Carolina Santamarta | Carbon Neutral Technologies | Women Researcher Award

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Ms. Carolina Santamarta | Carbon Neutral Technologies | Women Researcher Award

PHD student at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | Spain

Carolina Santamarta is an accomplished industrial engineer with a diverse career spanning engineering, management, and renewable energy research. She has successfully transitioned from leading businesses in tourism, health, and education to re-engaging in advanced research within the industrial and renewable energy sectors. Her work reflects a balance between academic rigor and practical application, as she integrates her background in industrial operations with a focus on sustainable energy solutions. As a researcher, she is deeply committed to the study of renewable fuels and innovative approaches to energy generation, seeking to contribute toward global clean energy transitions. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has demonstrated strong leadership through business ownership, project management, and STEM education initiatives for children, reflecting her broader vision of contributing both to scientific progress and social development. Her adaptability, entrepreneurial mindset, and research focus make her a dynamic figure in the renewable energy field.

Professional Profile 

ORCID Profile 

Education

Carolina’s academic journey demonstrates her dedication to engineering and sustainable development. She earned her degree in Industrial Engineering at Universidad Carlos III Madrid, where she gained expertise in materials science, mechanical systems, and industrial processes. Building upon this strong foundation, she later pursued a Master’s in Renewable Energies, which allowed her to expand her knowledge into sustainable technologies such as solar, wind, and biomass energy systems. Currently, she is engaged in doctoral research in renewable fuels, an area of growing global importance. Her Ph.D. work integrates applied engineering with environmental sustainability, with the goal of advancing innovative and practical energy solutions. Throughout her education, Carolina has complemented her formal studies with hands-on use of advanced tools like Pvsyst and CHEQ4, enabling accurate modeling and evaluation of renewable energy projects. Her academic progression highlights both intellectual rigor and a clear focus on addressing real-world sustainability challenges through advanced research.

Experience

Carolina brings a wealth of professional experience that spans industrial manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and educational innovation. Early in her career, she contributed to leading industrial companies, managing machinery maintenance, manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement teams in fiberglass factories. These roles equipped her with strong technical expertise and an understanding of quality control in large-scale operations. Later, she moved into business leadership, where she managed and co-owned organizations in healthcare and tourism, overseeing budgets, human resources, and organizational strategy. Her role at Tesla Cool Lab further demonstrated her ability to connect technology with education by developing scientific and technological programs for children, fostering early interest in STEM fields. This breadth of experience reflects her ability to integrate managerial and technical expertise, balancing industrial problem-solving with entrepreneurial innovation. Her career trajectory illustrates her adaptability and her commitment to applying engineering knowledge across different industries while aligning with her growing research ambitions.

Research Interest

Carolina’s research interests lie primarily in renewable energy, with a focus on renewable fuels and their role in enabling sustainable energy transitions. She is particularly interested in developing and optimizing energy systems that integrate solar, wind, and biomass resources, with an emphasis on clean fuel technologies that can serve as viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Her work is aimed at bridging the gap between industrial-scale applications and academic innovation, seeking solutions that are not only technically efficient but also economically and environmentally viable. In addition, she is passionate about exploring tools and modeling techniques that allow accurate forecasting and evaluation of renewable energy projects, ensuring reliability and scalability. Carolina’s research vision also includes contributing to the development of community-based and decentralized energy solutions, promoting accessibility and resilience in energy systems. By aligning her technical expertise with sustainability goals, she strives to support global efforts toward climate change mitigation.

Awards and Honors

Carolina has earned recognition for her leadership and innovative contributions across different fields, blending her engineering background with business success and social engagement. Her achievements include directing successful companies in healthcare and tourism, where she demonstrated strong entrepreneurial leadership and effective resource management. Her initiative in founding Tesla Cool Lab has been widely appreciated for advancing STEM education among young learners, nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers. In the industrial sector, she has been acknowledged for her ability to lead continuous improvement processes, enhance production efficiency, and uphold high standards of quality control. These accomplishments underscore her capability to excel in diverse professional environments while maintaining a commitment to innovation and social responsibility. Her transition into advanced renewable energy research further highlights her perseverance and dedication to professional growth, reflecting an inspiring career path that combines scientific advancement with meaningful societal impact.

Research Skills

Carolina possesses a robust set of research skills that integrate her industrial background with advanced knowledge in renewable energy technologies. She is proficient in using specialized tools such as Pvsyst and CHEQ4 for solar and wind resource evaluation, alongside online platforms for assessing hydrological and renewable potential. These technical abilities enable her to conduct comprehensive analyses and design energy systems with precision. In addition to her technical expertise, she brings strong project management skills, having managed complex budgets, human resources, and continuous improvement initiatives in industrial and business contexts. Her multilingual abilities allow her to effectively collaborate on international research projects, while her leadership experience equips her to guide teams toward achieving research objectives. Carolina’s skills also extend to bridging academic research with applied practice, ensuring her work has real-world impact. This combination of analytical rigor, technical expertise, and leadership makes her well-suited for interdisciplinary renewable energy research.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Decentralized Model for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production from Residual Biomass Gasification in Spain
Authors: Carolina Santamarta Ballesteros; David Bolonio; María-Pilar Martínez-Hernando; David León; Enrique García-Franco; María-Jesús García-Martínez
Year: 2025
Journal: Resources (Published by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

Conclusion

Carolina Santamarta is a deserving candidate for the Women Researcher Award due to her unique blend of industrial engineering expertise, renewable energy research, and leadership across multiple sectors. Her commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions, combined with her entrepreneurial drive and community-building efforts, reflects both academic promise and societal impact. With her ongoing Ph.D. research in renewable fuels and her proven capacity for leadership and innovation, she is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the renewable energy sector and inspire future generations of women in science and engineering.

Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani | Energy Justice | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani | Energy Justice | Best Researcher Award

Master Student at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany

Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani is a dedicated researcher in the field of renewable energy, with expertise spanning wind energy, biogas, and sustainable energy transitions. With a background in physics and advanced training in renewable energy technologies, he has combined scientific rigor with applied solutions to address global energy challenges. His academic journey and professional engagements reflect a balance of technical depth, policy-level insight, and community impact. He has actively contributed to international projects, renewable energy modeling, and the development of national standards for biogas systems. Beyond research, he has demonstrated strong leadership through team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring roles in both academic and community-based initiatives. His work emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and global responsibility in energy development, making him a well-rounded candidate with significant contributions to science, society, and environmental stewardship. His professional trajectory highlights both strong research capability and impactful community engagement.

Professional Profile 

ORCID Profile 

Education

Jihan’s educational foundation began with a degree in physics, where he explored advanced topics such as plasma physics and quantum mechanics, supported by thesis research on computational models in toroidal systems. Building on this scientific base, he pursued a master’s program in sustainable renewable energy technologies, specializing in wind energy and energy systems optimization. His academic training was strengthened by a prestigious international fellowship, reflecting both his academic excellence and his potential to contribute to global sustainable development. His studies combined rigorous coursework, laboratory practice, and applied field training in renewable energy systems, enabling him to bridge theoretical principles with practical applications. Participation in specialized schools and workshops in plasma physics, fusion technology, and renewable energy further broadened his knowledge and international exposure. Through this academic path, he developed the technical expertise, interdisciplinary perspective, and global outlook required to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions.

Experience

Jihan’s professional experience demonstrates a strong integration of research, applied science, and community development. As a research assistant at a leading wind energy research institute, he worked on high-performance simulations of wind farm wake effects, supporting advanced optimization models for renewable energy systems. In parallel, his work with a biogas technology company focused on carbon accounting, plant operation planning, and sustainable waste-to-energy solutions. He has also served as team leader for a multi-stakeholder river conservation project, where he coordinated governmental, private, and community actors to achieve long-term environmental protection goals. Earlier roles include contributing to national-scale biogas programs that improved rural energy access, teaching physics under international curricula, and assisting in laboratory and aerospace research projects. This diverse experience highlights his ability to operate across academic, industrial, and social sectors, making meaningful contributions at both technical and community levels. His career reflects adaptability, leadership, and multidisciplinary expertise.

Research Interest

Jihan’s research interests lie at the intersection of renewable energy technologies, sustainability, and global energy transitions. His work primarily focuses on wind energy simulation and optimization, biogas quality improvement, and carbon accounting methods for sustainable energy systems. He is deeply interested in advancing modeling tools that integrate data-driven methods with high-performance computing to optimize renewable energy deployment. Alongside technical work, he also pursues studies on policy and fairness in global energy transitions, particularly in comparing responsibilities between developed and developing regions. His interest extends to fusion energy and plasma physics, where he has participated in specialized training and workshops to explore emerging frontiers in energy research. By combining technical simulation, applied renewable projects, and policy-level analysis, his research seeks to contribute both to scientific advancement and to practical frameworks for global sustainability. He aspires to bridge academic research with real-world implementation for maximum societal impact.

Awards and Honors

Jihan has earned recognition for his academic and professional excellence through competitive fellowships, certifications, and research project grants. He was awarded a prestigious postgraduate fellowship that supports outstanding scholars in development-related fields, highlighting his potential to contribute globally to sustainable energy. His research initiatives have been supported through institutional research funding, enabling him to conduct comparative studies on fairness in energy transitions and develop practical renewable energy innovations. He has also been a co-researcher in projects backed by national standardization agencies, contributing to policy-relevant outcomes such as biogas quality requirements. In addition, he has received advanced certification in greenhouse gas inventory methodology under international guidelines, strengthening his credibility in climate-related fields. His academic achievements include strong international exposure through schools and workshops, often awarded on a competitive basis. These honors reflect his intellectual merit, leadership potential, and ongoing commitment to advancing renewable energy research and global sustainability.

Research Skills

Jihan possesses a wide range of research skills that combine computational, technical, and analytical expertise. He is proficient in high-performance computing applications, enabling him to handle complex wind farm simulations and optimize models for renewable energy projects. His technical toolkit includes numerical modeling, energy systems analysis, and simulation software relevant to wind, solar, and biogas research. In addition, he has strong capabilities in carbon accounting, life-cycle analysis, and environmental impact assessment, which strengthen the policy and sustainability dimensions of his work. His laboratory experience ranges from computational physics to plasma and atomic experiments, providing a robust scientific foundation. Complementing these are practical project management and community engagement skills, gained through leadership in renewable energy and conservation projects. He is also adept in technical writing, scientific communication, and presenting research at international platforms. Together, these skills position him as a versatile researcher capable of contributing across academic, industrial, and policy domains.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Assessing Global Responsibility: Comparative Analysis of Fairness in Energy Transition Between Developing and Developed Countries
Authors: Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani; Muhammad Zubair Abbas; Alzobaer Alshaeki; Herena Torio
Year: 2025
Journal: Sustainability (MDPI)

Title: Hydrogen Sulfide Presence in Low-Pressure Biogas and Desulphurizer Performance Comparison Towards Its Development of International Standard
Authors: Bendjamin Benny Louhenapessy; Muhammad Haekal Habibie; Yosi Aristiawan; Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani; Krisna Wijaya
Year: 2023
Journal: AIP Conference Proceedings – XVII Mexican Symposium on Medical Physics

Title: Kajian Mekanika Kuantum dalam Sistem Koordinat Toroidal
Authors: Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani; Muhammad Farchani Rosyid; Muhammad Nur
Year: 2017
Journal/Source: Undergraduate Thesis, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Title: Assessing Global Responsibility: Comparative Analysis of Fairness in Energy Transition Between Developing and Developed Countries
Authors: Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani
Year: 2025
Journal/Source: Preprints (MDPI)

Conclusion

Jihan Ahmad As-sya’bani presents an impressive blend of academic excellence, multidisciplinary research experience, and international engagement in renewable energy and sustainability. His contributions to biogas standardization, wind energy simulations, and policy-relevant projects highlight his commitment to advancing clean energy solutions. His leadership in community-based renewable energy projects, coupled with a strong academic foundation and international exposure, make him a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With his ongoing research trajectory and leadership potential, Jihan is well-positioned to become a future global leader in the field of sustainable energy research.