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She joined academia in 2016 as a Marie Curie Research Fellow to investigate phase change materials as latent heat thermal energy storages at Northumbria University, where she received her Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice.

She obtained her PhD in 2014 at Mondragon University (Basque Country, Spain) for her research in regenerative heat transfer in Stirling Engines for cogeneration and, her MSc and BEng from Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela).

Before academia, she worked for almost 20 years as a senior research/product engineer in an industrial R&D Centre and the automotive industry.

What is your area of research and what project(s) are you working on now?

Her research interests lie in renewable energy, energy conversion systems, heat transfer problems and latent heat thermal energy storage for different applications.

Current projects: Enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage using additives (nanomaterials) and heat exchangers configurations.

What do you think are the challenges for equity/equality, diversity and inclusion in the energy research community in reaching netzero targets by 2050?

For an extended period, men have held a predominant position within the energy research sector and engineering. Although there has been an increase in the number of women, they remain in the minority.

A significant challenge is the presence of unconscious bias across all levels, including among students. Some progress has been made, but there arises another challenge of achieving equity without positive discrimination, which is a sensitive subject.

What should a supportive, inclusive energy research community look like?

It's evident to me that promoting females solely to achieve gender balance or minorities is not the right approach, as it's unfair and relates to the previous question. Regrettably, many higher education institutions are moving in that direction, which I find absurd. I advocate for equal opportunities covering all protected characteristics, institutional support, flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances, and the value of hard work and ethics.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in Energy Research?

The energy sector is huge and in expansion, offering opportunities for people with the necessary skills, interests, values, and knowledge. Moreover, there are diverse career paths within the energy sector, allowing each person to discover their own passion. It's an incredible field where anyone with an interest can engage in continuous learning and development. I'm optimistic that our contributions will lead to a more supportive and inclusive energy sector for the next generation!

Fun question: If you had a magic wand, what is one thing you would change right now?

If I had a magic wand, one thing I would change right now is to eliminate all forms of unconscious bias and discrimination from our society. This would create a more inclusive and equitable world where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, or any other characteristic, is treated with equal respect, dignity, and opportunity. For example: "a female colleague"...