battery research group, initiated in 2019 with her MSc thesis and continued during her PhD, focuses on the experimental analysis of hydrogen electrochemical conversion systems, in particular polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and, more recently, membrane-based water electrolysers. Her research interests include the investigation of performance degradation phenomena in these devices and of their constituent materials, as well as the implementation of advanced diagnostic techniques to identify the mechanisms limiting their operation, with the aim of extending their service lifetime. Experimental investigations are also supported by physical modelling activities.
She has participated in national and European research projects and collaborates with universities, research institutes and industrial partners at the international level within her research group.

Education

Master of Science in Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 2019.
Ph.D. in Energy and Nuclear Science Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 2023.