I strive to solve core societal problems through conscientious scientific innovations. Currently I am working with two EU based consortiums dedicated to 1. Solar Fuels research and 2. Sustainable Soft Matter Electro-Protonic devices for the future. I am also developing with colleagues, two novel solutions in the fields of 3. Air Quality Management and 4. Water desalination.

Preslava Polendakova, Business Development Manager and Project Manager, holds degrees in International Business Management and International Relations. In the ENDURION project, she will take an active role in the formation of a Techno-Economic Assessment and a foundational Business Plan, as well as work on deliverables of Work Package 9 & 10 – Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation.

Sandra Martínez, Scientist, holds a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in wet-chemistry synthesis of nanomaterials. She is currently leading the group of Nanomaterials in Leitat focused on the development of active materials for energy conversion and storage. She will support ENDURION with her expertise in fabrication and characterization of HER catalysts and electrodes as well as the up-scaling production to develop low overpotential NiMo/phosphide-based cathodes for AEM electrolyzer.

Anna Domènech, holds a MSc in Industrial Chemistry with a specialization in Advanced Chemistry. She is currently working in the Surface Chemistry area in Leitat focused on Metal Pre-Treatment Technologies. She will support ENDURION with his expertise in electroless deposition in order to increase catalyst active sites on CNFs developed within the project.

Martí Calvet, Chemist, holds a MSc in Materials Science and Engineering. He is Senior Researcher in Metal Pre-Treatment Unit in Leitat. His participation in ENDURION is mainly focused on surface treatments, in particular, those related with electroless deposition to enhance catalyst active sites onto CNFs developed within the project.

David Sieiro, recent chemistry graduate, he works in the Bioelectrochemical Systems area at LEITAT. In the ENDURION project, he will focus on the electrochemical characterization of synthesized materials for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER), contributing to the development of efficient electrocatalysts.

Apostolos Salmatonidis, holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry with a specialization in Environmental Chemistry, a MSc in Materials Physics and a Materials Engineering Diploma. He is currently working in the International Project Office of Leitat, and is mainly focused on the coordination of European Projects. He will support ENDURION as the administrative contact from LEITAT´s side.

Khaled Lawand, PhD student at EPFL in the group of energy materials (GEM). Experienced in structural mechanics, heat transfer and two-phase flow simulations. He will support ENDURION in building new flow channels for the stack to improve current density distribution, heat management and bubble evacuation. He will also support in designing the bipolar plates (BPP) and endplates for the stack, for handling the compressive forces required to maintain the stack at 50 bar pressure.

Iain is a Postdoctoral Researcher at EPFL in the Group of Energy Materials working on AEM testing and characterisation at both the cell and stack level. He completed his PhD in Electrochemical Engineering at UCL in collaboration with Johnson Matthey focused on single-cell testing and operando characterisation of AEM electrolysers using reference electrodes and X-ray microtomography to understand how they degrade. He has a background in chemistry and previously worked as a Research Scientist at Johnson Matthey on carbon dioxide electrolysis.

As part of ENDURION Iain will be working with colleagues at EPFL to build and test AEM cell and stack designs using materials developed through the project.

Fehad Nabi Khan is a first-year PhD student (40th cycle) at Politecnico di Torino developing efficient OER and HER catalysts. His research harnesses DFT screening to identify task-specific ionic liquids that, when immobilized on catalyst surfaces, enhance ion conductivity, modulate hydrophobicity, and lower activation barriers for water-splitting intermediates—and he validates top candidates in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and zero-gap electrolyzers. He holds an M.Tech. (CPI 9.44/10) and B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering—graduating top of his class—and has expertise in electrochemical characterization, materials synthesis, and process modeling. His core interests lie at the intersection of ionic-liquid and catalyst development for sustainable hydrogen production.

Simelys Hernández got the degree in Chemical Engineering, with highest honors (Lode) at both Politecnico di Torino (Polito, Turin, Italy) and at Universidad Central de Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela) in 2004 and completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering at Polito in November 2009. She has been Assistant Professor (RTD-B) of the courses of Catalysis for the Energy and the Environment, Industrial Chemistry, Green Chemistry Products and Processes, and Photo-Electro-Catalytic Technologies for a Sustainable Chemical Industry at the DISAT department (Polito) and, from February 2021, she will Associated Professor leading a course on Petroleum Technology. She is responsible of the research team: CO2 reduction for a low-carbon economy (CREST group). She is collaborator at the CSFT of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT@Polito), member of the RSC, MRS, ISE and SCI (Electrochemical Division). She is technical coordinator of the EU H2020 project SunCoChem (https://suncochem.eu/), principal investigator of the H2020 project OCEAN (https://www.spire2030.eu/ocean), vice-coordinator of the EU H2020 project RECODE (https://www.recodeh2020.eu/) and has worked in the coordination and scientific teams of other EU Projects (CELBICON, SOLHYDROMICS, MCWAP, ArtipHyction, ECO2CO2 and TERRA) related to the development of Novel Sustainable Photo-Electro-Chemical Processes for the capture and conversion of the CO2 from lab-scale (TRL2/3) to Pilot scale (TRL5/6). She is Associate Editor of the Journals Frontier in Chemistry (section Catalysis and Photocatalysis) and Nanomaterials (mdpi). She is currently co-author of > 76 papers (>2100 citations) in international peer-reviewed journals, 14 book chapters and her H-index is 27. She is reviewer of high-level international scientific journals such as Nature Catalysis, Appl. Cat. B: Environm., Adv. Energy Mat., ChemSusChem and Green Chemistry, among others.

Hilmar Guzmán, Assistant Professor at POLITO, holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering specializing in electrochemical CO₂ reduction and sustainable energy conversion. Her expertise includes designing, optimizing, and scaling up gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), catalyst–electrode interfaces, and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for CO₂ and H₂O electrolysis. She has contributed to EU-funded projects such as SunCoChem. In recognition of her work in the field, Hilmar was awarded the Eni Award – Young Researcher of the Year in 2023. In ENDURION, she serves as Leader of Work Package 4 (WP4) and Tasks 4.1 and 4.5, coordinating the development and integration of MEAs at the 10 cm² scale. She also guides experimental work in the lab, training PhDs and future MSc thesis students, and actively contributes to project meetings and strategic planning.

Khadija Chaudhary is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Politecnico di Torino (PoliTo), holding a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry with a specialization in electrochemical energy storage, in addition toelectrocatalytic HER and OER Applications. Her expertise lies in the rational design and synthesis of functional materials, electrochemical characterization, and in-situ spectroelectrochemistry.

She has gained postdoctoral experience within EU-funded projects under the EU Global Experts initiative and the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) grants, contributing to research on advanced functional materials(metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and functionalized carbons) for electrochemical applications, including alkaline water electrolysis and halogen-ion batteries.

Within ENDURION, she is responsible for Task 4.1, which focuses on the immobilization of ionic liquids (ILs) on Ni- and carbon-based electrodes. In addition, she supports Dr. Hilmer in WP4 and Task 4.5 activities, enabling the design optimization and performance evaluation of integrated membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), while also contributing to other experimental activities carried out at PoliTo.

Gaje Singh holds an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from Kurukshetra University, India, and a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar. His doctoral research focused on the design and development of ionic liquids and poly(ionic liquid) membranes for electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, with particular emphasis on advanced membrane materials for sustainable energy applications. Following his Ph.D., he worked at Bodyloop Labs Pvt. Ltd., an IIT Ropar-based startup, where he specialized in the synthesis and characterization of metal-based nanomaterials and their application in biosensing technologies. His research contributed to the development of sensing platforms for important physiological biomarkers, including glucose.

Gaje iscurrently a CNRS Young Postdoctoral Researcher at IPREM, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), France. His current research focuses on the development of advanced anion exchange membranes for use as solid electrolytes and catalyst binders in alkaline water electrolyzers, aiming to improve the efficiency, durability, and scalability of green hydrogen production technologies. Within the ENDURION project, he contributes his expertise in membrane science, electrochemical materials, and nanomaterials engineering to support the development of next-generation anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer systems.

Daniela Polino is a chemical engineer specializing in molecular modeling of complex chemical systems for energy and industrial applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. Her doctoral research focused on developing methodologies for accurate estimation of reaction rate coefficients.

Currently, she serves as the head of the Computational Materials Science Laboratory at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) in Lugano. Her research integrates ab initio methods, molecular dynamics, and machine learning to study catalytic processes, hydrogen production, and sustainable fuels.

Annalisa Cardellini is a computational materialsscientist with a Ph.D. in Energy Engineeringfrom Politecnico di Torino. Her researchintegrates multiscale molecular modelling,enhanced sampling and data-driven techniquesto unravel the dynamic behavior of complex softmatter systems. Over the years, Dr. Cardellinihas investigated the aggregation and interfacialproperties of coated nanoparticles, thearchitecture of supramolecular polymers, andthe assembly of cyclic peptides into functionalmonolayers. Currently based at SUPSI(University of Applied Sciences and Arts ofSouthern Switzerland), she applies herexpertise to drive the materials design for energy, environmental, and biomedicaltechnologies.

Charly Empereur-mot is a bioinformatics scientist specializing in the design and development of new molecular modeling and machine learning techniques for the characterization and understanding of complex (bio)chemical systems. He holds a Ph. D. in Bioinformatics from the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts of Paris. He is a permanent researcher in the Computational Materials Science laboratory of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). Dr. Empereur-mot has over 10 years of research experience in biophysics, nanomaterials design, drug discovery and computational chemistry, with expertise in machine learning and a history of collaborating with experimental groups in academic and industry settings.

Ana is a Chemical Engineer with extensive experience in sustainability-related topics, including life cycle assessment (LCA), corporate sustainability, and corporate carbon footprint analysis. She has worked on the development and implementation of circular economy strategies, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable innovation within both industrial and research contexts. She has also led and participated in several European projects focused on integrating sustainability into product and business development. IN ENDURION will evaluate the environmental performance of the materials to be used for the AEMEL stack, for a better understanding and implementation.

Pilar Gascón is Senior R&D European consultant specializing in research and innovation projects within the energy sector. With over 15 years of experience, Pilar bring comprehensive expertise in project management and strategic energy advisory. Her background includes the implementation of Energy Management Systems, development of photovoltaic self-consumption and RES solutions, and in-depth knowledge of energy markets and microgrids. Pilar has extensive experience in designing and deploying advanced control systems for hydrogen plants, as well as developing actionable plans and proposals for pilot cases and successful demonstrators. She will support ENDURION with his expertise for valorisation work packages, incluiding LCA, circularity and carbon footprint analysis.

Marcos Rubio is Head of Research and Development at Inycom, where he leads innovation initiatives and coordinates multidisciplinary teams in collaborative projects at both national and European level. With extensive experience in the development and integration of advanced technological solutions, he has played a key role in the digital transformation of various industrial sectors in several projects related to hydrogen production. In ENDURION his comprehensive approach ensures the successful translation of research results into practical, high-impact applications for industrial partners, exploiting any potential valorisations from the project outcomes .

Francesco Cartasegna, holds a master’s degree in Industrial Production and Technological Innovation Engineering from Politecnico di Torino. Since 2022, he has worked as a Project Engineer in the R&D Department at Industrie De Nora in Italy, focusing on the industrialization of alkaline water electrolyzers. His innovative projects have involved the development and prototyping of cutting-edge electrochemical packages and systems, with a particular emphasis on water electrolysis. In the Endurion project, Francesco is responsible for managing stack design tasks, leveraging his expertise in electrolyzer systems.

Alessandro Narri, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a Master’s in Motorcycle Race Engineering. With experience as a Machineries and Automation Specialist in the automotive industry, he has managed production process analysis and efficiency improvements, focusing on cycle time, costs, and scheduling. At De Nora, he is engaged in R&D, developing electrolyzer designs with a particular emphasis on hydrogen production. For Endurion project, he is responsible for designing external components of the stack electrolyzer, ensuring scalability from prototype to final product through CAD modeling and simulations.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schubert, CEO and Founder of Iolitec, holds a Ph.D in Organic Chemistry (2001), University of Cologne, has more than 25 years of experience in ionic liquids. He is co-author of more than 100  publications in the field of ionic liquids and nanomaterials and filed 15 patents in the field of ionic liquids (2 of them in nano-technology). He is heading IOLITEC’s activities in multiple German governmental funded projects as well as in 12 European funded projects. In 2021 he received an honorary professorship from the Technical University of Clausthal, Germany. In ENDURION he is the PI, responsable for Management, Dissemi-nation, and Scientific Coordination. He is also the Fsign and  Lsign for the project.

Dr. Samuel Lorenz, Head of QA, graduate in chemistry, 2012, from University of Stuttgart, PhD degree in Organic chemistry in 2018, University Stuttgart has more than 7 years of experience in synthesis and quality assurance of ionic liquids. He has worked on multiple German governmental funded projects involving electrochemistry and battery technology. He is also heading a sales division in America and Asia.
In ENDURION he is responsable for Management, Dissemination, Scientific Coordination.

Dr. Boyan Iliev, Head of Custom Synthesis, graduate in chemistry, 2001, from Medical University of Sofia, PhD degree in Organic chemistry in 2005, University Zurich and post doc experience from University in Stuttgart, has more than 15 years of experience in synthesis and purification of ionic liquids. He is also heading a division of sales in Europe.
In ENDURION he is responsable for the design and synthesis of the ionic liquids as well as for dissemination activities.

1990 Chemical Engineer, ENSCR, Rennes; 1992 Specialized Engineer, EAHP, Strasbourg; 1994 Ph.D., Chemistry, Institut Charles Sadron, Univ. of Strasbourg; 1995 Scientific fellow, ENSIETA, Brest; 1996 Research Engineer ARKEMA, Lab. PMMA, Groupement de recherches de Lacq; 1997- Chief Research Lab. « Controlled Polymerization – Copolymers» ; 2002- Chief Research Lab. « Emulsion Polymerization; 2009- Chief Scientist Organic Electronic materials; 2013- Senior Scientist, expert in controlled/living polymerizations; 2021 – R. D. Department Manager for Specialty Polymers & Additives.

His research focuses on the macromolecular engineering of polymer materials with an emphasis on the block copolymer synthesis and self-assembly of functional materials with applications to the organic electronic field. He develops new products and processes in laboratories or pilot-platforms and guarantees its transposition to the industrial stage. He is project manager for the research programs on materials for organic electronics. He has been strongly involved or leader in a number of national or European collaborative research projects on block copolymer nanotechnologies. Author of more than 100 papers and 90 granted patents, he has been invited as a speaker at various international conferences and received the Best Technical Publication Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers ANTEC in 2003.

Jean-Marc Boutillier is an R&D Engineer at Arkema, specialising in polymer chemistry. He obtained his PhD in 1995 from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), at the Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères, with research focused on the synthesis and characterisation of cyclic polyisoprene by anionic polymerisation.

Following early roles as R&D Scientist and Technical Service Development Manager at Elf Atochem and Total Petrochemicals, he joined Arkema in 2008, where he has held several R&D positions across the PMMA and Incubator (Corporate Research) Business Units.

Since June 2026, his research activities focus on the synthesis of polymers with controlled architectures — particularly block copolymers — and their scale-up to industrial production, with the aim of developing innovative materials for applications in thermoplastics, thermosets, and adhesives. His work also encompasses the evaluation of polymer performance in targeted applications, with particular attention to compatibility, durability, and recyclability potential.

Jean-Marc is co-author of several patents and has presented at international conferences including the European Coating Show and SFIP.